As Mount Peter celebrates its 90th anniversary, stories from the people who helped shape its history remind us that the mountain’s true magic lies not only on its slopes, but in the friendships, laughter, and moments of chance that define it.
Celebrating 90 Years of Mount Peter:
The Generations Shaped by Mount Peter
When Mount Peter celebrates 90 years, it’s impossible not to think about the people who helped shape the mountain just as much as it shaped them. For Mike Wettstein, Mount Peter has never been just a place to ski. It’s where his family grew up, where lifelong friendships were formed, and where a new generation is now learning to love the snow.
Mike and his wife Laurie moved to Warwick in the mid-1980s with two young sons. Skiing had once been a big part of their lives, but like many young families, it was put on hold. “By the early ’90s,” Mike recalls, “I said to Laurie, I want to get back on skis.” That decision led him straight to Mount Peter and, eventually, to Ski Patrol.
In 1992, Mike joined the patrol after connecting quickly with other members who shared similar medical and EMS backgrounds. What started as a practical way to get back on snow soon became something much bigger. “It turned into a family,” Mike says.
As his sons grew to about six and eight years old, Mount Peter became the center of their winters. Nights and weekends were spent on the mountain, often after homework and a quick dinner at home. “We were here constantly,” Mike says. “They grew up here.” The small size of the mountain created something special: freedom paired with familiarity. The kids skied with their friends, explored on their own, and learned independence, all while being surrounded by people who knew them. “If you stood at the base long enough,” Mike laughs, “eventually they’d come down.” Only later did his sons realize how rare that childhood experience was. “Now they say, ‘My childhood was just great,’” he says.
Mike spent nearly three decades on Ski Patrol, leading with respect above all else. “I never wanted to be the cop,” he says. “I just talked to people. When you treat kids with respect, they respond.” That approach was shaped early on by Don Sampson, who ran the mountain when Mike first joined. “You always knew where you stood with Don,” Mike recalls. “Straight shooter. Honest. Worked hard.” Those values stayed with Mike throughout his years on patrol—keeping guests safe while protecting the joy that makes Mount Peter special.
Beyond the day-to-day, Mount Peter also gave Mike’s family skills that carried far beyond the hill. “You’re on snow all the time here,” he explains. “It builds muscle memory and confidence.” When the family traveled to larger resorts out west, they were ready. “We could ski anything,” Mike says. “Mount Peter prepared us for that.”
Some of the mountain’s most meaningful moments weren’t about skiing at all. For their twentieth anniversary, Mike and Laurie renewed their wedding vows at the top of the mountain; arriving by toboggan, cans tied behind, surrounded by friends, family, and curious onlookers. And then there was Spring Rally — pig roasts, pond skimming, obstacle courses, music, and long sunny days that felt like the perfect ending to winter. “It was just fun,” Mike says. “Pure fun.”
Now, Mike’s Mount Peter story has come full circle. His sons are bringing their own children to the mountain, and each of his four grandchildren is discovering snow in their own way. One took to skiing immediately. Another prefers snow angels and hot chocolate. The youngest two are just beginning their journey. And that’s exactly how Mike wants it. “I don’t critique them,” he says. “I guide them. I just want them to enjoy it.”
As Mount Peter continues into its 90th season, Mike sees the same heart he’s always known; a place that’s evolved, modernized, and grown, while still feeling like the mountain he raised his family on. “I just want my grandkids to grow up with the same joy my kids had here,” he says.
After 90 years, stories like Mike’s remind us that Mount Peter isn’t just where people learn to ski; it’s where generations are raised on snow.
“It’s a great place to grow old with your family.”
Written by - Sara Capezza, Marketing Manager
