Built by the WPA in 1939, the Horseshoe Lodge has been renovated as an earth-friendly eco-lodge. Book one of the nature-themed rooms, then go out and explore the 17,000 acres of San Isabel National Forest or the Pueblo Mountain Park.
Wintertime at the Lone Mountain Ranch in Big Sky, Montana is the stuff of Christmas carols. Sleigh rides, dreaming by the fire, feasting with loved ones, and 85km of Nordic ski trails.
Ok, maybe that last one isn't a song. Yet.
Still, there's plenty to celebrate at Lone Mountain. Those who prefer downhill skiing can get their fill at nearby Big Sky and Moonlight Basin resorts.
Snowshoers can enjoy a separate 30km of trails all to themselves. Come on a full moon for a guest favorite snowshoeing tour.
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| Location | Greenville, Maine |
| Type | Lodge to Lodge |
| Mode | Cross-country skis, shoeshoes |
| Distance | 19 miles |
| Difficulty | Moderately Strenuous |
| Highlights | True wilderness, animal tracks, blazingly bright stars, good home cooking. |
This was not in the plan.
We have just pulled into a snow-covered parking lot in the woods 11 miles outside of Greenville, Maine. It’s time to unload the car, slap on our skis, and take off on a four-day ski adventure through the wilderness. This is a remote part of Maine my wife and I love; I took her on her first wild canoe trip not far from here, produced a bottle of champagne and a diamond ring beside a lake devoid of buildings or people, and while she now probably regrets this, she said yes. This is our first trip to such hallowed ground with our two boys. The plan is to ski a few hours to a heated lodge run by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), where they will feed us fabulous meals and provide us with a heated private cabin for the night, while someone snowmobiles in our luggage so we don’t have to. Then tomorrow we’ll ski to another lodge, stay an extra day doing nothing there, and ski back to our car on day four.
| Location | The White Mountains of New Hampshire |
| Type | Snowshoes up and down mountains. |
| Distance | 16-25 miles; 5 to 8 miles daily |
| Duration | 2-4 days depending on route |
| Difficulty | Strenuous; snowshowing is always aerobic. |
| Highlights | Incredible views of the mountains in winter. Crisp air. Sore calves, well earned dinners. |
“The technical term is glissade,” said Erica Marcus with a smile. “That’s what you probably want to call it when you get back home.”
My friends and I took to the new word with alacrity, trying it out and rolling it around on our tongues with approval as Ms Marcus bade us farewell and disappeared around the corner in front of us.
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