♪ REPORTER WHEN THE SUN RISES OVER FRESH POWDER AND BRIDGTON, THE PLACE TO BE IS SHAWNEE PEAK.
THE OLDEST MAJOR SKI RESORT IN THE STATE.
>> YOU HAVE THE WHOLE MOUNTAIN TO YOURSELF.
REPORTER: FOR THE FRESHEST SNOW, WE SKIPPED THE CHAIRLIFT AND WENT TO THE MOUNTAIN’S FIRST SIX MINUTES RIGHT FOR THE TOP, REVEALING SWEEPING VIEWS OF BOTH MOUNT WASHINGTON AND
PORTLAND.
>> IT IS STUNNING.
IT’S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU CAN’T EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE ENOUGH.
THE VASTNESS OF THE VIEWS, YOU LOOK BACK OVER THE LAKE, YOU GET UP OVER THE SUMMIT, AND IT’S EVEN MORE BREATHTAKING.
REPORTER: SHE GUIDES US DOWN A FIRST TRACK RUN.
>> IT’S JUST MAGICAL.
SOME PEOPLE LET THEIR FEET SLIDE.
WE HAVE A GREAT TIME, BECAUSE IT IS A REAL FAMILY EXPERIENCE.
IT IS AMAZING.
REPORTER: SHE SAYS THE SHAWNEE TEAM PRIDES ITSELF ON MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILY FUN.
A MINDSET THAT IS GETTING THEM INTO THEIR EIGHT DECADES OF OPERATION.
ORIGINALLY CALLED PLEASANT MOUNTAIN, A GOVERNMENT GRANT AIMED AT GETTING MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE BACK TO WORK IN THE DEPRESSION ERA.
A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE THAT TIME.
>> THERE ARE SEVEN BLADED AREAS.
THE AREAS THAT HAVE TREES THAT HAVE BEEN SPACED OUT SO YOU CAN SKI THROUGH THEM.
WE ALSO HAVE THREE TERRAIN PARKS.
REPORTER: IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING REALLY ON THE EDGE -- A YEAR TO -- A YURT?
HOW IS IT LIKE UP HERE?
>> IT’S NOT FOR EVERYONE, BUT THERE IS A GAS STOVE THAT PROVIDES WARMTH TO THIS RUSTIC VENTURE.
>> IT’S A NICE LITTLE TREAT.
REPORTER: NO RUNNING WATER.
FOR DINNER?
GRILLING IS YOUR ONLY OPTION.
>> PEOPLE LOOKING FOR THIS EXPERIENCE ARE LOOKING TO ROUGH IT A LITTLE BIT.
REPORTER: JUST A LITTLE BIT.
BUT FOR YOUR PRIVACY, A PLACE TO SIT AND WAIT FOR THE NIGHT SKY TO REVEAL THE MOUNTAINS’ LOVE TRAILS.
JUST ACROSS A BUSY ROUTE 302, AN OLD SPIRIT LEADS YOU DOWN A WINDING ROAD, THROUGH A WORKSHOP, WHERE WE FIND WILLIAM G.
>> EVERYDAY I WAKE UP, I KNOW I’M LUCKY.
REPORTER: HE ARRIVED HERE BY QUITE LITERALLY FOLLOWING THE LIGHT.
>> I WAS JUST HIKING UP THROUGH HERE, LOOKING AT THE PROPERTY MARKERS.
WE GOT UP TO THE HILL, MY WIFE TURNED AROUND AND LOOKS TO THE MOUNTAIN, THEY JUST TURNED ON THE LIGHTS.
IT WAS JUST AN INCREDIBLE SITE.
REPORTER: A MOMENT THAT SEEMED CARVED IN STONE.
IN THIS CASE, WOULD.
>> WHEN I’M STARTING A CARVING, I’M SCARED.
EVERY STROKE OF THE MALLET IS LIKE, I’M A TOTAL FAILURE, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE’S THIS MOMENT WHERE YOU SEE WHAT IT IS YOU WANT TO CARVE.
MY HEAD IS LIKE, I SEE IT, IT’S THERE, THAT IS LIKE A HIGH.
REPORTER: THAT HIGH HAS LED TO DECADES OF CARVING AND A CAREER INSPIRED BY THE NATURE THAT SURROUNDS HIS ART.
>> I’VE HAD A BLACK BEAR RIGHT OUT THE WINDOW RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE SHOP.
REPORTER: HE SAYS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CALCULATE HOW MANY HOURS HE SPENDS IN THE SHOP METICULOUSLY HAMMERING, CARVING, AS NATURE TAKES NEW FORM.
>> I TOLD MY WIFE THAT IF I HAD A COT AND A HUNTING PLATE, I WOULD NEVER LEAVE.
[LAUGHTER] ANTHONY: AND BACK TO SHAWNEE PEAK -- LEGEND HAS IT THAT THE "LOVE TRAILS" WERE CARVED OUT INTENTIONALLY, BUT WE’RE TOLD THAT’S NOT THE CASE.
THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY SAYS IT WAS JUST A COINCIDENCE THAT THE TRAILS APPEAR TO SPELL THE WOR "LOVE," AND PEOPLE JUST EMBRACED IT.
SHAWNEE IS OPEN WITH NEW HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS, AND THE YURT IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR THOSE HEARTY SOULS WILLING TO BOOK I