Hanover Parties at the Dartmouth Outing Club:
Occom Pond Party 2009
As always, a good time was had by all but we WERE NOT USED TO such incredible weather! 32^F / 0^C and a cloudless sky - what world are we living in? Years past have seen blizzards, thaws and a bit of each in the same hour!
Let’s set the scene for you…
Gold Medaling in Fun in the Sun !
Occom Pond is a 10 minute walk from Main St in Hanover and a 5 minute walk from most places on the Dartmouth Campus. It is bordered on one side by the Hanover Country Club (a public-private course) and ringed by a series of lovely houses built mostly between 1920 and 1940. This GREAT skating, sledding and nordic skiing spot is the winter home of the Dartmouth Outing Club which is run by Michael Silverman, a wonderful individual who you will meet if you EVER ride a bike or strap-on skis in Hanover!
Getting Pulled Across the Ice by Joanna
Some of the highlights included mini-hockey shootouts, ice sculptures, unparalleled sledding conditions and people-powered sleigh rides. Just look at Joanna Whitcomb go and go and go! (Shown above pulling Samantha Westelman and cousin Pheonix Bebinger.)
Future Hanover High Goal Scorers
Hanover, Norwich, Lebanon, Lyme & Hartford are towns that fit together well. Residents of the various communities come out in support of each others’ events. Because so many of the annual traditions are outdoor in nature, we end up mixing excercise and recreation an awful lot in the Upper Valley. Childhood obesity may be a trend that the society has to del with but we are doing our best to hold it off for a generation or two!
The Weather Was SOOOOO Cooperative !
I want to thank all the volunteers including Youth In Action and the sponsors: Hanover Parks & Recreation, Jamie Hess’ Nordic Skater, the Dartmouth Cross Country Ski Center and the Montshire Skating Club. We treasure this event and without the support of these great organizations the Occom Pond Party would not ROCK half as loud!
We love the pond party and treasure the outdoor recreational activities that the Upper Valley has to offer. The weather was great this year. The ice was about 15 inches thick in areas and there were chunks cut-out to observe with safety and weight-bearing information provided. Recreation, nature, science - all in one.