Our more popular winter itinerary, this is a modification of our original Catamount Excursion, emphasizing the use of well-marked and groomed touring center trails of varying levels of difficulty spiced with optional moderate backcountry skiing chosen for truly scenic and peaceful settings on the always-nearby Catamount Trail and other ungroomed trails.

The Touring Cat starts with a gourmet dinner at the gracious Swift House Inn in cosmopolitan Middlebury village on your first night. Enjoy breakfast at the inn the next morning, then head off, skier's trail lunch in hand, with your day pass to the Rikert Touring Center 12 miles east of the village (42 km groomed trails). After your day on skis, head on to another delicious Vermont dinner and overnight at the secluded Blueberry Hill Inn, deep in Vermont's Moosalamoo National Recreation Area.  Settle in by the fire or request a session in the onsite wood-fired sauna. On your next day, ski some of Blueberry Hill's extensive (70 km) onsite Nordic Center trails, taking it easy on Elsie's Loop or venturing up to Romance Mountain, the highest groomed Nordic trail in Vermont at 3000 feet. The ski center will have hot soup and cookies for you to augment your midday skier's lunch.  This is an excellent inn to spend a second night if choosing the four-night package.  The next day after a hearty breakfast head to Chittenden and your final country gourmet dinner & overnight at Fox Creek Inn. Fox Creek offers an intimate pub, gracious fireplaced common rooms, and your departure-day lunch and ski passes to the 60 km Mountain Top Ski Touring Center, where President Eisenhower was a guest.

Package includes:  three- or four-course dinner nightly; overnight country inn accommodations with private ensuite bath; full served breakfast each morning; skier's trail lunch to take with you; day pass to touring center indicated; all taxes and gratuities.  Out-of-pocket expenses:  alcohol and any optional rental equipment or lessons at the ski centers.

The Touring Cat is offered in January and February only.

Cost for 2012: 4 NIGHTS: $675 ppdo or

3 NIGHT PACKAGE: $525 ppdo