Discover what it means to be a “hero” skier in Mt Washington Valley, NH this week

Greetings from Mt Washington Valley, NH,

We took a break from winter in Mt Washington Valley this week and enjoyed spring-like temps and bluebird skies. With all the snow we’ve received over the past five weeks, conditions are perfect for the next NH February vacation week. At Attitash, they call it “Hero Snow”. Why? Because you ski like a hero on it! Heading into New Hampshire’s vacation week, look forward to more spring like temps, soft fun snow, and tons of great options for skiing, riding, snowmobiling, tubing, sleighrides and more. Add in a packed vacation week calendar and plenty of cold craft beer and apres ski entertainment for kids and adults, and you know where to head to feel like a hero! And chocolate lovers, this is the weekend for you as we celebrate the 28th Annual Chocolate Festival with sweet treats at every stop along the trails of the Mt Washington Valley Ski Touring & Snowshoe Center. Ski, snowshoe or hike to your next chocolate tasting. Sounds like guilt-free snacking to us!

Here’s the update on snow conditions from Mt Washington Valley today, Thursday, February 23, 2017:

Attitash – 63 trails (56 groomed), 8 lifts operating, 238 acres of packed powder skiing. Base depths: 24”-48”. 110” of snowfall for the season. On Sunday, February 25, Abenaki Parks Big Air contest takes place starting with the 8:00 registration. Stomp your best tricks and walk away with prizes. In addition, there’ll be live entertainment for après ski every afternoon in the Bear’s Den and Ptarmigan’s Pub from through Feb 25.

Black Mountain – 42 trails, 4 lifts operating, 135 acres of machine groomed skiing. Base depths approx: 12”-30”. 82” of snowfall for the season. After a day on the slopes, catch some apres ski entertainment in the Lostbo Pub this weekend.

Bretton Woods – 100% open with 65 trails/35 glades, 9 lifts, 464 acres of skiable terrain. Base depths: 22”-46”. 4” to 16” of new snow in the past 6 days; Snowfall for season to date: 170”. It’s February Fun Week at Bretton Woods with great activities and entertainment for the whole family, now through -arch 5th, both on the mountain and at the Omni Mount Washington Resort. Some of the activities and entertainment include Movie Matinees, Adult Ski Après, Kids Ski Après, Rubber duck race, family games, DJs and Magic entertainers, Omni Kids Explorers, morning yoga, Paper Airplane Party, a Polar Plunge and so much more!

Cranmore – 100% open with 57 machine groomed trails, 7 lifts, 171 acres of skiable terrain. Base depths: 20”-38”. Mountain Adventure Park and Tubing Park open this weekend and throughout Feb Vacation Weeks, starting on Friday at 11am and daily there’ll be s’mores, C-more and music in the square plus live entertainment in Zip’s Pub all week long too. Join the hardhat tour of Kearsarge Brook, the new base complex scheduled to be completed in October, 2017 on Feb 25th. The tours will be led by Cranmore’s President Ben Wilcox and everyone is welcome to attend. Simply show up at the Kearsarge Brook Sales office to get your hard hat

King Pine – King Pine is 100% open and skiing and riding on 17 trails (90% groomed), 5 lifts, 50 acres skiable terrain. Base depths: 27” – 48”. 107” snowfall to date this season. Tubing park, skating rink, sleigh rides (by reservation) open this weekend. Get in on the Kids Fun Race and Saturday night family racing on Feb 25th both free with a lift ticket.

Shawnee Peak – 100% open with 43 trails (30 groomed), 5 lifts operating, 2 terrain parks open. Base depths: 34”-48”. The week finishes off on February 26th with the Russ Haggett Memorial Race. Russ Haggett, a 2003 inductee to the Ski Maine Hall of Fame, was Pleasant Mountain’s general manager throughout the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. The Russ Haggett Memorial Race is a family-fun race, for Skiers and Snowboarders of all ages and ability, and a great opportunity for beginners to experience downhill ski racing. Race day registration 8:30am-10:30am. Race fee $15.

Wildcat–Wildcat is 100% open with 48 trails (24 groomed), 4 lifts, 225 skiable acres. Base depth: 30”-60”. 181” of snowfall for the season to date. On Saturday, February 25th it’s Crazy Hat Day with prizes for the craziest, Best In Show and other categories, starting at 11:00am in the lawn area (must be present to win). Throughout the week, through March25 there’ll be live music and entertainment in the Wildcat Pub too.

The XC Ski Centers in Mt Washington Valley are all open and jamming with recent snowfall.

Bear Notch Ski Touring – 50 km open. 40km classic, 40km skating with extensive grooming and primo conditions. Upper and Lower Saco River trails have spectacular views and are beginner friendly. Picnic tables are out! Base depth: 12”-24”.

Bretton Woods Nordic Center – 100% open with 54 trails, 99km open. 33 trails (70km) track set and 39 trails (78km) skate groomed, Base depth: 12”-14”. Snowfall to date: 117”.

Great Glen Trails – 45km open, 20km tracked, 25km skate groomed, 45km snowshoe trails. Average base depth: 20”. 146” of snowfall season to date. SnowCoach is running. Tubing hill is open. Call ahead for fat bike terrain report. Save on trail passes, SnowCoach tours, tubing and the total trails ticket on Monday, February 27th with the Buy One Get One offer at Great Glen Trails. Also, on Saturday, 25th, take your pick of skiing with a naturalist or taking an evening snowshoe tour.

Jackson Ski Touring Foundation – 55 trails open (128 km total), 34 trails track set and 33 trails skate groomed. 18 trails open for snowshoeing, 9 back country trails open. Base depth: 12”-30”. 99” of snowfall to date. Get in on the 2 hour Tuesday Trekker Tours led by naturalist guide Peter Minich on Tuesday, Feb 28th. Peter will lead the group to a different location exploring the snow covered snowshoe trails of this beautiful area! $15 per person.

Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring – 45km open in Whitaker Woods & Intervale Network, 45km single tracked and 45 skate groomed. 45km open for snowshoeing, 2km open for fat biking in Whitaker Woods. Base depths: 18”-30”. Bring your skinny skis, snowshoes and appetite on February 26th for the 28th Annual Mt Washington Valley Chocolate Tour. You canCross country ski, snowshoe, walk or ride the shuttle from inn-to-inn along the Mt Washington Valley Ski & Snowshoe Foundation network for the Sweetest Day on the Trails. Sample chocolate treats at each stop. Chocolate dipped strawberries, chocolate fountains and fondue, brownie sundaes, and chocolate cookies of all kinds are just some of the treats you’ll enjoy at the trailside stops between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm. Other area businesses also prepare complimentary chocolate treats for festival participants.

Purity Spring XC and Snowshoe Reserve – 17 trails open. 28km track set, 28km skate groomed. Base depth: 18”-24”. Groomed 2/22/17. On Saturday, look forward to a Guided Snowshoe Tour at 2 p.m. ($12 per person or $20 with snowshoe rentals).

Photos of the Day:

Attitash: Wed, Feb 22nd was the perfect day to hit the trails and take in the fabulous views. Photo taken 2/22/17 by Wiseguy Creative Photography.

Wildcat: A cool cloud formation and blue skies make for the perfect photo from atop Wildcat Mountain on 2/22/17. Photo by Liz Cancelliere, Wildcat Photo Library

Ice Fishing: Mt Washington Valley region fishing guides, appropriately named, Fish Nerds, made two kids and their Mom very happy. Photo taken on 2/21/17 by Wiseguy Creative.