Cross Country Skiing

[Crankin]

I think LPH's advice about pulsing the snowplows is good. For icy downhills, you just have to dig those edges in and slow the snowplow down. The quality of the grooming makes a big difference, as does temperature and sun. You should try another place and experiment with conditions/ different types of grooming.
Days 2 and 3 in Stowe:
Yesterday was snowing like hell and wind gusts up to 30 mph. Out we went at Von Trapp (the hills are alive...). Once in the woods the wind was not much of an issue and it was not that cold. But, blowing snow had pretty much obliterated the grooming, tracks were non-existent and the packed lane was almost back country conditions. Two hours of slogging through that was enough! At the end, we were in open fields, and it was pretty miserable. Not hard terrain, but not fun. Chalk it up as a htfu experience.
Today went back to Trapp and it was perfect. Still some flurries, no wind and 30 degrees. We skied up to the cabin, ate lunch, and skied down, about 20k. It was not technically hard, but long. Tired but happy. No skiing tomorrow, we will shop and drive home.

[DebW]

I did a day of skiing at Windblown yesterday. The snow was excellent packed powder with temps in the 20s and sunny skies. Unfortunately, my leather backcountry 3-pin boots died the day before, so I had to rent boots and use some waxable in-track skis with SNS bindings that a friend loaned me. I wasn't used to the narrow skis, as they felt much less stable than my BCs, but by afternoon I'd forgotten about the difference and was running up hills and taking more speed on the downs. Now waiting on mail-ordered 3-pin boots to see if they'll fit and do the job - I've got weekends of skiing in VT planned the next 2 weekends. Meanwhile I found a pair of BC NNN boots for $30 that fit well and bought an NNN binding that I may put on a pair of old skis.

[Crankin]

So much snow! I don't want it to rain, nooooooo!!!!
Going to Great Brook with my cycling group today. I am sure they will be slow and sociable, but that's why I am going (the sociable part). I finally have Wednesdays totally free.
We kind of impulsively booked a night at an inn in the Berkshires for Saturday when we were up in Stowe. We plan to get up Sat. morning, go to a x country center that is on the way, ski, then drive to Pittsfield to the inn, get up the next day, head back east, and ski somewhere else. With the impending rain and warm temperatures, I am doubtful we'll be skiing. However, maybe it won't rain out there. Will bring the snow shoes and ice spikes in case we hike or snow shoe.

[Catrin]

Have fun, and I hope your weather cooperates so you can have a nice weekend in the snow! WE are starting the "Great 2014 Snowmelt" that will, no doubt, end in flooding. That is the way of things after a winter like this one. 50's today/tomorrow. Storms tomorrow. More snow this weekend and back to the 20s..

[Crankin]

Yup, our weather is pretty much on the same path. Just got back from skiing/lunch. It was fun, but it was so warm, all of our waxless skis were sticking, despite the fact I used the maxi glide before I left. We stopped and one of the group let some of use hers again. Nothing was very "fast," but it was good to be outside. The people who showed up for the ski were not my favorite members of the group and I was most likely the youngest . I now have to go out and try to shovel some and get some ice melt down. DH is away and I cannot use the snowblower. The main driveway we share is plowed but the huge area in front of my house is not. I shoveled a small area before I went skiing, but I didn't want to get tired. Well, now I am exhausted, but if I don't do it, it's going to be nice and icy after the rain/freezing drizzle, and my cleaning people come tomorrow. They have a 4 WD, but I don't want anyone to fall. Plus, I have boot camp early in the AM.

[Jolt]

So much snow! I don't want it to rain, nooooooo!!!!

Agreed! It is snowing here (pretty heavily) right now but I think it is supposed to rain some. If it doesn't rain, maybe I will ski tomorrow morning; otherwise will plan to snowshoe since it is no fun to ski on ice! I did get out skiing before work Monday at the big XC ski center about 25 minutes away and had a much better ski than Saturday, just one "almost fall" so maybe I should chalk Saturday's fiasco up to the poor conditions on the local trails.

[Crankin]

Jolt, the conditions really matter when you are starting. And, they matter to me still, after 20+ years of skiing. I always feel totally uncoordinated at my local center, where I went today, because the conditions are marginal a good deal of the time compared to others. It's the combination of the open fields, poor grooming, and other environmental things. I did trails that were 50X more challenging up in VT and today I felt like I was going to lose it. I didn't fall, but this happens routinely at this place for me.

[Crankin]

Going up to North Conway, NH in a bit, maybe the last ski of the season? We were going to go to Franconia, where we have an inn we love, but found out that Bretton Woods is actually closed to the public as they are having a x country ski marathon this weekend. So, given the conditions I researched, there seems to be good snow further north, so we'll probably ski at Bear Notch, a small, funky, but excellent place that always has good conditions when others don't. I think on the way home, we'll drive down to Waterville Valley and ski there on Sunday.
Right now, looking forward to the lounge and dinner at the inn tonight!