Amy Patenaude is the Weirs Times Outdoor Columnist. She is a life-long resident of New Hampshire, born in Concord and now a Henniker resident.
Amy has been writing her bi-weekly column for the Weirs Times since 2000. Amy travels to the highest peaks as well as to the more obscure places of nature throughout the state of New Hampshire and beyond. Amy’s international treks have also taken her from the Virgin Islands to Ireland and places in between. Each visit brought to life in her own personal style.
When Amy isn’t researching a column for the Weirs Times you might find her competing in a cross-country or alpine race, just to relax.
So, whether it’s a cross-country ski-trip, a hike through the known and unknown trails of New Hampshire or an exotic adventure to places “away”, Amy is sure to surprise even the most seasoned outdoor enthusiast with her adventurous, educational and fun experiences in the great outdoors.
Sawyer Ponds Paddle
PHOTO: Becca twirling her paddle to make her boat spin near the Sawyer Pond shelter. Sawyer Pond is a popular hiking and camping destination because […]
The Cohos Trail – 4th Connecticut Lake To Young’s Store
PHOTO: Yours truly and Julie at the start of our southbound Cohos Trail section hike. The northern terminus of The Cohos Trail is in Pittsburgh, […]
Spring Things: Trail Work & Paddling
PHOTO: Springtime is trail work time! Adam and I set out to do some spring cleaning on his adopted trail, the Lincoln Brook Trail. How […]
Hot Skiing At Cannon
PHOTO: It was August in April at Cannon, it was 80 degrees! Bria is wearing a T-shirt as she skis off Cannon’s summit via Vista […]
Ski While Still You Can!
PHOTO: Danielle having Spring Skiing fun in the wind and rain at Cannon Mountain. The sun did come out later. Nearly all their trails are […]
Winter Peak Bagging: NH Highest 200
There’s nothing like using up the last hours of calendar Winter to complete the New Hampshire Highest 200 Winter list. The 200 list peak’s elevations range between 2900 feet to just under 3500 feet. Many have no trails and the approach distances are often many miles.
Waterville Valley Resort’s Adventure Center – Fun Cross Country Skiing
With the forecast calling for a big snowstorm, Amy & Charlie to skip out of work and go to Waterville Valley to cross country ski. The trails had plenty of snow and would be nice and fast before the storm started dumping.
Indy Ski Pass Road Trip – Idaho or Bust!
Beginning on February 5th, On The Trails & Summits Columnist Amy Patenaude and her friend Bria, drove from New Hampshire all the way to Washington and Oregon. Here they are at Brundage Mountain Resort in McCall, Idaho where they arrived on the evening of the 10th. Using their Indy Passes they skied in New York, South Dakota and Montana along the way.
Ski Trip To Maine – Black Mountain, Saddleback & Sugarloaf
Amy and friend Bria planned this ski trip to Maine last summer when they made a reservation to rent a cabin in Eustis for a couple nights. The big plan was to ski Sunday at Black Mountain of Maine, Monday at Saddleback and Tuesday at Sugarloaf.
Just A Fun Day At Gunstock
This week Amy is off on a fun ski day adventure at Gunstock with her friend Bria. The trails had good snow coverage edge to edge with lots of loose snow and they were wowed by the stunning views of big Lake Winnipesaukee.
King Pine Ski Area’s Diamond Jubilee
This week Amy celebrates the 60th Birthday of King Pine Ski Area! Sixty years ago the ski area started with a double chair and three trails. Today it boasts 17 trails and six lifts–including three triple-chairlifts. The family friendly resort has night skiing and also snow tubing, ice skating, uphill access and cross-country skiing & snowshoe trails.
Deer Mountain
This week’s trails & summits adventure takes Amy north to snowy trails in Pittsburgh, NH, just a few miles south of the Canadian border. She and friend Adam plowed through the snow to find Deer Mountain’s south peak ,153rd highest mountain in the state, and the site of an abandoned fire tower.
Five Things To Do If You Don’t Ski or Snowboard!
It sure feels like winter!
So let’s all enjoy it. Here’s five things you can do even if you don’t ski or snowboard!
Snowtime! The Lifts are Open
Bretton Woods was the first resort in New Hampshire to open on Saturday November 18th. My first day skiing this season was at Bretton Woods on their third day open, Monday morning. It was a brisk cold morning, no wind and with only a few clouds that capped the summit of Mount Washington.
Mount Paugus With Snow
Amy is off on a chilly adventure this week, hiking through the first snows of winter on Mount Paugus. She joins Bria who is working on hiking every trail in the AMC guide or “redlining” the map.