Lost River thaws, Gorge open for the season May 6

05-04-2009

WOODSTOCK, N.H. - Deep in the caverns of Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves, winter's icicle grip is hanging on, but the popular attraction opens for the summer season on May 6.

 

For the past several weeks, crews armed with shovels have been clearing deep snow along the boardwalk, which meanders three-quarters of a mile through Lost River Gorge, as well as removing the typical debris that lands in the gorge each winter.

 

"The boardwalk all had to be shoveled and there was up to six feet of snow in some places," said Deb Williams, the manager of the gorge. "We had a crew of four people who dedicated two weeks to get it cleared."

 

 It will take a stretch of warm days to reach into the crevasses and caves to melt the ice that collected throughout the winter and until then, early season visitors are in for a treat.

 

"There are some ice formations in about half the caves that you don't usually see," Williams said. "Those caves won't be open right away, but this is a really beautiful time of the year to take a walk down through the gorge."

 

Several projects will get underway at Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves this spring, she said, including work in the Nature Garden, which has an extensive collection of native New Hampshire wildflowers, which have been tended to by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, which bought Lost River in 1912 with a mission to preserve the unique attraction forever.

 

The butterfly-hummingbird garden, planted last spring at the entrance of the gorge, has proved to be an entrancing feature and throughout the summer draws dozens of species of butterflies and even the hummingbird clearwing, a species of moth. Williams said the resident gardeners will be planting flowers that will continue to lure butterflies.

 

For the second year, seasons' passes will be available, after the first year of offering them proved popular. "With the economy the way it is, the season pass is real bargain and gives people a chance to visit as often as they like throughout the season," Williams said. The cost for a pass is $27 for adults and $19 for children; there is no limit to the number of visits. The May 6 opening is one of the earliest for the gorge, but it will be closed for two days, on May 12 and 13, for a cleanup day by the Forest Society. On May 15, a volunteer day is planned to complete the cleanup project.

 

Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves is located at the top of Kinsman Notch, seven miles west of downtown North Woodstock, on Route 112. For more information, visit www.findlostriver. com or call 603-745-8031. Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves is owned by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and managed by White Mountains Attractions in North Woodstock. White Mountains Attractions, founded in 1958, is the marketing association for 16 attractions within the White Mountains region, including Attitash, Cannon Mountain, Clark's Trading Post, the Cog Railroad, the Conway Scenic Railroad, Flume Gorge, the Hobo Railroad, Loon Mountain, Lost River Gorge, Mount Washington Auto Road, Polar Caves, Santa's Village, Six Gun City, Story Land, Whale's Tale and Wildcat Mountain. For information about the White Mountains, the visitors' center is located off exit 32 on Interstate 93 in North Woodstock; visit www.visitwhitemountains.com or call 800-FIND-MTS.

 

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