March 8, 2005 – Eli Enman of Huntington Vermont skied to victory at
the fourth annual Banknorth Great Glen to Bretton Woods Nordic Adventure on
Sunday, March 6. A 50 km and 25 km classical ski event, the course rounds
the northern half of 6, 288 ft. Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the
Northeast. The winning time was 3 hours, 3.8 seconds. Enman placed third
in last yearís event and skis for Rossignol. This yearís field had 418
skiers participating. ìOh man, it was great. What an adventure. A little
bit of everything on the course,î Enman said. Rounding out the top spots
were second place finisher Eben Sargent of Orleans, VT with a time of 3
hours, 1 minute 22.6 seconds, and placing third was Jon Arne Enevoldsen, of
Waitsfield, VT, with a time of 3 hours, 2 minutes, 40.7 seconds.

In the womenís division, Anne Rasmussen, of Plymouth, NH, finished first
with a time of 3 hours, 22 minutes, 44.8 seconds. She placed third in the
event last year. Finishing second was Kathy Maddock, of Wilton, NH in 3
hours, 23 minutes, 57.4 seconds, and Joann Hanowski, of Duluth, MN took
third place in 3 hours 31 minutes 5.7 seconds.

In the 25 km option, Chris City of Belmont, MA took top honors with a time
of 1 hour 33 minutes, 40 seconds. Finishing second in the menís division
was Jim Fredricks with a time of 1 hour 34 minutes, 25 seconds, and Nicolas
DeFrancis, of Norwich, VT took third in 1 hour 34 minutes, 47 seconds.
First place in the womenís division went to Marilyn Hickey of Concord, NH
finishing in 1 hour 50 minutes and 33 seconds.
Jenna Maddock, of South Berwick, ME finished second in 2 hours 15 minutes
and 8 seconds and Crystal Ward of Cambridge, MA placed third with a time of
2 hours 15 minutes and 27 seconds.

A point-to-point event similar in format to the Canadian Ski Marathon or
Birkebeiner of Wisconsin, the Banknorth Great Glen to Bretton Woods Nordic
Adventure began with a mass start at Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center in
Pinkham Notch, NH. The course utilized the trails of the Great Glen and
Bretton Woods Nordic Centers, a narrow connector trail into the White
Mountain National Forest, trails of the U.S. Forest Service Dolly Copp
system, forest roads not plowed during winter, and part of the Presidential
Range Rail Trail. The use of the trails was made possible by working in
coordination with the U.S. Forest Service, the NH Department of
Transportation, the NH Bureau of Trails, NH Fish & Game, and the local
snowmobile clubs.

The greatest climb of the event took skiers to the top of Jefferson Notch,
at an elevation of 3000 feet. A long descent took the participants to the
final kilometers on the Bretton Woods Nordic system, at the western base of
Mt. Washington. An awards party with refreshments was provided for those
participating in the Nordic Adventure. Timing was provided by Jackson Ski
Touring Association.

>From the panoramic views of the Northern Presidential Mountain Range on
>the Great Glen side to the grand Mount Washington Hotel coming into view
>as adventurers skied out of the wooded trails and crossed finish line
>adjacent to Bretton Woodsí Nordic Center, the course traveled through some
>of New Hampshireís most scenic terrain. Both Great Glen Trails Outdoor
>Center and the Bretton Woods Nordic Area are part of historic New
>Hampshire properties. Great Glen Trails is the partner company of the
>144-year-old Mt. Washington Auto Road. The 8-mile road to the summit of
>the Northeastís highest peak, 6, 288 ft, Mt. Washington is Americaís
>oldest manmade attraction. Bretton Woods is on the grounds of the Mount
>Washington Hotel, one of the last of the regionís grand hotels of the
>past. This National Historic Landmark opened in 1902 and was the most
>luxurious hotel of its day.

The change of terrain accompanied by potential extreme weather variations
on the journey from Great Glen Trails to Bretton Woods can involve dramatic
changes in temperature, wind, and conditions lending an element of the
unknown to the challenge. Event Director Sue Wemyss, a 1984 Nordic Ski
Olympian, said, ìEvery year has a new twist, a new challenge. Between
Great Glen and Bretton Woods there are so many variables in the weather,
terrain, and snow that every year will be different. Conditions can change
suddenly and without warning.î

On the first year of the Adventure, the event had to be was moved entirely
to the Bretton Woods Nordic trail system due to lack of snow at critical
sections of the course. The second year was characterized by continuous
condition changes. With rain, then heavy snow at the start, sunshine and
freezing temperatures as the event progressed, then fresh snow on the other
side of Mt. Washington, it was very difficult for those choosing the right
wax. This year the weather was not an issue at all, but there were some
thin spots along the way where some skiers actually removed their skies and
walked a short distance. ìThatís why we call it an adventure,î says
Wemyss. This year featured partly sunny skies and temperatures in the 20s
at the start and overcast with temperatures in the 30s and snow at the
finish for the later finishers.
A special ìDouble Marathon Challengeî award was presented to those who
skied both the 50K Banknorth Great Glen to Bretton Woods Nordic Adventure
and the Banknorth Rangeley Lakes Loppet on March 5, a skate discipline
event held the day before. Making his victory even more impressive,
overall winner Eli Enman also won the Banknorth Rangeley Lakes Loppet
event. ìI thought maybe itís brave or maybe it crazy but it was something
I really wanted to do,î said Enman. Joann Hanowski, the third place
finisher in todayís Nordic Adventure, won the Rangely event in the womenís
division.

The title sponsor for the event was Banknorth. Other sponsors included LL
Bean, Buderus, RSN TV 16, Atomic, Rossignol, Swix, Salomon, Toko,
Maxiglide, Sporthill, Fischer, Craft, Red Parka Pub, Patagonia, Hammer Gel,
Clif Bar, Ragged Mountain, PowerAde and Dasani.

Harpoon Brewery and Hershey provided refreshments for the awards ceremony.
Sysco Foods provided food for the awards ceremony and aid stations. Annieís
Homegrown provided pasta for the awards ceremony
This is the fourth event in the New England Nordic Ski Association’s New
England Marathon Series. Other events in the 2005 Series include: The
Banknorth Craftsbury Marathon held on January 29 in Craftsbury, VT, the
Banknorth Sugarloaf Ski Marathon on February 12 in Sugarloaf, ME, and the
Banknorth Rangeley Lakes Loppet on March 5 in Rangeley, ME.

Final results, photos, and information are available at the event website
www.GreatGlentoBrettonWoods.com. Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center is
located on Rt. 16 in Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire. For more information
about them visit www.GreatGlenTrails.com. Bretton Woods Nordic Ski Area is
on Rt. 302 in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. Their website is
www.mtwashington.com.