They're Back! The Incomparable Sisters are Back at The Lodge!

They’re Back!! The Incomparable “Sisters” are Back at The Lodge!One of our greatest joys as innkeepers (in addition to making new friends and meeting interesting people from all over the world) is reconnecting with guests who have become ‘regulars’ and return to stay with us year after year. In this large and august group you will find two nonagenarian sisters who are as different as night and day, but equally fascinating!  Their names are Gene Fontaine and Eloise Brittain, and their lives have taken them many interesting miles from their Quaker roots in Glens Falls, NY!   They come to The Lodge each winter to Cross-Country ski. Eloise thinks that perhaps when her balance gets too shaky to ski, she will think about taking up snow-shoeing! A fantastic attitude to have in your 90’s, right?!

 

Gene just sold her home in Cuernavaca, Mexico and has taken up permanent residence in San Antonio.  But don’t let that fool you … she doesn’t let much grass grown under her feet!  A world traveler, she recently returned from Iceland, where she hiked to a volcano she has wanted to see! In the next six months she will be travelling to Las Vegas, Phoenix, New York City, taking a 2-week trip up the Volga River, and several other places I’ve already forgotten! Stylish and sparky, Gene is a great-great grandmother, definitely a trend-setter and sharp as a tack … a VERY classy lady!

Eloise is from Illinois, and walks daily to town, or takes the bus into the city for more cultural outings. She loves to compose music and leads a praise band with drums and guitar at her church where she accompanies them on the keyboard.  She’s taking a Memoir writing course, where participants meet weekly and read each other what they have written since the last class. Not surprisingly, Eloise has them all spellbound. She has had an incredibly exciting life, including teaching fighter pilots how to shoot in WWII!  Tomorrow is their last day here for this year, but we’ll be storing their skis for their next visit.  They are most definitely one of the highlights of our year!

 

 

Winter's Not Done With us Yet!



The Jackson XC Ski bridge across from The Lodge

It's a "Currier and Ives" day here in Jackson! Yesterday may officially have been the first day of spring, but winter isn't over yet ... not by a long shot!  We are picture post card perfect and a ski enthusiast’s dream! Right now I’m watching the XC-skiers zip along the Ellis River Trail. Whether you cross-country ski or downhill, this is the kind of snow that everyone hopes for. We got about 14” of snow the last couple of days, and another inch or so overnight. Dana currently is on the slopes over at Attitash with a friend of his as I write this … just couldn’t keep him away! I think he’s hitting Black with our son this afternoon. Most of the ski areas have super good prices from here on out, and as we know from past experience of dry winters, we have to make hay while the snow shines. Just wanted to give everybody a heads-up on what an awesomely beautiful day it is here today. It is most certainly a great day to be alive!

 

Winter's Not Over Yet ... Not by a Long Shot!

One of these days we'll wake up and it will suddenly be spring ... but until then, let's savor every day of winter's snow! Warm temperatures tried to trick us over the weekend into thinking that it was time to switch gears … but a return of cold weather and a few days of forecasted snow this week will make next weekend a totally awesome time to ski.  Our discount tickets will save you significant sums of money on all the alpine slopes and Nordic trail systems --- while they LAST! Ski Wildcat or  Attitash on Friday for only $40, or on St. Patty’s Day for only $17!!! Next weekend is going to be one of the BEST spring ski weekends of the year … and seriously, you won’t want to miss it!  Wildcat Ski Area got over 180” of snow this season … and THAT won’t be going anywhere for the foreseeable future!  Combine a couple days of hard skiing with some St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at the Shannon Door Irish Pub.  Best of all, you won’t need a designated driver … you can walk right next door to the pub and listen to some awesome live Irish music. People are taking advantage of winter while its here, and we’re starting to get lots of calls.  We hope that you’ll be one of them!

 

The Cassidy Gallery Opens in Jackson!

The Cassidy Gallery Opens in Jackson!

Jackson has always been a pretty artsy place. After all, the famous painters who found us  (and Jackson Falls), later becoming known as the ‘White Mountain Painters’, put us on the map in the first place, starting the tourist industry in this part of NH.  So it shouldn’t come as any surprise that amidst all this natural beauty, Jackson has continued to be a magnet for art and artists alike. The Jackson Historical Society has opened a premiere museum of White Mountain Art in the old Town Hall Building, right near the Falls and the Wildcat River.  And now, just a stone’s throw from their door is the new Cassidy Gallery, located on the first floor of The Snowflake in the heart of Jackson village. We are so delighted to welcome them! Named after its founder, artist Nancy White Cassidy who is a professional illustrator and fine artist, the gallery features works from fine artists and artisans from the Mount Washington Valley area and New England. You’ll discover, as I did the other day, fine paintings, glass, jewelry, ceramics, quilts and many more creations worthy of the quality you would expect to find in Jackson. Be sure to check it out the next time you visit. It is a fine addition to our unique village!

No Wimpy Winter, This One!

NO Wimpy Winter, This One!

It seems that we’ve gotten so accustomed to wimpy winters the last couple of years that we get literally ecstatic when Mother Nature performs the way she is supposed to!!  Well, Carlene’s annual Snow Goddess Dance has paid off for us this winter in spades, (er, I mean ‘snow shovels’!) and we are literally buried in gorgeous snow, with no end in sight for the immediate future! March may be upon us, but it will be winter in Jackson for a LONG while yet. The Blizzard worked its magic a couple of weeks ago with a couple feet of powder on top of a 2-foot base. It was followed a day or so later by 4” more. The other day we got 8 inches of snow here at the Lodge, and 13 more are coming today and tomorrow. Our winter total is making it a spectacular winter any way you look at it! Phones are ringing for ski packages, so join us for discount ski tickets at The Lodge or just cuddle up in front of our fireplace this weekend. You’ll be in lots of good company!

 

Vacation Week!

In a word, the atmosphere at The Lodge can be summed up in one word: VACATION!  If this suggests the festive spirit of fun, outdoor adventure and SNOW, then you get an accurate picture of what’s happening in Jackson this week. Lots of families are taking advantage of the ski schools associated with the various alpine mountains, to give their kids a leg up on skills and techniques, and allow them to get more enjoyment out of the downhill experience overall. We currently have a family here from Florida, whose kids have never seen snow.  This is a first for them, and it is such a thrill to be part of that’s family’s first experience of New England in winter.  Cross-country skiing is just as important as downhill … we ARE in Jackson, NH after all … the largest XC ski center in the eastern US! And as if that weren’t enough, we have free passes to the trail system up at Great Glen Trails, only a short 10-minute drive from our door. Everyone is getting involved … age is no factor!  From the nonagenarian sisters who never miss a day of Cross-country skiing when staying with us … to the toddlers who get the ride of their lives in the enclosed toboggan-like pulks their parents pull them in … everyone can get in the act. And of course, homemade cookies, a cup of hot tea and relaxation in front of the fireplace always puts a nice finish on a day in the wonderful outdoors.

Is There Anything Better Than a February Blizzard?

I don’t think so … at least not in Jackson, NH! Last weekend’s storm deposited 2+ feet of fluffy powder, and the hearty souls who drove through it to get to the Lodge despite the forecast, weren’t disappointed, either!  Skiing was fantastic, and all of Jackson looked like a fairy village. From sleigh-riding at Nestlenook, to the XC-skiing right from our door, to downhill powder skiing at all 5 mountains, it was a winter-lover’s heaven. As for me, I baked cookies for our guests, did a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle from our puzzle collection with friends, and took reservations galore from folks who are thinking about the upcoming vacation week! With 5-6 inches that have fallen since Nemo, it is shaping up to be one heck of a week!