Cross Country Skiing

[Crankin]

Awesome ski at Windblown today. We got up to mid point of the "Open Slope," and skied down, which was great, because it was all powder. This is a trail/mountain that could easily be a downhill ski run. I don't think I will ever get further than I have, as the downhill is black diamond further up, and while I can ski black trails in most places, not here! We got there at 9:40 and it was quiet, but by the time we came in for lunch, it was busy. A cloudy day, and colder that I thought it would be, but I had brought an extra vest, which I wore for the morning. The only bad thing was, I lost one of my fleece gloves. Thankfully, I had brought another pair, which is unusual.
Tomorrow, we will get up and go to Great Brook Farm, our local x country center. We can ski the 10K outer loop and get a good workout, and then hunker down, as we have another 12-18 inches coming. Maybe no work Monday?

[north woods gal]

Have been seeing the new reports on those storms you've been getting. Wow! Looks like you're set for skiing for a good long while.

[Crankin]

Yes! It was lightly snowing/flurries when we left to ski this morning. But, when we got to the trails, it stopped. On and off flurries as we skied. Sunday is truly a busier day for touring centers, but we got there at 9:15 and skied super fast for the first half, where we tend to see more people. DH was behind me, and I like to say I am paying him back for the summer on the bike! Got to the "climbing" section and was definitely feeling it in my back/SI joint, thus I had one fall skiing down the end of the bigger climb. It's a little difficult to negotiate, with a turn and almost mogul like terrain, but although I was on my butt, I stood right up and continued skiing down. DH saw it and told me my recovery looked very professional. Normally, I stop to set up the descent, but I was feeling confident.
As soon as we left skiing, it was snowing heavier. We stopped and had brunch at our favorite café, did an errand, and now hunkered down. My boss just texted me that we are closed tomorrow, so I have to call all of my clients and cancel. Yay.... I may try to get out in the storm tomorrow. We could get up to 18 inches. And the best thing is, the blizzard watch has been extended to Vermont, where we will be next weekend.

[zoom-zoom]

What a frustrating year for the West MI snowbelt. We typically get ~100" of snow. This year I don't think we're even close to half that. And when we did have snow it was too cold to go out. Long-term forecast has NO snow. Now, I really loathe Winter, BUT...if it's going to be cold, it sure would be nice to be able to make use of it. Haven't been out even once on the skis that we got new last year and only got 4 uses out of. This Winter has been even less conducive to skiing than last year. By next year DS (just turned 16) will be way over the weight range for his skis. Fat bikers are miserable, since trails are too muddy to ride.

[north woods gal]

We're up here in NE Wisconsin, so getting much the same weather, though still enough snow for skiing, but only if on groomed trails. Way too icy, otherwise. Been riding the fat bike on my ski trails, though, because they're still frozen. Unfortunately, that's soon to change with a week of 40 and even 50 degree weather headed our way. That's still okay, because I'll just head out on the roads with the fat bike. One thing about a fat bike, you can always find a place to ride one.

[Crankin]

First day of ski trip.
Got here late yesterday afternoon. Had pleasant drinks and conversation with other guests at the inn, went to dinner, and the our friends arrived a bit after we got back. The breakfast here was unbelievable. Today we skied at Craftsbury. It's a nordic center with rooms and cabins, a big training center, and site of races in the Northeast Kingdom of VT. So, it was warm, between 32 and 50, but it was awesome. The snow got progressively sticky before lunch and after lunch, it just felt slick. We only skied for an hour after lunch.
There was a juniors race going on; very much like a bike race! Kids were skiing sleeveless or with no shirts. It was warm, but not that warm!
Nothing hurts and I am drinking wine, in preparation for dinner at a Cuban restaurant. However, tomorrow looks like rain. It may be a shopping day.

[zoom-zoom]

We're up here in NE Wisconsin...

Where abouts? I grew up in Door Co. and my sister and mom still live in Sturgeon Bay.

[Crankin]

So, we did not ski Sunday. It was predicted to be warm, with rain. We thought we might get out in the AM, but the sketchy rain forecast nixed that. So, we shopped in Stowe, drank beer and ate lunch, did a little walking and got back to the b and b at 3:30. It never rained, but was about 58 F . Went out to another brew pub at about 7:30, when it did actually start raining. We managed to eat, but no one could have more than a 3 oz. pour! Went to sleep praying it didn't totally mess up the trails. When we got up, it was not raining, but flurrying, with the sun out and 30 degrees. Everything by the inn was mud. We ate, packed up and drove to Von Trapp ski touring. It's a huge resort, with a brewery now, restaurant, etc, and the most expensive nordic skiing around. But, they have awesome grooming and we knew it would be a sketchy day. The trail we went out on was slicker than hell, loose granular, although it had just been groomed. After a long descent, it got better. But, looks like I saw my last powder last weekend. We skied for 2 hours, ending with a very steep and somewhat icy climb; just as I was nearing the top, my edge on my left ski skid out and I went down on my knees. I had to really use a lot of upper body strength to get up, but it was just a knee down thing and not a fall on my azz, splayed out on the trail thing.
Got back to the lodge and it was 35 degrees. We were all tired, so we ate our sandwiches and decided to head out back home. Got home at around 4:15.
So, next weekend, we booked an inn near our favorite local-ish ski place for Saturday night. We had hoped to go up Saturday, ski, get to the inn around 3, have our dinner there in the restaurant, and then ski Sunday and be home by 2-3. Now, it's going to be 50-60 on Saturday and rain in the PM, after 2 days of being in the 60s. Sunday is supposed to be in the high 30s, so we will probably just ride or go to the gym Saturday, drive up and enjoy some wine at the bar, eat dinner, sleep and head to the touring center Sunday. We've already planned to snow shoe to the top of the mountain (I could never ski it, it used to be a dowhill run) if it's too crappy for skiing.

[north woods gal]

Where abouts? I grew up in Door Co. and my sister and mom still live in Sturgeon Bay.

We're a bit north yet. Up the road from Rhinelander.