Pine Hill Ski Club was founded in 2005 by John Schlosser.  John and Nancy Schlosser had established NORSK cross country ski area, based at the Lake Sunapee Country Club, in 1976.  Norsk thrived for years with many kilometers of trails, the annual Governor’s Cup Race, and skiers from the Boston area as well as more local NH towns.  Norsk closed its doors in 2004 but John Schlosser, who had sold Norsk in 2000, hated to see the loss of a local place for the greater New London community to get out on cross country trails.

 

Schlosser knew the owners over whose lands in New London, Sutton and Wilmot the Norsk trails had crossed.  He visited each, and gained permission to continue to use and maintain part of the old Norsk trails for a local ski club.  Schlosser worked too with the Town of New London, which also wanted to see cross country skiing continue.  The Town offered their Highway Department staging area on Mountain Road, amid the piles of road maintenance materials, to become an access (and parking) point for skiers to get onto the trails. 

 

In the years since 2005, there have been many changes in the trail system, as some areas have been closed off for skiers’ use and new trails have been cut.  Lands have changed ownership, but PHSC has been fortunate to have new landowners continue to welcome the winter seasonal use of trails on their lands.

 

New Leadership and Governance

John Schlosser stepped down in 2017 from being the sole individual making this skiing possible.  He had established non-profit status, a governing board, and some volunteers to help him groom. In March 2017, those who loved skiing at Pine Hill met to figure out a way to keep the trails open and groomed.  A group of volunteers stepped up to keep PHSC going,  with Schlosser's advice and help.  Under strong leadership, that group of mostly septuagenarians figured out a new governing structure and drew in additional volunteers for all functions, from grooming the trails to hosting events at Robb’s Hut. (And the Moosecots appeared on the trails …)

 

In 2019 leadership transitioned to a new PHSC Board chair, Susie Lowe-Stockwell, and the NH non-profit ski club continues to be run under a board of directors chaired by Lowe-Stockwell.  All season pass holders are members of the Club, and elect Board members at the Annual Meeting in October.   All who are keeping Pine Hill open for our communities and visitors from afar, are volunteers.