peakbagger
In Rembrance , July 2024
There is a national ATV event based at Jericho Lake State Park in Berlin this upcoming Friday and Saturday (22nd and 23rd). Last year they overhyped the potential crowds but expect it will still be quite busy in the area. Using last year as guideline, all the accommodations in the region will be booked up starting Thursday evening. Route 2 going through Gorham will be crowded with ATV traffic in the morning and evening and RT 110 in Milan will be quite busy all day. Unless you are an ATV enthusiast, its best to avoid the area as they expect a couple of thousand. Pinkham B road is a good way to bypass Gorham if you are heading to or from Pinkham notch from RT2 west.
Most of the activities are at the State Park with some activities on Main Street in Berlin. I expect few VFTT folks are interested but they do have a pretty extensive schedule of professionally managed events that occur at the park. I expect kids would get a kick out of it as it involves mud and stunts. The events occur in designed event sites and its a remarkably family event with lots of law enforcement keeping things in control. No need for an ATV, they have fairly efficient shuttle bus system from various parking lots in town. There is an admission fee for the event. Camo may be optional but is pretty much the standard uniform of the participants.
Most of the activities are at the State Park with some activities on Main Street in Berlin. I expect few VFTT folks are interested but they do have a pretty extensive schedule of professionally managed events that occur at the park. I expect kids would get a kick out of it as it involves mud and stunts. The events occur in designed event sites and its a remarkably family event with lots of law enforcement keeping things in control. No need for an ATV, they have fairly efficient shuttle bus system from various parking lots in town. There is an admission fee for the event. Camo may be optional but is pretty much the standard uniform of the participants.
. Lots of families come up plus a couple of local rental places have struck it rich with folks from all over (unfortunately their clients tend to figure in some of the rescues). Local hospitality businesses are pretty busy but to date nothing new has moved in to speak of except for a couple of ATV dealerships. There is a lot of synergy between the snowmachine and ATV businesses and that allows local businesses to operate on more of a year round basis but there still is mud season in the spring. The owners may make a good living but the employees are typically low wage no benefits and a bad winter season can pretty well wipe them out. There are some people who have moved into the area and a couple of businesses have moved up plus there are folks who have bought home strictly to use as weekend homes.
