Artisan’s Gallery Open at Loon Mountain Summit
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
By Katelyn Krumperman
Do you like finding unique gifts for family members and friends? Do you like hand carved wooden products? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you should check out the Artisan’s Gallery at the summit of Loon Mountain off of Bear Claw Extension.
Inside the gallery you will find a collection of unique items. From earrings and necklaces to wood carved spoons, the Artisan’s Gallery is a collection of hand made items that you won’t find anywhere else. Hand painted note cards are displayed on the table and paintings hang on the wall. The artist, local Jody O’Callaghan, sits at the table painting.
Interested in buying a hand carved walking stick? On any given day, Jim McHugh, who plays the guitar in the Crunchy Western Boys, can be found outside carving walking sticks.
You will also find hand made hemp necklaces by Sam King who works at the Gondola. Hand made earrings and a local photographers work can be purchased as well.
The Artisan’s Gallery is open 9:30am – 4:00 pm for another two weeks. Enjoy the fall weather and be sure to stop in the gallery and say hi. 
The Leaves They Are a-Changin’
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
By Katelyn Krumperman
Patches of sun peek out from the rain clouds and shine down on the tops of the trees. Red, orange, yellow, green, and purple colored leaves illuminate as the sun rays pass over them. Temperatures flucuate from 60 degrees to 50 degrees and cold rain showers pass by; fall has officially arrived at Loon Mountain.
The smell of apple crisp baking in the oven, driving my big wheel through the massive leaf pile my Dad put in the front yard, playing soccer, the crisp cool air, and carving pumpkins are just a few of my favorite memories of the fall growing up as a kid. Don’t get me wrong, I still like jumping in leaf piles but now the fall has a different meaning; winter is right around the corner.
At Loon Mountain we celebrate the fall with beer, German music, and brats at our annual Oktoberfest over Columbus Day Weekend. This year, we will have a few new activities so be sure to check out our website for detailed information. Continuing in the fall festivities, we added two new events to our calendar; the 1st Annual Monster Mud Run and the Halloween Monster Bash in the Bunyan Room. Both events take place on Oct. 29th so be sure to mark your calendars!
Until the snow starts to fly, enjoy the crisp cool air, the smell of applie crisp baking, and leaf piles. We’ll see you soon!
Kilts, Kilts, and More Kilts – 36th Annual Highland Games Recap!
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
By Katelyn Krumperman
Scottish flags waved high in the air, bagpipes echoed off the mountain walls, and thousands of people in colored kilts filled the grounds of Loon Mountain. If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought I was in Scotland, not Lincoln, NH. Once again, it was time for the annual Highland Games.
I have always wanted to travel to Scotland and after experiencing my first Highland Games, I want to travel there more than ever. I have never seen so many bagpipes and kilts in my whole life – it was truly an amazing site! From 60 clans to sheephearding and heavy athletic events, the Scottish culture amazed me! I have to admit, I was so enthralled in the culture that I bought a celtic dog collar, a pair of earrings, and the Red Hot Chili Pippers CD.
Despite damage to the main bridge, the 36th Annual New Hampshire Highland Games went off without a hitch and the pedestrian bridge was great for getting people in and out of the games smoothly and organized. It was the highest attended Highland Games thus far and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. Overall, it was a very successful weekend.
We’ll see you next year, Sept. 21-23, 2012, at the games! Get your kilt on!
I Do … With the Most Amazing View
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
July 27, 2011
By Katelyn Krumperman
Two words that mean trust. Two words that mean in sickness and in health. Two words that mean forever.
On July, 15, with the most amazing view set behind them, ”I do,” was said between Sean Donahue and Christina Helgerson at Loon Mountain‘s amphitheater. On a beautiful summer day with bluebird skies and Mount Washington in the distance, I had the privelage of shooting this beautiful couple as they shared their vows with one another.
For me, it wasn’t just any other couple getting married. By surprise, it was my former co-worker’s daughter getting married. Amongst smiles, tears, and hugs, I was able to share in the joy as well.
Every year, after the snow melts, Loon Mountain’s ground crew puts up the ampitheater on Big Dipper and it stays up through the fall. The amphitheater is fully wired for sound and can hold up to 300 people. For the past 15-20 years, Loon Mountain has been hosting weddings in the amphitheater on the mountain and in a given year, Loon hosts 20-30 weddings per year.
“We have coordinated weddings for people as far away as California. We are a destination wedding spot and people come from all over,” said Abby Guinan, Sales Manager for Loon Mountain.
Receptions can be held in either the Octagon Lodge or the Governor’s Lodge. Take it from me, if you are planning a destination wedding and love the White Mountains, plan your wedding at Loon Mountain. Trust me, you won’t regret “I do.”
Saw Lincoln through a whole new light … via a Segway PT Tour
Hi again!
I have to say, the way to see and learn about the history of Lincoln is to go on our new Segway PT Tours. New this summer, Loon Mountain added a new adventure to the already plethera of summer and fall activities. After a 45 minute training session where you watch a short safety video and learn how to ride the Segway, the adventure begins …
Via the beautiful Town of Lincoln’s paved bike path, the two hour guided Segway PT Tour takes you along the Pemi River and through the historic town of Lincoln. Moving up here this spring, I didn’t really know much about the history of Lincoln. From Segway-ing (not sure if that is a word or not) by J.E. Henry’s and Sherman Adams house to learning about the mill, I learned more about Lincoln than I thought I would.
If you are a history buff, this tour is for you. I have to say it was one of my favorite highlights of working at Loon this summer. So do yourself a favor and make a reservation for one of our guided Segway PT Tours, you won’t regret it. Until next time, have a great evening and stay cool.
Katelyn
A Beautiful Skyride with a Delicious End
Hi there!
Today I decided to take a ride up the Gondola Skyride to the summit to take a few pictures and to have lunch at the Summit Cafe. Since this is my first summer working at Loon, I have not had the privilege to see the mountain in the summer. As we rode up the Gondola, I noticed that the slopes were not covered in white but in luscious green – it was beautiful to see the mountain in a different light.
When we reached the summit, the jungle gym was covered with day campers from the A.D.A.P.T day camp visiting Loon Mountain for the day. Children in bright blue t-shirts climbed and played as their counselors looked on. With Sunset in the background and a view of Mount Washington, what a perfect spot to have a jungle gym.
Four cement walls of a new foundation stand where the old Ski Patrol Headquarters used to be. This summer we are building a new Ski Patrol Headquarters for the upcoming winter season. This will be a great addition to the mountain for the winter.
Jamaican colors and reggae music welcomed me as I walked into the Summit Cafe. From the Reggae Roll (Jerk Chicken, Black Beans, Corn, Peppers, Onions in a Tomato Wrap with Mango Chutney and Lettuce) and the Island BBQ (Pulled Pork with Carmelized Onions on a Warm Bun with a Chipolte Lime BBQ Sauce) to Shrimp Tacos, the Summit Cafe makes you feel like you have stepped off a plane and onto the white sandy beaches of the Caribbean. Thirsty and over 21? Try the Summit’s Rum Punch or Pina Colada and you’ll be sure to have a happy hike or ride down the mountain.
If you are coming to Loon Mountain for the day, take the time to take a ride up the Gondola Skyride. It is a beautiful time of year to enjoy the surroundings. The views from the top are breathtaking and the food is simply delicious.
Until next time,
Katelyn
Memories Awaken While Horseback Riding at Loon Mountain
Giddy-Up!
The five senses are very strong and key parts to our lives. One of my favorites, is the sense of smell. Have you ever smelled something that brought you right back to a certain moment in time that you wish you could relive? Well, that happened to me on Tuesday when I went horseback riding at Loon Mountain.
When I was younger, my family went to the R Lazy S Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for four summers in a row. Cowboy boots, cute wranglers, log cabins, chaps, you name it – it was a real dude ranch. I loved every minute of it; the smell of the leather saddle, the swishing of the horse’s tail as he or she tried to keep the flies away, the smell of the horse on a warm summer’s day, and the feeling of adventure whenever you got on the horse’s back. They are memories I will cherish forever.
On Tuesday afternoon, I was lucky enough to relive some of my childhood memories as I mounted my horse, Willy, outside the horse stable at Loon Mountain. I couldn’t wait to go explore the mountain in the summer time! The sun was shining as the six of us embarked on a two hour trail ride on Loon Mountain’s Cross-Country Skiing trails that guests use in the winter time. What used to be logging roads, the trails were beautifully maintained with bridges placed to help keep the area from eroding. The sun shone through the peaceful forrest as we rode our horses on the trails. It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon at Loon Mountain.
I felt like a kid in a candy shop; I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing. I was grinning from ear-to-ear the entire ride until I got off my horse and realized that my body is a lot older than it was when I was in sixth grade. Despite being a little sore, I had an amazing time learning about the history of logging in the area and about J.E. Henry.
So do yourself a favor this summer and sign-up for either The Mountain Adventure (1 hour), The Mountain Explore (2 hours), or The Mountain Journey (3 hours) and trust me, you won’t be disappointed. Who knows, you might even relive some memories!
Until my next adventure …
Katelyn
