Press Kit

Winter news from Mt Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce – February 16, 2021

Contact:  Marti Mayne, 207-846-6331, PR@mtwashingtonvalley.org

GUIDED SNOWSHOE TOURS WITH EXTRAS

Explore, learn, stargaze, even yoga can be enjoyed on snowshoes in Mt Washington Valley, NH

North Conway, NH – Everyone’s enjoying being outdoors this winter, and snowshoeing has become the biggest craze in Mt Washington Valley. Snowshoes are a great way to explore and find freedom in the quiet woods of the White Mountain National Forest. A jaunt on snowshoes can be as easy as a casual walk on the trails or as exhilarating as a backcountry winter mountain hike. If you can walk, you can snowshoe. No special skills are required, only warm clothes.

Why take a guided tour? Some think, “I’ll just follow the trail.”  The reason to take a guided snowshoe tour is not because will get lost without the guide. Getting lost is unlikely. Guides not only can help newcomers grow comfortable on snowshoes, they will also make sure they see the natural points of interest and offer some background on the region, geology and other fun facts.  Simply put, guides make the trip more interesting.  A lot of people find it’s just easier to enjoy the trails when all they have to do is snowshoe. 

Remember, Covid restrictions are in place throughout Mt Washington Valley, including social distancing and masks required. It’s a good idea to register for snowshoe tours in advance, in fact most require it.  In addition, all events are weather permitting, so check before you head out.

In Mt Washington Valley, NH winter outdoor lovers will find everything from fundamental guided snowshoe tours offering instruction and/or directions to tours with a theme – from moonlit tours to yoga tours. Let’s explore some of the options in Mt Washington Valley for a myriad of snowshoe tours.

ONGOING GUIDED SNOWSHOE TOURS

Every Saturday & Sunday: MWV Ski Touring Guided Snowshoe Walk & Snowshoe Yoga Tours – Look for weekly guided snowshoe tours departing every Saturday from the MWV Ski Touring Center at 1:00pm.  These tours are the perfect idea for novice or first-time snowshoers.  The guided snowshoe walk will take place along the East Branch and Saco Rivers, covering a distance of less than two miles at an easy pace.  The tour will last between 1.5 to 2 hours. You’ll be introduced to basic snowshoeing technique and bushwhacking skills while you learn trees and wildlife and search for animal tracks along the way. Cost is $25 per person including the trail pass. Rentals are not available this year at MWV Ski Touring. Advance payment and reservations required. Info and online reservations here: https://www.mwvskitouring.org/snowshoe.html.

Weekly guided Snowshoe Yoga Tourstake place every Sunday, departing from the MWV Ski Touring Center at 10:00am. This weekly tour combines yoga and mindfulness with snowshoeing in the spectacular setting of the mountains. The tour begins with some warmup stretches to prepare for a beautiful snowshoe walk in the woods. Snowshoeing happens along the trail at an easy pace, stopping at an open spot to pause for some yoga practice. Simple poses that will be accessible to all levels including beginners. After the snowshoe walk, the guide will end the tour with a few easy stretches. Stress melts away and the body and mind will be reset and refreshed. This is a two hour tour and costs $25 per person including a trail pass for the day.  Rentals not available. Reservations required. Info and online reservations here: https://www.mwvskitouring.org/snowshoe.html.

Every Saturday:  Guided Snowshoe Tours at Great Glen Trails:  Take a walk through the winter woods at Great Glen Trails from 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm each Saturday.  Your experienced guide will point out animal prints along the tour and talk about the flora and fauna of the White Mountains. This tour is great for all ages and all abilities. Tours are approximately 75 minutes. Please plan to arrive by 12:45pm if you need rental equipment through the rental shop here. The tour is ideal for skiers eight years old and up. Ten participants max for these tours.  Tours are $10 per person and do not include an afternoon trail pass or rentals, so plan to also purchase a trail pass or use a season’s pass.  Info and book online here: https://greatglentrails.com/Activities-Winter/snowshoeing/guided-snowshoe-tours

Saturday & Sunday: Guided snowshoe tours at Jackson XC: Jackson Ski Touring offers a number of timeslots for guided snowshoe tours.  Depart from the lodge on Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 am, 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. Jackson Ski Touring Foundation maintains 40 kilometers of dedicated, self-guided, purpose-built snowshoe trails. For 2021 guided tours are essentially private; only members of the same travel party may tour together. Scheduled Toursare $37 per person and include the tour, all day snowshoe trail pass and rental snowshoes if needed. In addition, private tours may be scheduled at your convenience any time and are $50/person, two person minimum. Make reservations by calling 603-383-9355. Info: https://www.jacksonxc.org/snowshoeing/.

SCHEDULED SNOWSHOE TOURS- FEBRUARY & MARCH

February 20: Evening snowshoe tour at Great Glen Trails: Join a naturalist from the Appalachian Mountain Club for a guided evening snowshoe tour where you’ll navigate use your senses, listen for owls, and test our night vision. Depart from the lodge at Great Glen Trails at 7:00 pm (arrive by 6:30pm if you need rentals). Tours are about 90 minutes. Minimum age to participate is 8 years old and tours are $12 per person over 12, ages 8-12 are free. Reservations required.  Max 20 people. Info and book online: https://greatglentrails.com/pmshoe.

Feb 27: – Snowshoe exploration of World Fellowship Center: Join the Upper Saco Valley Land Trust and the Chocorua Lake Conservancy for a joint snowshoe exploration of the World Fellowship Center from 10:00AM to noon. World Fellowship Co-Director Andrea Davis and Chocorua Lake Conservancy Stewardship Director Lynne Flaccus will lead a tour of the amazing natural resources at the World Fellowship Center offering winter tree identification and animal tracking along the way. This is an intermediate level outing – you will be snowshoeing on uneven terrain, both on established trails and off-trail. Please make sure to bundle up and bring your own snowshoes. Space is limited; reservations required. Please email info@usvlt.org  to register.

Feb 27 Full Moon Snowshoe with Tin Mountain Conservation Center: Gather at the Nature Learning Center in Albany at 7PM and join the staff on an evening snowshoe ramble through the beautiful fields and forests of TMCC in Albany. You will see whoooo is out and about on a mid-winter's night. Dress warmly and bring snowshoes or borrow some from TMCC. Space is limited; reservations required.  Register online at www.tinmountain.org or call 603-447-6991. 

Feb 20 & 27th and March 13: Moonlight Snowshoe Tours with REI: Here's your chance to experience the serenity of winter in a whole new way! Expert REI guides will lead you on snow-covered trails under the night sky. Along with a few snowshoe tips and techniques, they will also provide all the equipment, headlamps and warm beverages. February trips are a little more strenuous than the March trip.  All take place at Echo Lake State Park. Daytime tours also available on February 20.  Tours start at $49 for REI members.  For information: https://www.rei.com/events/p/us-nh-north-conway .M

To learn more about snowshoe, ski or winter vacations in Mt Washington Valley, go to www.MtWashingtonValley.org.  There you’ll find complete trip planning resources.  To learn more about planning your next trip to New Hampshire, go to www.VisitNH.gov.

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Photo above: Use with permission only.  Credit Bill Lee.

For more photos, visit the Mt Washington Valley online Flickr gallery here.