Full weekend of festivities and a celebration of life at the Mt. Washington Auto Road and Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center

• FIAT FREAKOUT 40TH ANNUAL EVENT INCLUDES PRIVATE DRIVE ON THE AUTO ROAD AND CONCOURS CAR SHOW
• BLACK FLY TRAIL RUN & RELAY PARTICIPANTS TACKLE RUGGED COURSE
• JACKSON’S ED GOOD REMEMBERED
• MT. WASHINGTON AUTO ROAD ROARS WITH LACONIA BIKE WEEK RIDERS

[June 11, 2023 – Pinkham Notch, N.H.]

It was a busy weekend in beautiful Pinkham Notch at the Mt. Washington Auto Road and Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center.  Close to 200 Fiats participated in the Fiat Freakout, the national convention of Fiat Club America based at Attitash Grand Summit Hotel that included a private ride up the Mt. Washington Auto Road on Friday evening and a concours car show at the base of the mountain on Saturday during the day. The concours featured food trucks, music, and prizes. The annual event was celebrating its 40th year and was the first year to visit New Hampshire. Participants at the Fiat Freakout remarked how hospitable and friendly everyone in the region has been during their visit, and many couldn’t wait to return. Group organizer Luis Colomb said the Friday evening ride to the summit was particularly special—it was the first time that many of them had seen snow! The participants had a snowball fight at the summit, and witnessed a spectacular sunset over the mountains.  While Fiats were showcasing their cars in the event field at the base of the Auto Road, nearly 100 runners tackled the elements at the Black Fly Trail Run & Relay at Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center.  Sponsored by Moat Mountain Smokehouse and Brewery, EMS Sports, Salomon, the Mount Washington Observatory and Seek the Peak, and Pepsi, the rugged race features three distinct loops within the Great Glen Trails network. Racers had the option of tackling the entire 10-mile course solo or as a team of three, or opting for a 3-mile race on the first loop. The course starts and finishes at the Base Lodge, with the final loop including a crossing of the swollen Peabody River.   With consistent rain showers, race organizers set up a number of pop-up tents in the courtyard in front of the Great Glen Trails Base Lodge for spectators, and local band Shark Martin graced the crowd with tunes from the kayak garage. After several songs like, “Have you ever seen the rain?” the sun finally emerged for the awards and raffle.  The sun continued to shine all day on Sunday, when Great Glen Trails hosted a celebration of life for long-time community member Ed Good, who passed in January. Family and friends from near and far gathered near the Great Glen Trails pond, next to the memorial bench for Ed’s late wife, Rosemary Good. Ed was well known for his reverence for the outdoors, for Mt. Washington, and for his excellence at turning wood. The weather couldn’t have been any better for an individual who had given so much during his lifetime.  Hundreds of motorcyclists in New Hampshire participating in the 100th anniversary of Laconia Bike Week also took advantage of the beautiful Sunday weather and the Auto Road roared. As usual during the annual bike week, the Phantom Biker took photographs of motorcyclists on the Ride to the Sky earning their “This Bike Climbed Mt. Washington” bumper sticker. Photos from the week can be found and purchased at: http://www.phantombiker.com/ A heartfelt thanks goes to all the volunteers, staff, and community members who participated in this weekend’s events.  The men’s, women’s, and team podium positions for the Black Fly Trail Run & Relay were held by: Women’s Individual – 10 Mile 1 Victoria Weigold 1:23:26.0 2 Maryanna Aldunate 1:24:44.0  3 Jessica Blank 1:36:27.7  Women’s Individual – 3 Mile 1 Reanna Valley 29:49.7 2 Kimberly Golden 29:56.1 3 Melissa Kowalinski 35:39.0 Men’s Individual – 10 Mile 1 Brent Trail 1:03:34.6 2 Tristan Williams 1:04:17.1 42.5 3 Matthew Walker 1:04:33.9 Men’s Individual – 3 Mile 1 Andrey Pan 31:24.2 2 John MacMahon 32:16.1 51.9 3 Patrick Golden 32:44.9 Teams of 3 1st Place     Runnin Wild – Emery Young, Tom Kobe, and Wyatt Lawton      1:12:05.6 2nd Place    Wait wait warning – Elise Ringgenberg, Mitch Dumas, and Peter Bauer   1:13:24.0 3rd Place     I am many things but spontaneously funny is not one of them – Matthew Woodbury, Maya Shyevitch, and Callan Hand   1:26:39.3 For a complete list of Black Fly race results, click HERE

Sunset on the snow-covered Mt. Washington Friday evening  photo: Kevin Devine

Crossing the Peabody River—the final challenge in the Black Fly Trail Run & Relay photo: Meghan Moody Schwartz

SUMMER EVENTS SCHEDULE

The Mt. Washington Auto Road and Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center has events for athletes, families, and everyone in-between: 

Mt. Washington Auto Road

• Delta Dental Mt. Washington Road Race: June 17 (Auto Road opens to general public at 1:30pm)
• Minis on Top: June 17
• New Hampshire ATV Day (tickets sold out): June 24 (Auto Road opens to general public at 1:30pm)
• Sunrise Drives: July 23 & August 27
• Sunset Drives: July 8th & August 12
• Seek The Peak fundraiser for the Mount Washington Observatory: July 15
• Summit Salute: July 16
• White Mountains Jeep Invasion: July 29
• Adaptive Sunrise Ascent: July 30
• Mt. Washington Bicycle Hillclimb: August 19  (Auto Road opens to general public at 1:30pm)
• Muster In The Mountains: September 8 – 10

Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center

• Salomon Spring Trail Running/Walking Series: Thursdays, May 11 – June 15
• Summer Mountain Bike Series: Tuesdays, June 27 – August 1
• Moat Mountain 24 Hours of Great Glen: August 5 & 6
• Cotopaxi Fall Trail Running/Walking Series: Thursdays, September 7 – Oct 12
• Paul LeTarte Memorial XC Invitational: September 9