Cross Country Skiing

[Crankin]

Bump.
Just booked a weekend up in Franconia next weekend. I've seen enough pictures from various nordic centers to make me crazy! Not a ton of snow, but enough. Will ski at Bretton Woods and either Bear Notch or Waterville Valley.
So excited!!!

[Catrin]

Bump.
Just booked a weekend up in Franconia next weekend. I've seen enough pictures from various nordic centers to make me crazy! Not a ton of snow, but enough. Will ski at Bretton Woods and either Bear Notch or Waterville Valley.
So excited!!!

Sounds very interesting! Will this be on tracks or on open ground? Unsure how to define the difference, I've become interested in the different types of XC skiing.

[Crankin]

I think you mean are the places groomed nordic centers or just conservation land trails in the woods. The answer is #1. Bretton Woods Nordic Center is at the base of Mt. Washington, across the street from their huge alpine ski area. It is diverse, lots of trails, a variety of terrain, and well groomed. There are tracks and wide areas for skate skiing and climbing/descending on almost all of the trails. You can also connect to some state owned trails from here, too. Sometimes we ski from Bretton Woods over to the Highland center, which is an AMC lodge, eat lunch there, and ski back. Some of this is over less groomed trails. But, that won't be happening next weekend, as it's an 11 mile ski. Not for a first ski of the season. Bear Notch is a tiny ski area near there, that is at an elevation that always has snow on the more advanced trails. It is very bare bones, in terms of the nordic center (though awesome homemade bread and soup), but also excellent grooming. Waterville Valley is on the way home from Franconia, so it is also a choice. It has a huge nordic trail system. I have only been there once; not so many b and bs there, as it's mostly set up for the alpine skiers, with condos, etc. We also just were reminded of a new area, near our inn, that just opened last year. So, we could also go there on Sunday.
I have skied enough on conservation land trails to know it's not my favorite thing. I don't hate it, though. I am just spoiled. I would like slightly different (wider) skis for skiing on ungroomed territory; back country skis. But, I can't let myself get into the n+1 thing with skis! And, I would like new snow shoes first.

[Catrin]

Sounds wonderful Crankin! From what I can tell if I want to XC around here, it will simply be on trails in the woods in several local parts. Obviously I'm not about to try it until this little neck "glitch" is settled, but it really does sound like fun! Do let us know how it goes, and if you have any pictures share those as well. So thankful I can at least live vicariously though all of you right now