Carrabassett Valley Outdoors Association

Start baking: Our always popular holiday hike and cookie swap is set for Sunday Dec. 4.

This year, we’ll be hiking a new route, starting at the Outdoor Center with a loop around the bog and then off on the Route 1 Trail, which heads up towards Snowbrook and Burnt Mountain with some fabulous views of Sugarloaf.

The full loop hike should take about 2 hours and build up a healthy appetite for the appetizer and cookie buffet to follow.

We’ll be meeting at the Touring Center parking lot at 11 am. Those that only want to do a 1-way trek and skip the return hike should make plans to leave a car near Snowbrook and catch a ride down to the touring center.

Immediately following the hike we’ll be caravanning up to Nancy’s house for hot cider, hearty appetizers and a fabulous assortment of holiday cookies.

The cookie swap will start at 1 pm for those who want to skip the hike. Those travelling that afternoon can still be on the road by 3 pm.

If we have snow, we’ll be making the trek on snowshoes or cross country skies. If we don’t, we’ll be hoofing it on foot.

Please bring an appetizer to share and 3-4 dozen cookies .. and a tin to take home an assortment of 3 dozen cookies for yourself. If you don’t want to bake .. just bring $5 and a cookie tin to take cookies home.

PLEASE let us know if you’ll be joining us (nperry24420@roadrunner.com)