HERE'S ONE MUSH YOU'LL ENJOY FOR DINNER In a partnership with New England Dogsledding, Great Glen Trails will be offering evening dogsled tours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings this winter. Dog teams are made up of friendly, well-trained and speedy Alaskan Huskies. All the dogs are specially bred for running and are at their best on the trails. Dogsledding tours are offered on Thursday through Saturday evenings from 4:00 - 7:00pm. Evening dogsledding tours require advanced reservations. The cost is $165, including 10% gratuity for dog treats and guide for a one-hour ride in one sled (each sled max. capacity of 325lbs.). Reservations are available at 603-466-2333. For more information, visit Great Glen Trails. New England Dogsledding also offers 10-15 mile White Mountain National Forest Trips and other dogsledding opportunities. For more information, visit NED or call 800-951-6681.

CRANMORE'S TAKING FINE DINING TO NEW HEIGHTS Cranmore Mountain Resort is launching its first ever series of Meister Hut Wine dinners. Taking place in the 1940s-era log cabin at its summit, Cranmore's wine dinners offer a one-of-a-kind fine dining experience in front of a fieldstone fireplace with live music and spectacular views of the lights of North Conway Village. On two select dates February 16 and March 1 - guests will enjoy a four-course dinner with wine pairings in the rustic setting of the Meister Hut. A selection of five entrees will be offered and will be accompanied by wine carefully matched to each course. Round trip lift access will be offered on the high-speed express quad. The dinner is open to skiers and non-skiers alike with the welcome reception starting at 6pm each evening. The meal will be rounded out with a dessert du jour and a glass of Tawny Port. The prix-fixe dinners cost $99 for dinner with wine pairings including tax, tip, and gratuity and round-trip lift transportation. Those wishing to combine a ski weekend with their wine dinner may purchase a package with dinner and a 2-day lift ticket for only $175 per person, a $22 savings. Reservations are accepted by phone at 1-800-SUN-N-SKI ext. 227 or in person at the Resort's Guest Services Desk. Reservations are accepted until the Tuesday before each date with a 4pm cut off time to do so.

GUILT-FREE CHOCOLATE INDUGENCE Make plans to participate in the 19th Annual Inn to Inn Chocolate Festival, a fundraiser for the Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring and Snowshoe Center located at Ragged Mountain Equipment on Route 16-302 in Intervale. Cross country ski, snowshoe or drive from inn to inn along the network trails and other area businesses to enjoy chocolate treats offered between 11 am and 4 pm. This is one of the most popular events of the winter season attracting hundreds of chocoholics ready for guilt-free indulgence. Visit our web site for complete details and lodging packages. Advance purchase of festival tickets at the touring center is highly suggested. Festival pass is available for $20 per person for a day on the trails and lots of chocolate! For more information, visit MWV Ski Touring or call 603-356-9920.

MT WASHINGTON VALLEY IS SNOWMOBILERS' PARADISE Not only are do Mt Washington Valley's snowmobile trails offer scenic terrain, but the variety and quality of the area's snowmobile outfitters make this the ideal place to plan a snowmobile getaway this wintery winter. Add to that hundreds of lodging properties, plenty of fabulous dining and après-snowmobiling watering holes, and you've got the perfect place for your next snowmobile getaway. From Fryeburg to Bartlett, snowmobilers will find not only new and used sleds and sled rentals but apparel and parts too. If you're planning a snowmobile getaway with friends or family, be sure to visit MWVCC and click on Recreation and then Snowmobiling, or click here to go directly to a full list of Mt Washington Valley's snowmobiling members: Snowmobiling.

VOLUNTEER AND LEARN MAPLE SUGARING Construction of the new Remick Museum Sugar House in Tamworth is almost complete. John Dyrenforth, Remick Museum Trustee and long-time maple producer, will offer a series of workshops to aspiring maple producers in exchange for volunteer work in the Remick Farm sugar bush and sugar house. The Workshops will run for three consecutive Saturdays in February:

February 16, 2008, 10am- 12 noon, Tapping, Tubing & Buckets: In the classroom, get information on proper tapping procedures, then snowshoe out to the sugar bush to tap trees. Take along a hammer, snowshoes, 18V cordless drill, batteries, and a 5/16 drill bit.

February 23, 2008, 10am -12 noon, Gathering Sap: Learn how to hand gather sap and use sap filter. Receive instruction on gathering sap with a gas pump and transferring it to a holding tank. Learn the importance of recording the gallons collected.

March 1, 2008, 10am- 4pm, Boiling Down, Filtering & Canning: Learn to boil sap to syrup, and learn the importance of recording the amount of syrup produced. Good heavy duty work gloves are needed to protect from heat.

If you always wanted to learn the maple sugaring process, consider joining the volunteer group. Be one of the first to use the new sugar house! Call Susan Junkins, Volunteer Coordinator, at the Museum at (603) 323-7591 or (800) 686- 6117, for more information or to register. Your volunteer work will support the Remick Museum in its effort to preserve the agricultural way of life in New Hampshire. See you in the sugar bush!

CHAIRLIFT SPEED DATING You've heard of speed dating, but chairlift speed dating? Never daunted by tradition, Black Mountain will bring back its popular chairlift speed dating afternoon on February 9. Just register in the Lostbo Pub for as many date rides you can get in. Just in time to find the perfect Valentine, the only rule is to ride with someone you have never met. Take dating one step father than the personals and Internet matching sites, have a speed date on the way up the chairlift then check out your new potential mate's skiing ability on the way down! For more information, visit Black Mt.

WHIMSICAL FANTASY AT MWVCC's SNOW PRINCESS EVENT Every little girl's dream of princess-fantasy will come true on February 24, 2008, when Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce presents a Snow Princess Fantasy at the North Conway Grand Hotel from 2:00-8:00pm. Girls ages four to ten are invited to dress up in their prettiest attire to be presented to the Snow Queen Sedna and her two Princess daughters, Aurora from the North Pole and Stella from the South Pole. After an interpretive dance presented by Tina Titzer dancers, the queen will read an original story written for this event called Mother Earths Magic Snow Cover. At the conclusion of the story, one-by-one each child in the audience will be accompanied by footmen to be presented to Queen Sedna and her two daughters whereby magical snowdust will be presented to the child by the queen, then each child will promenade down the aisle to be presented to the audience as official snow princesses. Each snow princess will receive a memorable snow princess gift bag to take home with her. This event will take place at three different times at the North Conway Grand Hotel:

February 21: 21st Annual Family Fest at Shawnee Peak - Shawnee Peak will offer a special day for the young and the young-at-heart, with family-friendly events both in the base area and on the mountain including Sleigh Rides, Snow Sculpture Contest, Poker Run and Pie Eating Contest. All events are free and will be held from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Info: 207-647-8444 or Shawnee Peak.

WHAT'S A SNOW RANGER? The USDA
Forest Service operates the Mount Washington Avalanche Center, the only avalanche forecasting center east of the Rockies. Snow Ranger Justin Preisendorfer will present a slide show at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center on February 21 at 8:00pm about the unique winter conditions on Mt. Washington and an overview the Snow Ranger program, including avalanche forecasting, search and rescue, and all the ups and downs of working on one of the Northeast's most heavily traveled mountains. The program is free for everyone interested. For more information, call 603-466-2727.

A CHILLY CHILI COOKOFF
Winter serves as the perfect backdrop for the 5th annual Winter Carnival Chilly Chili Cook-off on Saturday, March 1 at Flatbread Company at Eastern Slope Inn from 11:00am to 2:00pm. The Valley's own Tuckerman Brewery and Coca Cola will be on hand to cool your palate as you sample the Valley's best chili. Professional area chefs will prepare their secret recipes while providing all chili lovers with a chance to taste and choose their favorite for the "People's Choice Award". Enjoy a chili lunch by buying taste tickets and support the White Mountain Community Health Center's Food Pantry by bringing in a non-perishable food item. Taste tickets are just $5 per person for six tickets. Children accompanied by an adult receive three free tickets. For more information, visit MWVCC and click on the Chilly Chili icon or click here.

Mt Washington Valley lodging properties have a wide range of Stay, Sleigh and Snowplay packages. Simply click here to see packages ranging from Royalty Inn's "No brainer" package where you receive free lodging when each person in the room purchases a Wildcat Mountain lift ticket from the Royalty Inn to Profile Deluxe Motel's simply snowmobiling package, with lodging starting at $85.00 per person. There are dogsledding, family tubing, and plenty of ski free midweek packages to choose from. Simply visit MWVCC and scroll down to Hot Deals, Packages & Specials then choose Snow Much Fun for a full range of winter packages.