With all the fresh snow on the ground, it’s a perfect time to get out the snowshoes and strap them on for the afternoon.

The Boulder Loop Trail is a shining example of how a popular summer and fall hike can turn into an excellent winter snowshoe excursion. The 3.0-mile trail rewards the snowshoer with spectacular vistas above the Passaconaway Valley for a relatively modest amount of effort. The Boulder Loop Trail is located just off the Kancamagus Highway.

The Carter Notch Trail is for the more experienced outdoorsman.  This hike follows the Nineteen-mile Brook Trail through Carter Notch. The moderately steep trail climbs only 3.8 miles to the Appalachian Mountain Club Carter Notch Hut, passing cascades, two small mountain lakes, and open views along the way. It’s a popular route, both summer and winter, offering plenty of scenic outlooks as it winds through the picturesque notch, wedged in between the ridges of Wildcat Mountain and Carter Dome.

You can join yours truly at the Pooh Hill Snowshoe Scramble this Saturday, January 23rd. The race is being held at King Pine & Purity Spring Resort on Eaton Road (Route 153) in East Madison, NH.  Registration at Milt’s Place at King Pine from 10:00 - 11:00 am.  The race starts at 11:30 am. Below is the updated course description.

COURSE DESCRIPTION (Updated 01/17/2010)
With a tremendous amount of regret I must announce that it’s finally official…the climb up Toll Hill (via the Pooh Hill Trail) will be eliminated.  As you can see below, the recent logging near the Pooh Hill trail junction has devastated this section of the course.  I had hoped to salvage it, but until I saw it this morning I had no idea how bad it was.  As of today (Sunday 1/17) the snow conditions are very fast.  The snowshoe and Nordic trails are hardpacked and will be lightning fast!  With the elimination of “Pooh Hill” the course will be shorter (and decidedly flatter) than the roughly 9 km it measured last year and due to a “trouble spot” or two may look a little different as well.  A final distance and course description will be released on this webpage Friday evening.  Expect the distance to come in between 6-8 kms.  Despite these changes, what will not change is our incredible hospitality, organization, and awards ceremony.  We’re bringing hundreds of dollars worth of prizes to give-a-way and lunch is on us!  Don’t wait, register today.
Should be fun for everyone!!