Cross Country Skiing

[mudmucker]

So it was perfect conditions out my way. The snow was still dry with little moisture so nice and powdery. A temperature of 24 F. The kind of snow where your glide is long and effortless and you can trot up the hills without a herringbone because all is perfect; wax and excellent grip at the kicker, and no ice. I usually wait until later in the afternoon to ski because it is typically the fastest then and there are fewer encounters with people. Sometimes I end up coming out as the sun is setting or dusk and wonder that after 33 years I haven't become a pre-nocturnal dinner for coyote. I'm kidding, sort of. .. But it's all worth it. So just when I thought it couldn't get any better than this today...it did. The groomers came through about 3:15 pm.



I haven't been so excited to see machines in the woods in a long time. My heart was warmed when I saw them and I just couldn't stop smiling.



I was ready to wrap it up but until I saw the groomers I couldn't resist. I stayed out later and followed in the wake of their path and it was pure bliss. Pure unadulterated fresh groom was ALL mine. Few were left in the park at that time.




All mine free and clear for as much skating as I wanted. Talk about chi.

[Kubla]

What nice-looking trails! Sounds like you had a day that will always be remembered.

Too bad we can't put those special outings in a bottle and save them to be savored over and over...

[rubywagon]

That looks like perfection mudmucker. Glad you had such a great day!

[windhorse]

Is that by any chance Wendell State Forest? I was thinking of heading out there today(sunday). I have only mountain biked there.

I have been skiing locally @ Fairhaven Bay behind Walden Pond. The conditions are pristine, single tracks through the woods. Last week a barred owl swooped over head as I glided over the silent snow.

[Crankin]

I went to Great Brook today for the first time this season. Despite the huge crowd, once you got into the trail system, it didn't feel too crowded. Except when I started and got stuck behind a group of skiers who were on an outing and getting instruction. I finally got to pass them after I crossed the road, necessitating me to take off and put my skis back on. I could hear them crossing behind me, but there was a little climb and a downhill, so I lost them.
But, I felt discombobulated today! I didn't fall, climbing and descending were fine, but I just felt wobbly on the flats and I was going slowly. Some of it was I think I was just a bit "on guard" with all of the skaters whizzing by me and the newbies falling, kids, etc. The conditions were still powdery, but slick. When I got to the ridge it was nice and quiet there. Lots of cyclists there today, too. One older guy (well, he's probably my age), made a comment about my "two water bottles" in my pack. I told him and the woman he was with that I sweat and drink a lot. When I got back to the center, I was putting on my regular boots when they sat down next to me. He started yacking about how was a cyclist and he had this special drink in his bottle... I realized he had been on one of our rides awhile back, but I just said that he looked familiar. He went on for like 15 minutes about people we know in common.
I skied about 10K and I am pretty tired.

[mudmucker]

Is that by any chance Wendell State Forest? I was thinking of heading out there today(sunday). I have only mountain biked there.

That was Dennison. It's only 3 miles fom the house and I'll go there if I'm short on time as I was yesterday. Great conditions as it is well maintained but it is a state forest that can get a lot of snowmobile traffic if you go at the wrong time. I don't mind encountering snowmobiles at all as they are very considerate but I do mind the fumes if the air is still.

I ended up going to Wendall today but I didn't get there until 2pm. I rarely use the main access - I go to other less used access points. If you've mt biked there you likely know of them. Today I noticed that some of the trails were a little slick, depending where in the park you were skiing. The northeast side trails were good. I meandered over to the west side to parttake in the wood stove and noticed the western trails were a bit icy, but then I was there late too.

[DebW]

I skied Saturday at Prospect Mt. near Bennington Vt. It was great snow and good trails. A group of us did the Moonlight ski that they have once a month. You get a dinner in the lodge, then ski ~2 km to a pond where they have a bonfire. A guy does a visual dance swinging firepots while shirtless in 5 degree weather. We were supposed to be skiing by moonlight, but the moon hadn't risen yet, so most of us used headlamps. Did a lovely but not hard snowshoe hike today.

[Crankin]

Just got back from another great day at Northfield Mountain. It was 30 when we started and went up to about 35. We did the same climb up to the top of the mountain, which felt long, but getting to the top was awesome. This time, we didn't eat at the top, though, and skied right down the blue trails. It didn't feel hard or scary at all.
After lunch, the 4 of us went up a green trail we had skied down previously, but then switched to a blue trail we had no idea about, as far as if it was a climb or a descent. It was probably the longest climb I've done on skis. Not super steep, but bad enough that I was saying "I am going to die," about half way through. Once I stop, like for lunch, I find it is a lot harder for me when I go back on the trail. But, we were finally rewarded with the long downhill on the green trail, where I got in a tuck position and sped down really fast. I kept hearing the voice of the guy on my winter training core video, saying " If you do this, you'll be able to stay in the tuck position for a longer time, on the bike." I have to say, my legs were screaming, but all the core work has helped.
A total of 9 miles. I am going to have ribs and beer tonight!
Next weekend we are going to Franconia for 3 days.