Cross Country Skiing

[ridebikeme]

It's amzing how an hour can tire our fourl legges friends out, although if yours are like mine, well she runs more distance than I ski HA!

We had about a foot of new snow this week, and although today was supposed to be the 'Chili ride" for the shop, it turned out to be a day on ski's.(way too windy to ride outside today) Unfortunately, my four legged friend had to stay home today because the snow was too soft... too hard on her hips. But, I will say that the conditions are probably the best of the season, and like you Roadie, I too did a semi backcountry ski today. I followed someone elses tracks, and it was a blast although a LOT of work HA!

[roadie gal]

Wow. Our season is completely done. The cross country centers closed April 1st. The one closest to me had to cancel a bunch of special events. There is dirt all around the house. The snow level is up over 7000 feet! We're at a 50% snow pack for the year. That's really scary for the fire season this summer.

[ridebikeme]

I did a short late day hike yesterday (elevation only 1100-1200 feet proabably) and saw evidence that we still have lots of snow in soem areas... 2-3 feet. I'll definitely have to get out on ski's before its all gone though. We are in that in between season, where you can still find snow to ski on and some days are nice enough to get out and ride... others not so much.

[Crankin]

Bumping this thread up, because we just made a reservation for our annual x country ski trip we do in February! We are going back to Stowe, staying in a new place, and I am hoping, this time, there will be snow. Last 2 times, we ended up snow shoeing, with one day being about 45 degrees, drizzle, and huge amounts of melting snow. The mud at our inn was so bad (it was around March 1st), that even DH's 4 wheel drive, with a special heavy duty thing for getting out of places, needed some extra coaxing to work.
We had originally planned on going back to the Northeast Kingdom, but about 2 weeks ago, we got an email from the inn saying, "good news," the out the door trails are now all for fat tire bikes . Not good for us, though. We snow shoed there, and the only reason we didn't ski was the snow cover was a bit sketchy. There is a dedicated x country center, but it's not that big and not worth going there for a few days. I know that Burke is promoting fat bikes/mountain biking to make the area more desireable to people, but that is one sport I will never do. Since most of the clientele at the inn looked like families with kids, I am wondering how this will play out.
There's still lots of riding time left, but I am getting excited.

[ridebikeme]

Although at present I don't own a Fatbike, more than likely I will buy one at some point. I don't think that there will be much of an issue, there's plenty of room in the NE Kingdom to do what one wants...

When I moved back to Maine in 2000, I judged the conditions of the snow by what I took out on the trails... great snow I'm on my nordic ski's, if it was icey than I went with my mtn bike with studded tires or chains. Nothing has changed, although a Fatbike would me allow me to get more outside miles over the winter than simply being on the trainer. And of course, I'll always be on ski's when there is snow

[Crankin]

1st ski of the season at our local touring center. I am always doubtful about the conditions here, but today they were fabulous! All powder, even though we had some ice under the snow on our driveway. Did about 10.5k, and even though it was crowded, we do an outer loop which includes the only 3 bigger climbs (nothing compared to other places) here, after about the half way point, we hardly saw anyone. Lots of parents teaching very little kids to ski, also.
I'm pretty tired, from skiing, 2 hours of snow shoveling, and still recovering form my dental surgery. Nobody fell, so that's good. I did feel a little more wobbly than usual, but I always think about when I started skiing at this place, about 22 years ago, when I never left the little beginner loop and the one teeny hill used to scare the crap out of me. I didn't *really* begin to ski until 2005.
Happy.

[Crankin]

Skied again today, same place, same loop. We had 5-8 inches of powder last night, but conditions were not as good . It's gorgeous out, bright, sunny and was 28 when I left. I got there at 10:30, about a half hour after they opened. Didn't start too well when the about 80 year old woman selling me the ski ticket asked if I was a senior . I know I don't look great without make up, but geez, my hair wasn't even sweaty yet. I told her i had 5 years to go, according to their standard. Anyway, it was really gorgeous and things were fine until I did the first part of the climb and got to the top, which is an open field, exposed, with no trees. As I was skiing around the loop to catch the second part of the climb, I almost did a face plant. I realized it was getting warm out, I didn't put any Glide on my skis and the snow was getting sticky. When I got back into the woods, it was better, but then I started getting annoyed at the poor grooming. The tracks were fine, but the skating lane, where I usually ascend and descend was not groomed and the sticky snow, combined with lots of powder and big lumps kept slowing me down on the downhills. I do have edges on my skis, but they don't do well in deeper powder. Getting back was slow and one guy near the end told me pass him, as his skis were no longer functioning!
Glad I went, though. Crossed paths with an AMC group skiing, I hung with them for a bit, but they were going even slower than me. I cringed when one of them yelled, "There's my bike leader."
It was 33 when I got back, so no wonder my skis were sticking.