Mount Washington Valley News Brought To You By Horsefeathers

By Tom Eastman - The Conway Daily Sun
Photographer Jose Azel (left) of National Geographic recently on Feb. 19 gave a slide show at the Grand Summit Hotel and Conference Center in Bartlett on his many spectacular photos of Mount Washington. The event benefited the Mount Washington Observatory, which has operated a weather observatory atop the 6288-foot mountain since 1932.
Azel, of Lovell, Maine, spent two years working on the Mount Washington assignment. The article, “Backyard Arctic,” was penned by Neil Shea, and appears in the February 2009 issue of the internationally-acclaimed magazine.
For further information about the observatory, call 356-2137 or go to www.mtwashington.org.
(TOM EASTMAN PHOTO)

By Tom Eastman - Conway Daily Sun
Conditions were snowy and superb for the Mount Washington Valley Ski Touring and Snowshoe Association’s 20th annual Chocolate Festival, which returned to the sweet trails of Intervale Sunday, Feb. 22 — a great way to celebrate George Washington’s 277th birthday.
Participants cross-country skied, snowshoed, or drove inn-to-inn to nine chocolate-dispensing outlets along the trails of the center within a 65-kilometer network, indulging in your favorite chocolate fantasy at several participating inns along the way during the center’s most popular event of the season.
Among the participants were Melissa (left) and Chrstine (right), two chocolate loving skiers, both of Mount Washington Valley.

Mount Washington Valley’s other touring centers include the 65-kilometer Bear Notch Ski Touring and Snowshoe Center (374-2277) in Bartlett, Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center (466-2333; 40-kilometer network at base of Mount Washington in Pinkham Notch; SnowCoach tours and indoor climbing wall also featured); King Pine Nordic Center (367-8896: All-4-1 ticket includes ski touring, ice skating, snowshoeing and alpine skiing; 15-kilometer network); Jackson Ski Touring (383-9355; 154-kilometer network of inn-to-inn skiing and snowshoeing); and the aforementioned Mount Washington Valley Ski Touring and Snowshoe Center (356-9920; 65-kilometer network, including North Conway’s Whitaker Woods, with headquarters at Ragged Mountain Equipment in Intervale).
(TOM EASTMAN PHOTO)

Feb18th - Tin Mountain Conservation Center is presenting winter birds for grades one through three from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Birds from the smallest kinglet to the largest great-horned owl have unique adaptations for winter survival. After an introduction to winter bird identification, the group will head out to explore the fields and forests of the Nature Learning Center in search of winter birds and their signs such as tracks and scat. Dress warm and bring a lunch. Tin Mountain Conservation Center will provide cocoa and snowshoes. Cost is $35 for Tin Mountain members and $45 for non-members. For more information call 447-6991.

Join National Geographic photojournalist Jose Azel and the Mount Washington Observatory at Attitash Grand Summit Hotel for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the making of National Geographic’s article, “Backyard Arctic.” The evening kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with a reception in the lobby of the hotel’s grand ballroom. There will be several door prizes and a raffle for a framed black and white Mount Washington image from the observatory’s Washburn Gallery collection. All proceeds from this event will benefit the non-profit Mount Washington Observatory as it works to match a $25,000 challenge grant from the Kendall C. and Anna Ham Charitable Foundation.

By Tom Eastman
Conway Daily Sun
(TOM EASTMAN PHOTO)

BARTLETT, N.H. — How can you not love a place that allows you to  bring your four-footed best friend skiing with you? That’s how it is at the down-home, laid-back Bear Notch Ski Touring  Center, located on Route 302 just west of Bartlett Village.

Featuring more than 65 kilometers of cross country skiing, Bear Notch  is operated by the Garland brothers, Doug and John. The trails on the  north side of Route 302 meander along the Saco River, while those on  the touring center headquarters side travel south along Albany Brook  and into the Bartlett Experimental Forest. There are also trails that  go east toward Attitash and the Grand Summit.

For snacks and fresh warm homemade soup, the center features a  warming room that operates on an old-fashioned honor system that  makes you glad that there are still small corners in the world where  trust is still a valid currency!

The center operates cross country and snowshoe rentals and sales as  well as lessons and guided tours by reservation.

For further information, go to www.bearnotchski.com or call (603)  374-2277.

Pinkham Notch, NH— Friday, February 6, 2009 is National Go Red For Women Day, and Great Glen Trails is offering 50% off trail passes and cross country ski and snowshoe rentals and the opportunity for a free cross country ski lesson to anyone who wears red to support the American Heart Association.

All participants at Great Glen Trails will receive the official Go Red pin. Along with discounted trails passes and rentals, Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center is offering free cross country ski clinics at 1:00 PM to the first 10 registrants.

Go Red For Women is a nationwide movement to empower women to love and save their hearts through lifestyle choices and actions. Women (and men) are encouraged to wear read on Friday to help raise awareness of heart disease as the leading killer of women. Go Red For Women Day has its own dress code. Wear your favorite red clothes or accessory, put on red lipstick, or sport a red tie and red socks. Go red in your own fashion to show your support for women and the fight against heart disease.

 For more information about Go Red For Women Day at Great Glen Trails, visit www.GreatGlenTrails.com or contact Mary Power at 603.466.2333. Discount offer for Go Red cannot be combined with any other offer.

For more information about national Go Red For Women Day activities, visit www.GoRedForWomen.com

 Great Glen Trails is open daily for cross country skiing and snowshoeing with 40km. SnowCoach tours up the Mt. Washington Auto Road are also running daily. Snow conditions and complete events calendar available at www.GreatGlenTrails.com.

By Tom Eastman
The Conway Daily Sun
NORTH CONWAY — Every Wednesday during the course of a 10-week season, hundreds of skiers and boarders gather at North Conway’s in-town, back yard ski area, Cranmore Mountain Resort, to participate in Mountain Meisters, the nation’s largest weekly citizens’ racing series.

“I love Meisters because I see friends there whom I don’t run into the rest of the year. If it’s Wednesday, you know where everyone will be, and it’s Cranmore,” said one longtime racer.

Skiers and riders are put into divisions by Meister coordinator Danbo Doucet, the guru of Meistering (and apres Meistering), who runs the program with longtime Cranmore Snowsports School Director Karen Dolan and the Meister Committee comprised of team captains.

Racers compete as individuals and for their team,s with each team open to 15 members. A total of 50 teams are racing this year, with the Eaton Boogers leading after four weeks of racing, followed by F Troop and Delaney’s Hole-in-the-Wall.

Horsefeathers has a team, as do many other local businesses, with Horsefeathers’ Kelli MacDonald placing first for the women for the first four weeks of the season. Horsefeathers frequently donates raffle prizes for the weekly apres ski party at Zip’s Pub at Cranmore.

After that weekly bash, many Meisters gather at Horsefeathers to rehash their day’s run, share ski racing tips and to enjoy Horsefeathers’ Wednesday night buffets, where nobody ever goes away hungry. Some then go on to Delaney’s Hole-in-the-Wall, a fellow Valley Originals restaurant, to enjoy live music and dancing.

Each Thursday, each week’s results are published in the Conway Daily Sun.

Mountain Meistering — it’s what community spirit in the Mount Washington Valley is all about!

For further information, go to www.cranmore.com. And whether you’re a Meister or a NASTAR Weekend Warrior at one of our many local areas, go out and enjoy running those gates!

February is for lovers, and while there are more than ten great places to kiss in Mt Washington Valley, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, here are some fun and exceptional ideas for sharing a little love in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. There’s everything from chairlift speed dating for singles looking for a Valentine date to snow packed kisses stolen at 4300+ feet on Mt Washington. Read on for some great ideas for finding amour in our area.

Third Annual Black Mountain Chairlift Speed Dating:
February 14, 2009 - Don’t miss the opportunity to meet the ’ski bum’ of your dreams during the eight minutes it takes to ride the lift from bottom to top. New this year, love potions from the bar and a special aphrodisiac Valentine menu created by the chef will be available to enjoy afterward with the favorite date. Enter the contest for the best pick-up line and perhaps win a grand prize of one night stay slope- side at Whitney’s Inn, two Black Mountain tickets a dozen roses and a bottle of champagne. Sign up in the Lostbo Pub upon arrival. This event is free; lift pass required to ride.

The Kissing Bridge: The scenic covered bridge that crosses the Wildcat River at the entrance to Jackson, NH was a popular escape for honeymooners of yesteryear. The tale goes that newly-weds would steal a kiss under the covered bridge and their marriage would be blessed. It is still a tradition today to enjoy a kiss in this scenic setting.

Private Sleigh Rides for Two: There are a number of venues including The Darby Field Inn, Nestlenook Farm, and The Stables at The Farm by the Riveroffering sleigh rides for two throughout the winter. Bring along a bottle of bubbly and some pate, and you’ll have everything you need. Blankets are always provided, and snuggling is encouraged! On Saturday, February 14, a horse drawn sleigh will take you to “Proposal Pines” at Shawnee Peak where a few proposals are anticipated along with a kiss to seal the deal!

Moonlight Hike to Diana’s Baths: Put on some layers and snowshoes and after short half mile hike from West Side Road, you will come upon the frozen beauty of a series of waterfalls and pools. Snuggle up with your loved one while the moon lights the night. This is what the locals call one of the secret romance spots in Mt. Washington Valley, so beware on a full moon night, you might have some company.

Fine Dining: They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. If that’s the case, there are a wide variety of excellent restaurants that appeal to every palate. Candlelight dining in a scenic setting can be found throughout Mt. Washington Valley. For those who find decadence romantic, try the Espresso Martini at Bellini’s Ristorante Italiano. The glass is dipped in thick chocolate then chilled, and the concoction which has been trademarked will definitively start your heart pounding. Click here for additional suggestions for fine dining in Mt. Washington Valley.

On Mt. Washington: Journey to 4300 feet on Mt. Washington in the SnowCoach and stay warm with a kiss at the turn-around point. The SnowCoach up the Mt. Washington Auto Road is available at Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center in Pinkham Notch - weather permitting. There is nothing like the winter world above tree-line.

A Warming Cabin: The scenic Ellis River Trail on the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation trail is a rolling 7.7 km journey along the West Bank of the Ellis River. The warming hut at the 1.5 km point will be even warmer with a kiss for sweetheart. Visit theirwebsite for a trail map.

Traditional Swiss Fondue: Served daily at the Wentworth lounge in Jackson for Après Ski from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm. This serving custom originated inSwitzerland and goes “If a lady loses her bread in the fondue she pays a kiss to the nearest man. If a man loses his bread, he buys the next round of drinks.” It is not however good form to make someone else lose his or her bread. The fondue is carefully made following an old Swiss recipe Innkeeper Fritz brought here from his native Switzerland. The Bernerhof’s dining room in Glen does a wonderful fondue for two or four too.

Moonlight Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Tour: February 14 at the Mount Washington Resort - Snow and a full moon accentuate the breathtaking beauty of Mount Washington Resort’s Nordic and snowshoe terrain. Join their Nordic Center staff on this hour-long excursion along the cross-country moonlit trails of the Resort. Hot chocolate and a roaring fire (and a kiss) will warm you following the adventure. Reservations are required. This event is complimentary for Resort guests and is $10 for the public.
20th Annual Chocolate Festival: Sunday, February 22nd from 11:00 am and 4:00 pm. Cross country ski, snowshoe or drive from inn-to-inn along the trails of the Mount Washington Valley Ski Touring and Snowshoe Foundation. Travel the 65 KM network to enjoy the spectacular scenery, warm hospitality, and great chocolate treats at stops throughout the network, many located along the trails. How about a chocolate kiss?

Plan your next romantic getaway in Mt Washington Valley, NH. With thirteen ski resorts and XC Centers, more than 150 lodging, 75 dining options and more than 200 outlets, shops and boutiques, not to mention the 660,000 acres of White Mountain National Forest to play in, there’s no place in New England with more for romantic couples. Visitwww.MtWashingtonValley.org for all your trip planning needs or call 1-800-DO-SEE-NH (800-367-3364) for more information.