I love the White Mountains and I love snowshoeing!

Please read this thoroughly BEFORE signing up. 

I have reserved 12 spots for us at Carter Notch Hut for Saturday, Feb 18 and Sunday Feb 19. 

The plan: drive to NH Friday afternoon or evening. Each carpool will figure out their own accommodations for Friday night. I will probably stay at a motel in Littleton. All of the inexpensive AMC spots are already sold out (no space at Shapleigh or Joe Dodge for Friday night), but there are plenty of motels nearby.  Hit the trail early Saturday morning at 8 am, snowshoe to the hut and then all day Saturday and Sunday and half a day Monday, drive home Monday afternoon/evening.

Accommodations: We will be staying at one of the AMC backcountry huts, The Carter Notch Hut. The huts are not heated, although they do light a wood stove in the evenings and it is usually comfortable in the common areas. The bunk areas are not heated at all, so you will need a warm sleeping bag and winter long underwear. It is like winter camping without the wind! The hut is self-serve, which means we cook our own food, but we have the use of the kitchen which is well stocked with pots, pans, plates, etc. The caretaker will provide drinking water (boiled.) I usually like to do group dinners since we get a limited amount of kitchen time allotted to us: we can work that out later as the dates approach. We can bring wine and play games at night.

Meals: Bring your own breakfasts, lunches, and snacks. We will work out group dinners. Hopefully a few of you like to cook and the rest of us can assist in the cooking or shopping. We will split the cost of food and we will all carry some of the food in to the hut.

T rails and peaks: we will hike in, as a group, to Carter Notch Hut on the Nineteen-Mile Brook Trail. This is 4 miles. Once we drop off our things at the hut, store food, choose bunks, etc, the afternoon is free to hike wherever you want. There are several trails and peaks nearby, so there will be plenty of choices to keep you busy each day. I will not be "leading" any hikes, but of course you are all welcome to hike with me! There are several trails available and some are more difficult than others, so each person will have to decide for themselves which trails they wish to hike. I can provide assistance with this, as can the hut caretaker. Some possibilities are:

1. hike on the Wildcat Ridge Trail to Wildcat Mountain (RT 2 miles) and/or to Wildcat D (RT 6 miles)
2. hike on the Carter Moriah Trail to Carter Dome (RT 2.8 miles) or as far as South Carter (RT 4.8 miles) or, if you are super-fit and ambitious Middle Carter (RT 7.4)
3. hike a loop on the Rainbow, Wild River, and Wildcat River Trails (loop 7 miles)

There are other options as well. The distances may seem short, but how strenuous these hikes are depends on your fitness, your experience, trail conditions (is the trail packed or unbroken?), steepness, and weather conditions. 

Who should come on this trip? Well, you need to have the necessary equipment (listed below.) You must be able to carry a winter pack. Your pack will weigh more than your normal dayhike pack, because you will be carrying a share of the group food and some other extra equipment and clothing. If you have backpacked before, you will already be used to the weight. Also, this should not be your first winter hike. I am not super experienced, but the White Mountain Trails (at any time of year) are much more difficult, imo, than any of our PA trails. So, just consider that. Sections of these trails can be quite steep and a bit slippery depending on conditions. This will not be like snowshoeing along rolling fields and hills: this will be challenging and strenuous. Also, it will be FUN!

Equipment & Clothing:

• snowshoes
• crampons (optional, might be needed for some peaks)
• cold weather sleeping bag (0 degree or better)
• appropriate winter clothing (I can send a list of what I bring to anyone who needs it)
• pack that is large enough to carry it all

What is included in the cost: just your spot in the hut, taxes, and fees. All other costs (room for Friday night, food, gas, tolls, etc.) will be separate. When all is added together, I think this trip will end up costing each person under $200.

Guests: I don't normally allow guests, but email me if you want to bring someone and we'll work it out. OK?

I'm sure I'm forgetting to tell you something important. If I think of it later I will add on. Feel free to post questions or email me.

PLEASE ASK ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU SIGN UP! If you sign up mistakenly, say, for example, you realize you don't have the gear or the experience, I will refund you, but minus the fees. 

Update: paid list

1. Me
2. Terri E
3. Matt B
4. Kevin Z
5. Dave B
6. Kristen
7. Shannon L
8. Ed H
9. Angela
10. Tom L
11. John B
12. Sharon H.