Bretton Woods Canopy Tour Provides A Memorable Experience
By Gary Moore
Zipping along a cable high above the forest floor can be exhilarating and a lot of fun. That is pretty much what the Bretton Woods Canopy Tour provides.
I experienced that thrill earlier this month when I joined a family of four from Texas for the tour. Zip lining was not the first time for any of us and we all agreed this tour was one of the best, made even better by the two guides.
In my travels around the U.S. and its territories to work, I always try to find time to experience a zip line or take a white water rafting trip, two activities I greatly enjoy. Thus I have experienced a wide variety of zip lines and rafted many white water rivers.
The Canopy Tour consists of nine zip lines, one of which is 830 feet long and 165 feet above ground. Each connects platforms up in trees. The tour also includes two sky bridges that connect two platforms and three rappels which provide a different experience as the participants are taught to rappel down from a platform to the ground, lowering themselves by a rope.
As you zip though narrow paths in the tree canopy the other participants await their turn while safely tethered to a tree on which the platform they are standing is attached.
Rob Wisnouckas, our lead guide, and his assistant, Aydan Craveiro, carefully explained what we had to do each step of the way, starting with a demonstration and a chance for each to practice. Safety is paramount and was emphasized in the instructions before we started and at every station along the way.
Making the time on the tour even more special was Rob’s explanation of the natural world we were in. From identifying the trees along our route, to explaining about mast trees or king pines that were once reserved for the British king’s navy, to pointing out striped maple and how moose love to feed on the bark, he educated us. At a large yellow birch, he told us about birch beer and birch syrup, not to be confused with maple syrup.
The day we were there my favorite flower, the lady slippers were in bloom and common along our route. Rob talked about them and even told us the unusual way they are pollinated.
It was not just the natural world that he told us about. The history of the Mt. Washington Hotel was a frequent topic on the ride up the mountain in the van to stops along the way down and a rich history it has. He urged us to take the free tour of the hotel that Joseph Stickney hired 250 Italian master craftsmen to build between 1900 and 1902.
He said to be sure to visit the room with the artifacts from 1944 when delegates from 44 nations met to create the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. I have many times and always find it interesting.
We were warned to watch and listen for the ghost of Carolyn Stickney, said to roam the hotel, especially at night.
The Canopy Tour operates year round providing a different experience each season. For more information go to: https://www.brettonwoods.com/experiences/canopy-tour/.
To learn more about the historic hotel and the many things the resort offers in addition to the Canopy Tour go to: https://www.brettonwoods.com/.
There is so much to do at Bretton Woods and the Omni Mount Washington that anyone should have a memorable experience.
Gary Moore enjoying Bretton Woods Canopy Tour
Bits and Pieces
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is asking for a limited number of volunteers to help in rounding up and placing identification bands on the legs of Canada Geese at the Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area off Route 17 in Addison on Wednesday, July 1.
“We need to keep the number of volunteers at 40 in order to ensure the event is manageable and safe for the participants and the geese,” said Andrew Bouton, state waterfowl biologist. “If you are interested in attending, you must call our Fish and Wildlife office in Essex at 878-1564 for more information and to register as a volunteer.”
Volunteers should wear appropriate clothes and boots and use adequate sun protection. Bring plenty of water and be prepared to walk a long distance to capture geese for a biological exam and banding. All geese will be released back into the wild.
The Canada geese nesting in Vermont today are the result of work begun at Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area in the 1950s by the Vermont Fish and Game Department.
Bouton says the data gathered in the annual Dead Creek goose roundup helps in monitoring the status of Vermont’s resident population of Canada Geese.
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“Summer is the time of year when the greatest number of unwanted bat-human interactions are reported,” according to Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s Small Mammals Biologist Alyssa Bennett, who works on the conservation and recovery of Vermont’s threatened and endangered bat species.
Finding and sealing off holes inside your home, such as around attic doors or chimney flues, will keep bats out of your living space and can be done any time of year. However, during the summer when flightless baby bats are present, you should not attempt to seal holes on the outside of the house where bats come and go, a practice which can result in more bats in your bedroom at this time of year.
“Waking up to a bat flying in your bedroom or suddenly uncovering a dozen bats roosting behind a rotting trim board during home repairs can come as quite a shock,” adds Bennett. “But don’t fear, because there are answers to your burning bat questions on https://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/ using the search term -- bats.”
How to remove bats and a list of professionals who perform safe evictions are available on Fish and Wildlife’s website, by calling 802-353-4818, or by emailing Alyssa.Bennett@vermont.gov.
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The 33 winners in the state’s annual moose hunt lottery drawing will be officially notified by mail. A complete list of names of the 2026 winners and alternates is now posted online and can be viewed by visiting www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/moose-hunting-new-hampshire.
Local hunter chosen include, Coryleen B Gilbert of Colebrook, Robert E Klunder of North Haverhill and Mark F Morrision of Monroe.
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The bears are out and still hungry. New Hampshire Fish and Game is urging people to be responsible. Residents raising backyard poultry or feeding wild birds are being asked to do their part to prevent human–bear conflicts this summer and into the fall.
“Overall, human–bear conflict reports have been about average this spring, but there has been an increase in the number of bears being shot by chicken owners, which is unfortunate given the conflict abatement assistance available to the public in New Hampshire,” said Dan Bailey, Bear Project Leader for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.
Visit https://bearwise.org/ for helpful information on living responsibly with black bears.
If you have questions regarding bear-related issues, you can get advice by calling the NH Fish and Game Department’s Wildlife Division at 603-271- 2461
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Several New Hampshire Fish and Game officers were honored recently.
Lieutenant Mark Ober, Jr., was honored with the 2025 Northeast Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association of the Year Award.
Lieutenant Robert Mancini, Sergeant Christopher McKee, Conservation Officer James Cyrs, and Conservation Officer Joseph Canfield were honored with the Congressional Law Enforcement Unit Citation Award for 2025.
Colonel Kevin Jordan was honored with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 2025 Guy Bradley Award Recognizing Outstanding Lifetime Service.
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The New Hampshire Butterfly Monitoring Network is inviting volunteers across New Hampshire to participate in its annual butterfly counts taking place throughout July. Throughout the month of July, volunteers, naturalists, families, photographers, and outdoor enthusiasts will participate in organized butterfly counts across New Hampshire. No prior experience is required to participate, just curiosity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn.
The annual participatory science events are conducted at approximately 450 locations throughout North America, including eight count circles in New Hampshire. Each count takes place within a 15-mile diameter circle.
Closest to us are circles in Errol and the Baker Ponds in Orford.
For more information and to register for a count in your area, visit nhbutterflies.org
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Mark Breen reports in the Fairbanks Museum's Skywatch Almanac that on
June 23, 1782: “Several tornadoes swept from Pawlet to Manchester, VT, and from Wethersfield, VT east to Croydon, NH. Hailstones measuring 6 inches and weighing near a pound fell in Royalton, VT.”
Parting Shots
I turned 80 Saturday. It was an age I never thought I would reach but am happy I did.
I am reminded of the following, “I always knew I’d get old. How fast it happened was a bit of a surprise, though.” -author unknown
I hate the word elderly. The media use the word all the time and apply it to people I would never call elderly.
Just the other day I read a piece that stated, “The elderly woman was moved to a Boston hospital.” Ok, I envisioned some frail 90 year old who likely lived in a nursing home. No, it said she was 75.
Now I take that personally as I am 80 and I don’t consider myself elderly. Old maybe, but not elderly.
As most journalists are far younger, they likely think anyone beyond 65 is elderly. I know there was a time when I was in my 20s and thought 50 was old.
You may say I simply refuse to face reality and you may be right. However, as long as I can remain active doing things many much younger can not, don’t call me elderly.
"You know you are getting old when everything hurts, and what doesn’t hurt doesn’t work." - Hy Gardner
I like the following quote from Henry Ford. “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.”
Syndicated columnist Gary W. Moore may be reached by e-mail at gwmoore1946@icloud.com or at Box 454, Bradford, VT 05033. copyright 2026 Gary W. Moore