Great Glen Trails is a popular cross-country ski and snowshoe
center at the base of Mount Washington at the Mount Washington Auto
Road in Pinkham Notch. The trail system is open to the paying public
daily from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. And includes miles of groomed and
backcountry trails for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. We are
very fortunate to be able to use this fabulous location at the base of
Mt. Washington for our March trip. Our campsite is about ½ mile by
groomed trail from the GG Trails Lodge. The site is near the
Cadiddlehopper Cabin at the westerly edge of the large meadow which is
at the center of the Great Glen Trails system.
Site Accommodations
- Cadiddlehopper Cabin: may be used at the
leadership’s discretion. Clean it out during operating hours for GG
Trails regular customer use. - waste disposal: porta john on-site, no peeing in the snow, food waste: packed out by troop,
- mechanized
support: snowcoach provided Friday upon arrival to make 1 trip into
camp with firewood, troop water. Scouts will haul sleds and personal
gear, ski equipment by snowshoe from the employee parking lot on the
west - shelter: all scouts must sleep outside in tents
pitched on snow or in snow shelters. The cabin will be used only at the
leadership’s discretion. It is heated to 45°. - water: not
available at site: Scouts bring 2 liters, .troop containers may be
refilled at GG Trails buildings during operating hours, melt snow - cooking:
troop back-country stoves and individual freezer bag meals. GG Trails
will allow us to prepare our freezer bag meals in the cabin at the
leadership’s discretion - campfires: scouts will dig out
existing fire pit to avoid fire scars. Pack out wood ash and debris. Mr
Dewar will supply and transport firewood from home. No firewood will be
collected on site. - Overnite parking: in the employee lot, west side of rte 16, 750’ beyond the lodge entrance
- equipment rentals: 4:30 upon arrival, Friday.
- Campers may keep rented equipment at the camp site overnight, return by 9 AM Sunday.
- night trails use: ok - schedule so as not to interfere with scheduled evening sled dog rides
- night tubing use : ok anytime
fee paid by scouts: $10 per scout: covers food.
All other expenses will be covered with troop funds and generously donated by Great Glen Trails.
Please let Mr. Getchell ASAP
know if you are renting ski equipment from Great Glen.
Let Mr. LaLiberte ASAP know if you need
snowshoes.
Lessons and rentals will be covered with troop funds.
f.y.i.:
- site fee: no charge
- trails fee: scouts and leadership will be issued passes at no charge
- tubing fee: no charge
- equipment rental fees: discounted 50%: age 12 and under= $6/day, over 12 $10/day
- lesson fees: discounted 25% = $15/pp
- snow coach to treeline: Sun. 7:30 AM – no charge for 1 coach: holds 11 passengers
if necessary, 2nd coach must be reserved Saturday morning - $200
adult leadership: Mr Chalmers, Mr. Obrien, Mr. Getchell:986-3635, Mr. Steesy, Mr. Dewar
scouts : Dmitry , Sam, Ethan C , Torin, Zack, Mackenzie, Ethan H, Sean, JP, Nick L,
Proposed Schedule:
Friday 2/29/08
- 3:30 PM Meet at JFS, N. Conway with all
equipment packed and secure in sleds. Bag lunch, water, headlamp,
snowshoes, shovels are accessible. Ski equipment will be lashed on top
of the load. Plan on a daypack with 10 essentials, Fri dinner - 4:30
Arr. at Great Glen Trails Lodge, ground level entrance to check in with
Nate Harvey, retail manager. Register, rent equipment, trails passes,
eat bag lunch, adjust personal loads, load snow coach, snowshoe into
camp - 5:32 sunset
- 6:00 set up camp
- 7:30 evening snowshoe to Great Dipper Swamp: last quarter moonlight
- 9:00 cracker barrel (Cadiddlehopper Cabin)
- 10:00 lights out
Saturday
- 6:23 sunrise
- 7:00 AM Wake up, breakfast, clean up camp and cabin
- 8:15 morning meeting
- 8:45 On snow merit badge instruction. Instuctors (Sue, Emily) meet us at campsite
- 10:00 Service project: brushing trail ( see Mr. Wemys)
- 11:30 ski tour and lunch on the trail
- 3:00 free time: buddy skiing on groomed tracks, snow shelter construction, tubing, nap time, journals, cards
- 5:00 Dinner Prep and campfire
- 7:30 PM optional evening skiing on groomed terrain, tubing
- 9 PM cracker barrel (Cadiddlehopper Cabin)
- 10:00 PM lights out
Sunday
- 6:00 Wake up, breakfast, break camp, prepare for your day
- Backcountry winter travel at and below treeline: pack snowshoes, snack, 10 essentials, emergency equipment req’d
- Pack and make sleds ready for noon return trip to Lodge
- 7:00 Morning meeting
- 7:30 Treeline trip via snowcoach departs Hideaway. Return trip on snowshoes
- 9:00 Rental return to lodge or leave with snowcoach @ 7:30.
- 11:30 Arr. at camp, pick up sleds, return to Lodge and N. Conway
- 12:30 Arr. JFS, N. Conway
adult leadership: Mr Chalmers, Mr. Obrien, Mr. Getchell:986-3635, Mr. Steesy, Mr. Dewar
Adult leadership
to do list
Tour permit- Mr. Chalmers done
Consent forms –Mr Chalmers
Trip fees and troop check – Mr. Chalmers - done
Xtra Backcountry stove fuel – Mr Chalmers
Individual meals shopping and packaging - Mr Chalmers - done
Snowshoes for scouts (7 pr) – Mr. Laliberte from Purity Springs
Full Water jugs – Mr Obrien (2) Mr. Getchell (1)
Garbage bags – Mr Obrien
Maps – USGS topo and trails system – Mr Getchell and at Lodge
Staff tent for 4 – Mr. Getchell
Cracker Barrel victuals, – Mr Getchell
Extra shell clothing, sleep bags, pads – Mr Getchell
Fire wood and kindling – Mr Dewar
Hand pruners and lopping shears for service project – everyone brings
Transportation
Depart JFS N. Conway Friday 3:30
Mr. Obrien drives Mr Steesy’s truck: Torin, Dmitry, Ethan H., Mackenzie, sleds
Mr. Getchell: Sam, Shawn, 2 sleds
Mr. Chalmers: Ethan, sleds
Mr. Dewar: Zack, Nick, JP
Mr. Steesy: late arrival
Friday drop off for rental and loading equipment on the the
snowcoach will be at the main lodge. Drivers turn in at the lodge
entrance on the east side of rte 16, across form the Auto
Rd.entrance. Scouts may travel by snowshoe with their sleds from this
point, thru a snowcovered tunnel under the highway, and onto the trail
system. They may also get onto the trail system from the overnite lot.
Overnight parking will be in the employee parking lot 750’
north of the Lodge entrance and on the west side of rte. 16. Please
leave vehicles close beside already parked cars. Management wants them
somewhat hidden from rte 16.
Equipment needs list - contact Mr. Getchell if you have xtra or need gear
Mr Steesy - ski equipment, snowshoes
JP - ski equipment, snowshoes,
Zack - ski equipment, snowshoes: size 6
Sean - ski equipment, snowshoes, sleep bag, boots size 7.5, winter clothing
Ethan H. ski equipment, snowshoes: size 8.5
Mackenzie – ski equipment, snowshoes, size 10.5, sleep bag
Sam – ski equipment only: size 11
Nick - ski equipment only
Dmitry – snowshoes only
Torin - ok
Ethan C. - ok
Scout packing list
- Packed duffel, trim and secure on your sled and covered from the weather
- A daypack on your back contains: 10 essentials and your Friday bag dinner
- Pocketknife
- First Aid kit
- Extra Clothing
- Waterproof outer layer: top and bottom
- 2 large size(1 qt)
nalgenes full of water - Headlamp or flashlight
/ xtra batts - Trail Food
- Matches and Fire Starter
- Eye Protection: goggles, sunglasses
- Map and Compass
Travel, shelter and
meals
Friday - your own bag dinner
Saturday – your own trail lunch
3 individual hot meals: 2b, 1d, cozy
trail snacks
assigned backcountry stoves and fuel
1 qt. pot for water boiling per tent
assigned troop tent, fly, grouncloth
1 snow shovel per tent
snowshoes
ski equipment: back-country or light touring
skis, boots, poles
sled and hauling system
synthetic/down bag rated to 0° ½ “closed cell foam sleeping pad
Clothing
think layers: no cotton
Head
pile balaclava, neck up
face mask
knit winter hat covers ears
ski goggles
Hands
glove Liners – polypropylene, pile or wool
waterproof glove shell
2 pr. Wool/Synthetic/Pile insulated mittens
waterproof mitten shells
Feet
thin polypro liner socks – 2 pr.
down or polyester booties for tent/sleeping
wool/synthetic Pile Socks (heavy) - 4 pairs
gaiters
water proof, winter boots- felt lined pacs
Tips
- zip pulls on clothing and packs
- idiot strings on mitts
- no freeze laces on boots
- stay dry: vent body heat, don’t roll in snow
Upper body
2 long undershirts – polypro
wool/polypro/pile shirt – med. weight
wool/pile sweater or jacket – heavy weight
wind Jacket with Hood - 60/40, Goretex
insulated winter parka with hood
Lower body
underwear
2 pr long underwear - polypro - light to med.
insulating Wool/Pile Pants –heavy
waterproof Snow Pants - doubl as rain pants
Misc.
hot drink cup, spoon
stuff sacks – assorted sizes
watch, camera, playing cards
toothbrush, chapstick, sunscreen
hand pruners for service project
(we plan to trim brush for Trails)
Tips
- no fog for goggles and glasses
- adjust snowshoes, polestraps at home
- how will you carry skis on sled?
- will your parka fit over a pile layer
