Bear Notch Ski Touring: Grand Bartlett Bear Tour 9:30 am at Attitash

Thursday, January 11, 2018

WEATHER UPDATE: As of 8:00 am on Thursday:  Weather looks good for us. See you at Attitash or at the Bear Notch Ski Touring Center.

The January thaw must now be upon us...the temperature on Thursday will be in the mid 40's, wow, shocking to our cold-adapted systems! There will be a strong wind from the west. This adds up to a good ski over at Bear Notch Ski Touring, with protected skiing in the woods and a tailwind at the end of the tour.

Here is a map of Bear Notch Ski Touring:  http://www.bearnotchskitouring.com/trail-map.html

First choice Plan, my favorite do-it all plan:

Meet at the Attitash parking lot in the area next to Matty B's, towards the back near the RR tracks, at 9:30 am. We will leave a few cars here for those who do the entire one-way expedition. We then get into the other cars and drive over to Bear Notch Ski Touring Center.

We start skiing at the touring center likely about 10:00 am heading uphill and around the Bartlett Brook trails system (up Trail #7 and wiggle around 22 and parts of the 5s and 6s), We then head east crossing Bear Notch Road then enjoy the downhill to the trails to the RR tracks (Trail #s 40 and 42) We then ski with a tailwind on the tracks towards Bear Peak, cross Route 302 and ski along Thorne Pond then on the trials behind Attitash Mountain Village (#50 and maybe even 52, 53, 54, 55, which are in the Fields of Attitash, Saco Riverside and woods) then back to the cars. The RR tracks and the Fields of Attitash area trails have been groomed over the last few days and look great.

This route option covers it all, and we may decide to shorten some of this if needed due to skier preferences. We can edit as we go, but all is groomed and ready to enjoy, so with the mild temperatures why not try for the entire tour?

If you are time limited you can always shorten the loop to return to the ski center or we can arrange to park your car at Thorne Pond so you can finish there. All is possible!

If you are coming from Bartlett, just meet us at the touring center, no need to drive to Attitash. You will be driven back to your car at the end of the ski.

I will watch the grooming reports and we can modify this Grand Tour if need be. With the warm temperature, the snow should be soft and fast!

For seniors (over 60), the trail fee is $15.

Bring beverage, lunch or snacks to eat along the trail.

Hawaiian shirts??