Ski Season is around the corner!!!

[mudmucker]

I've only done a little bit of back country skiing. Basically, trails that start where the groomed stuff ends. My skis probably are not the best for true back country; they have edges, but are not very wide. I get kind of nervous being out in the woods in a back country situation, even with a GPS. Since I sometimes feel it even on a groomed trail I am not familiar with, I know my limits. DH and I have been lost snow shoeing (at a x country center, no less) and I was not happy.
I also enjoy skiing more than snow shoeing, but hiking/snow shoeing works muscles that I obviously don't use cycling . The season is just starting, so there's a few weeks left. Before I know it, March 1st will be approaching and I'll be taking my road bike out again.
I will look into Wendell. It sounds nice, though.

Hmm. Well, if you get lost easily and get nervous you maybe shouldn't look into Wendell. Not that I consider it that remote, but it's not like Northfield, Windblown, or Great Brook where there are hoards of people. Chances are you might be the only ones there, depending on when you go. There might not be any brightly clad skiers whizzing by to sight on, should you need assistance. And, it's not always well marked and there aren't any green, blue, or black markers to let you know what level of difficulty is ahead. But I consider these as positive attributes. I'll ski these places alone oftentimes being the only one there but I am unaffected by that so from my perspective I think it's great. You might not.

[Crankin]

Well, I figure any state park isn't that well marked. DH would like the outdoors aspect of it, but maybe not the skiing part. I am a better skier than he is, though he got new skis which have helped him tremendously. He feels perfectly fine using the GPS to track our where-a-bouts. We hike a lot and ski a little in Estabrook Woods, which while you usually see people on the main trail, once you go off on the side trails, you can go without seeing anyone. There aren't any markers there, either. We once got lost in there mountain biking during a fierce thunderstorm and it was very scary.
I actually do not like going to Great Brook that much anymore, since the conditions deteriorate so quickly from over use... but, it is so close to my house, that if I can get out there first thing in the AM, I will go. I kind of consider it like my 15 mile cycling loop in Concord and Carlisle; boring, but close. Deb, maybe we can ski sometime in the next few weeks.
Yeah, i diagnosed myself with some type of agoraphobia when it comes to being in unfamiliar territory. I certainly don't feel that way about going out in general, but the anxiety reaction I get makes me have to use the strategies I teach my clients!

[mudmucker]

Dennison might be more up your alley as a couple. It's flat and very widely groomed, for the Mr. You'd see more people there so it gives the appearance of being less remote if you go to the more well known access areas, for the Mrs. In the known access areas, I do see people, but none of them are skiing,or it's pretty infrequent. You'll get walkers who'll walk along the side of the trail but you won't see them going in far. You'll see horses, folks out on the lake ice fishing, and there's a couple of dogsledders that go there too. And as in any state park you'll see some snowmobiles, who out my way are extremely courteous partners to be sharing the park with.

I know the park very well though so I know where to go where the people ain't. Dennison would also be closer to you than Wendell or Northfield by 30-45 minutes.

[Crankin]

It's snowing everywhere but here . I thought I might be able to go to Windblown tomorrow, but obviously, that's out.
Mudmucker, thanks for all the info on the state parks. Actually, DH doesn't need "flat" skiing; he's fine on hills, it's just that until he got the shorter skis, he fell a lot. I guess since I learned on long skis almost 20 years ago, I just was used to it. I find flat skiing to be very boring, actually. There's a new wildlife refuge in Sudbury (they redid an old army installation), with lots of trails, but they are very flat and boring. I hiked in the snow there last winter and decided I'd have to be desperate to ski there, although a lot of people were skiing. But, I do prefer wider trails, as although I can maneuver downhill OK, my turning and leaning skills still need some work, so I like to leave a little room for error! I am not a downhill skier, so it's not entirely natural for me.

[mudmucker]

I agree flat is boring but not when you skate. That's why I don't like Great Brook Farm because it's too darn flat but also too crowded. But when I lived closer out that way it was always a quick alternative when you didn't want to put a full day in. That's why we all like Windblown - nice varied terrain, close to home.

Snow hadn't fully melted out my way, still had a couple of inches but with bare spots. Got 2 inches overnight but it's not quite enough. Snowing ever so lightly now. Might be able to eek out tomorrow.

One place I go to when all else fails is Prospect Mt. When there is no snow in the rest of the world, this place will have it, in midwinter or late spring. It's tucked behind Mt Snow in some sort of snow belt. It's more on my side so an ok day trip. Whites are closer to those out near the coast so a better day trip for ya'll out there of course..

[DebW]

I hear that Notchview also tends to have skiable snow when other places do not. Was hoping to try Wendell tomorrow, but that doesn't look good.

[Crankin]

My friends went to Notchview last February and really liked it. For some reason, I was doing something else and didn't go. It looks like western MA might get at least 6 inches tonight. Maybe Northfield Mt. will be OK tomorrow.
Frustrating.