My husband and I will be travelling around the White Mountains region of New Hampshire in late December 2000(Arrive 26th dec) we have never visited the region during the winter and so don't really know what type of clothing to pack. We do intend to try (For the first time) Snowshoeing and/or XC Skiing but apart from that we will be sightseeing and shopping. Any advise regarding what to pack would be appreciated.

If you're planning to spend a lot of time outdoors, a down jacket and silk longjohns will keep you comfortably warm. Be sure to bring hat, gloves, scarves and warm waterproof footwear. It's best to pack for very cold weather, especially if you're not used to it. If you don't already have these items, just head for the factory outlets in North Conway, where everything will be on sale (but, stores may be mobbed and traffic may be horrendous. There's no sales tax in New Hampshire, though!!!

If you will be doing outdoor winter sports, you should dress in layers of synthetic (or wool) clothing. Polypropelene thermal underwear can be very helpful if it's really cold. Don't wear cotton - if you sweat it will not dry out, and then when you cool down you will be damp and cold. Polarfleece can be a good part of a layering system, and if it's windy you'll want a layer of something to block the wind, like nylon or supplex. You can get very warm x-country skiing, so you might want to wear a down or polarfleece vest over a sweater instead of a jacket, which you can peel off and put into your backpack if you get too warm. While you'll want a warm hat for just walking around outdoors, I've found that when I'm skiing i prefer a headband to keep my ears warm but let heat escape from the top of my head. Warm gloves or mittens are a must, and a scarf will help keep your neck warm. Wool socks will help keep your feet warm (wear sock liners if you are allergic to wool). Have a great time, and stay warm!

Laren,

Sara has given you excellent advise expecially don't wear cotton. Among outdoors enthusiasts there is a saying - cotton kills. Don't wear a cotton tshirt or turtle neck as your first layer. With both snow shoeing and xcountry skiing you tend to work up a sweat and as soon as you stop (to rest or to have a snack or to look at a view) you will get cold. But the new synthetics and old fashioned wool will keep you warm even when wet.

most of the time I use earmuffs instead of a hat because I also like to let some of the heat out.

Enjoy your visit to the White Mts. - it's a beautiful area.

I live in the foothills of the White Mountains, and spend a lot of time x-c skiing and snowshoeing in the back country. Most of the above advice is good, however stating that cotton is not safe to wear when skiing is a bit of an exaggeration. I usually wear a cotton tee shirt, with a flannel shirt over it, and then either a wool sweater, down vest, or nylon windbreaker(or a combination) depending on the conditions. True, if you work up a sweat, your tee may get damp - but unless you plan to be out for many, many hours, I don't see this as a serious problem. Denim jeans, however are not the best. Wear some long johns with pair of sweats(polypro is best here), or some ski pants. I usually wear a simple knit hat I can jam in my pocket if I start to get overheated. The biggest problem I see with new x-c skiiers or snowshoers is over dresing. Save your down parka for downhill skiing or walking around. Another thing to consider if you are driving, is a good set of tires (snows or heavy tread all weather tires), and a winterized cooling system. Nights can often get to -20 farenheit in the Whites. Have fun and watch out for moose!

I'm with dougd here - cotton is just fine as an underlayer. I usually wear a cotton tee under a cotton or wool sweater under my down parka. If it's really cold, I put on silk top and bottoms first. I've also found that thin cotton knee-highs under shearling lined leather boots are just fine when out and about.