The Snow Report: Enjoying the winter woods with your bow-wowser at Bear Notch

How can you not love a place that allows you to bring your four-footed best friend skiing with you? Thats 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 374-2277.Mount Washington Valley's other touring centers include 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-km network); Jackson Ski Touring (383-9355; 154-km network of inn-to-inn skiing and snowshoeing); and Mount Washington Valley Ski Touring and Snowshoe Center (356-9920; 65-km network, including North Conway's Whitaker Woods headquarters at Ragged Mountain Equipment in Intervale). BIG AIR, BIG WEEK: Cross-country skiers, snowshoers and alpine skiers have been living it up the first few days of February Vacation Week No. 1. Sunny skies greeted winter snowsports enthusiasts Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with the added bonus of the first day of vacation week also being Valentine's Day. It has all added up to great crowds at touring centers and ski areas as well as at local restaurants.Go big or go home was the motto of this years annual Attitash Big Air Event, which launched into the airways over Bartlett Saturday, Feb. 14.And go big they did. With a takeoff towering close to 30-feet off the ground, competitors were hucking themselves 40-plus feet into the air. The jump was like a NASA launch pad, said one competitor, according to Attitash marketing director Frank Guerriero. Attitashs Park Crew out-did themselves.The Attitash Big Air Event is one of four events in Attitashs Freeride Series that includes a rail jam, slopestyle, big air and a skier/boarder cross.Separated into age groups, Brian Kelley clenched first place overall in the ski division, throwing down a switch front flip, while Andrew Kahkohen took home first place overall in the snowboard division. For additional information on Attitashs Freeride series go to attitash.com or call 374-2368. SWEET VALENTINES AND SWEETER SKIING: Jackson's Black Mountain (383-4490) was a romantic hot spot Saturday as the venerable ski area hosted its third annual Chairlift Speed Dating event.We stopped by to check out the scene and Cupid wanna-be's, and caught up with several at the Shovel Handle Pub after the event after taking in a few runs.We did it as a lark, said one local blonde-tressed lass who asked not to be identified. A 21-year-old gentleman beside her said it was fun, even though he was paired up with not that! a 28-year-old woman. I didn't know what to say, he said.Word had it that the best pick-up line as determined by the judges at the contest held at the Lostbo Pub at Black was, So, how do you like your eggs? implying, of course, that the date was going to go so well that the would-be date would want to stay over for breakfast the next morning. It sure beat, So, do you ski? AMC WINTER FUN: During February Vacation Week through Feb. 21, the Appalachian Mountain Club is offering snowshoe walks at 10 a.m. and table talks at at 12:30 p.m. The AMC also offers evening programs Fridays at 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 p.m.The club's Highland Center in Crawford Notch also offers daily and nightly family nature programs.For a full schedule, go to www.outdoors.org or call 466-2721. 21ST FAMILY DAY AT SHAWNEE PEAK FEB. 19: Shawnee Peak's Family Fest will feature lots of activities, recreation and good times Feb. 19. Sign up for the Poker Run and Pie-Eating Contest on the courtyard from 9-10 a.m. Everything is free! Events go from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.The day will also feature the sixth annual Snow Sculpture Contest. Pre-register by calling (207) 647-8444 Ext. 16 or go to the main office at Shawnee PeakThe day will also feature Belgian Draft Horse-drawn sleigh rides from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.Other events include a snow poker run, a blueberry pie eating contest at 1 p.m. (sign up between 9 and 10 a.m. in the courtyard).Other fun-filled activities include DJ Erich Krueger will be here spinning tunes and announcing all the fun!Find the rubber chickens and pink flamingoes hidden around the mountain in the most unique scavenger hunt on snow. The tug of war on snow is a ton of fun for children, adults and some furry friends that happen to stop by that day - look for the Big Red Monster and Scooby Doo! Even Oakie from Oakhurst Dairy and the Portland Pirates will come by. ALPINE CALENDAR:Local alpine areas include Attitash (374-2368), Black (383-4490), Cranmore (356-5543), King Pine (367-8896), Shawnee Peak (207-647-8444) and Wildcat Mountain (466-3326).This week's alpine February vacation week highlights include: Feb. 17-27: King Pine Winter Carnival, featuring the Overnight Junior Ski Camp, the longest running ski camp in the country, Feb. 16-22, and the Silly Slalom and Belly Bag Races Feb. 17 and 24, Family Challenge Feb. 18 and 25; and the Gold Rush, Kids Fun Race and fireworks at 9:15 p.m., all on Feb. 19. King Pine Mini Hits Feb. 21; and Gold Rush Feb. 26. Feb. 17: Wildcat Mountain: Cardboard "Kitty Litter" Box Race. Whether you make it fast, fancy or just plain fun, don't miss cheering on your favorite cardboard box bomber. Feb. 18: Wildcat Mountain: Nine Lives Lunch Tray Luge: All those times you used to get kicked off the mountain for sliding down on a lunch tray, well, now we encourage it and make it a competitive sport. Feb. 18: Cranmore Cranapalooza fireworks, games, night skiing and more. Also, Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge. Fireworks will also be presented 21, all at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19: Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge at Black. Dont miss this annual fun-filled event that offers a mountain of prizes and giveaways, and an aprs party. Feb. 21: U Go Girl Giant Slalom at Attitash: Proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation. SKI TOURING EVENTS:Ongoing: Tuesdays and Fridays through March 13 10:30 a.m. Jackson Ski Touring Foundation: Easy Sliders is a gentle introduction to cross country skiing and winter fitness for people who want to exercise but dont quite know how to begin. Be ready to ski at 10:30. If you need rentals, come 20 minutes early. Tuesday Trekkers through March 24 1 p.m. Jackson Ski Touring: Like Friday Gliders but for snowshoers. Fridays through March 27 1 p.m. Jackson Ski Touring Foundation: Friday Gliders Classic Social Ski with Ski School Director Marianne Borowski and a host of other skiers. Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m.: Bear Notch Ski Touring runs guided snowshoe tours. Call for reservations. Mount Washington Valley Ski Touring and Snowshoe Center: Guided snowshoe tours Saturdays at 1 p.m. Saturdays 10 a.m. to noon Jackson Ski Touring Foundation: The very popular Snowshoe Instructional Nature Tour; guides lead a group on a snowshoe outing and gives snowshoe technique tips along the way. Guided Snowshoe Tours, King Pine Nordic Center (367-8896): Every Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. Additional tour dates are set for Tuesday, Feb. 17, and Thursday, Feb. 19, all at 2 p.m.Sk-Touring Calendar for February Feb. 17-18: Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center Kids' XC Camps: Great Glen Trails will be hosting cross country ski camps for kids called Penguins and Polar Bears. Both camps focus on games and fun, while teaching cross country ski basics. Call 466-2333 to register. Feb. 20: Intervale-After-Dark Stargazing Tour at Mount Washington Valley Ski Touring and Snowshoe Center (356-9920): Take a full-moon tour and cross country ski by the light of the full moon or with an amateur astronomer learning about the stars and constellations on a Stargazing Tour. Tours depart at 7 p.m. and last for about 1.5 hours, depending on the weather. Reservations are requested and event passes are required. Feb. 22: 20th annual Chocolate Festival, Mount Washington Valley Ski Touring and Snowshoe Center. Cross-country ski, snowshoe, or drive from inn-to-inn along the trails within a 65 km network, indulging in your favorite chocolate fantasy at several participating inns along the way during the center's most popular event of the season. Tickets $20 prior to Feb. 21 and $25 the day of the tour. Event begins at 11 a.m. Feb 28 Jackson Ski Touring Foundation has partnered with Northeast Passage to offer Learn To Ski opportunities for individuals with disabilities living in the New England region. This partnership supports a spectrum of cross country skiing opportunities from recreational skiing to athlete development. If you are interested in learning more about this program or becoming involved, contact Northeast Passage at northeast.passage@unh.edu, www.nepassage.org, or 862-0070.Go to www.skinh.com for further calendar information.