Snowshoe, fat bike race portend Moose Mtn. party

THE MOOSE IS LOOSE - Snowshoers, including one in moose costume, ply a portion of the 3.1 mile race course at a past Moose Mountain RunAround snowshoe race. (MMRG photos)

BROOKFIELD, N.H. - Recent snowfalls are making the prospects look promising for the 3^rd annual Moose Mountain RunAround snowshoe race scheduled for Saturday in Brookfield.

This year, the snowshoe race will be joined by a new fat bike race, dubbed the Fat Moose. Spectators are encouraged to come cheer on the racers and volunteers are needed to help out.

Pending enough snow, the snowshoe race will begin at 10 a.m. and the fat bike race will start at 11 a.m., allowing the most intrepid athletes to participate in both events. The races will be held at Moose Mountain Recreation, 107 Mountain Road, Brookfield. The snowshoe race covers 3.1 miles of snowmobile trails and singletrack through mature woods and open fields, along streams and up and down hills. The bike course will be 1 to 3 laps of a 3.5 mile course depending on whether the rider intends to complete in the novice, sport or expert class.

Snowshoers take off at the start of the race at a recent Moose Mountain RunAround event in Brookfield, N.H.

Suggested donation for the snowshoe race is $20 in advance or $25 on the race day. Cost for the bike race is $20 in advance, and $30 day of the race. Dion Snowshoes will have loaner snowshoes available for an additional $5 on a first come first served basis. A limited number of rental fat bikes will be available from Colonial Bicycles of Portsmouth and Salem. Prizes will be awarded to racers in standard categories.

Snowshoe walkers are welcome to register and participate. Volunteers are needed in advance to help prepare the course and on the day of the race to help with parking and directing racers along the course. All participants and volunteers receive refreshments and a custom buff.

To preregister or for more info, go to http://trailrnr.wix.com/moose-mountain-ss or call Race Director Dan Coons at 603-520-8533. To volunteer, call MMRG Education Coordinator, Kari Lygren at 603-978-7125 or email info@mmrg.info

Both races have been created as fund-raisers for Moose Mountain Regional Greenways and take advantage of the excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation in our region. Protecting such opportunities through conserving our open spaces is an important part of the mission of MMRG, which serves the seven towns of the Moose Mountains Region: Brookfield, Farmington, Middleton, Milton, New Durham, Wakefield, and Wolfeboro.

MMRG is grateful to Ilex Wetland Consultants and Wolfeboro Oil for sponsoring the race and to Moose Mountain Recreation and The Works Bakery Cafe for donating the venue and refreshments. For more information on MMRG, visit www.mmrg.info.

Check the race website http://trailrnr.wix.com/moose-mountain-ss to confirm the date as the weekend nears.