Cross Country Skiing

[ridebikeme]

Isn't it wonderful when people are so friendly that you can knock on their door for something? I have not skiied in the NEK, however I know the terrain fairly well,a dn always smile when I think of the first time riding there and coming up on the sugar house... great memories! I've also enjoyed eating several lunches at the general store, love the atmosphere!!

I have to admit that losing the snow that we just received is a bummer; I'm hoping that the weather will change here again adn give us some more snow. I see the snow changing here each day and I'll admit that it does make me sad... probably not something that I should admit since I own a bike shop LOL!!

Here's to hoping that your day of skiing is good today and that the snow gods will come back and make another visit.

[Crankin]

We didn't ski yesterday, as it was about 9 degrees with a 20 mph wind, gusts up to 40. If the snow had been powder, yes, but as it was, my lungs were starting to act up again. So, we drove to Montpelier, where we spent quite a bit of time in a bike/ski shop and I bought a Marmot jacket for 30% off and DH bought some new ski pants and then had a late lunch. I was seriously looking at real estate ads in the NEK at breakfast!
I am hoping the snow Gods pay another visit, too. Next weekend may be a possibility, but tomorrow is going to be 47 here in the Boston area, which is bad enough, but it's supposed to rain, too. Maybe that rain will be snow up at Windblown .

[ridebikeme]

Ohh I hope you're right about the snow!! It has definitely been windy here the past couple of days, gusts over 50MPH and that was quite often. In fact, the wind is still blowing ARGH!! But I guess it is better than rain.


I too, thought about a move to the NEK! Wondered if I could move the shop and actually survive over there; I'm sure many people have shared those same thoughts.

Have a good week and hope that you are feeling better!

[DebW]

I skied a piece of the Catamount Trail past Stratton Pond on Sunday. Joined an official Catamount tour, where the leader was the maintainer of the section we skied. It was cold, below 10 all day, and quite windy, though a beautiful day in the woods. The original plan was to ski 9 miles with an optional bail-out at 6 miles, but the leader decided we would all stop at 6 miles given the weather and trail conditions - the last 2 miles of the longer tour would have been a steep downhill on crusty snow. The route included some woods roads, part of a hiking trail, and some snowmobile track and was well-marked and maintained. We started on the Arlington-West Wardsboro Road, stopped for lunch at the shelter at Stratton Pond and finished near some condos at Stratton Ski Area. A really nice day of skiing.

[Catrin]

Crankin, you make this sound so fun

[Crankin]

Today we skied at Great Glen. I've never been there before; really nice people and good grooming. We did all do the green and blue trails and determined we could definitely do the black trails here next time. Skied for 2 hrs., ate lunch, and went back out for about an hour. Then we shopped in the store, where I bought some new ski pants 25% off. We went back to the inn, showered, and went off to the PI outlet in N. Conway. My friend spent 400.00 but PI does not fit me well; I bought some running/gym capris and some gloves and DH bought a couple of things. Got back to the inn and had wine, some free appetizers and then ate dinner.
Going to bed soon! We are going to ski at Jackson tomorrow.
It is fun, Catrin. Last blast of winter.

[ridebikeme]

Sounds like a great day Crankin! I should definitely get over there since it's so close to where I live Although everytime I pick up my boots, my four legged friend is ready to go... somehow I'll have to find a way to sneak out HA!

Enjoy your day today!!

[Crankin]

Today we skied for 2.5 hours at Jackson. Brilliant sun and pretty warm, 29? Because so many of the trails are not shaded, there was a good deal of slickness. The grooming was great, but, by the end of the ski, there were some bare patches at the higher elevations. Anyway, I liked it a lot, but was kind of sore from yesterday and myback was acting up. Nothing horrible, though. Did a monster climb in the beginning, then lots of smaller climbs, in between the long green loops. It took longer to get back than we thought, as one of the trails was not groomed. Anyway, we had to go down the monster climb, to get back to the center, but right before that, you have to take your skis off and cross the road. I coldn't clip in to my right ski and had to take time to clean the ice out of the binding. Hence, I did the monster downhill alone. I was fine, but probably not looking so elegant at the end. I was starving and tired! We had a good sandwich at a deli and then my friend drove off by herself to a conference in southern NH and we took her DH home.
This was a successful ski trip, and maybe the last of the year. The snow coming Wed./Thursday is going to hit north of here in a big way, we are only going to get 1-2 inches. We have theatre Friday night and staying in town, so no weekend away. I'd really like to be on my bike next weekend, but my feeling is there's going to be lots of melting and refreezing and it may not be optimal. I'll always take another ski.

[Jolt]

They're saying 6-10 inches of snow here Wednesday/Thursday...looks like more skiing and snowshoeing will be on tap. I have been enjoying the winter sports but am about ready for spring!

[lph]

I've been off both bike and skis for a couple of weeks because of a bout of flu, but am up and running again now. In the meantime the good ski conditions have gone :-( and we're left with.... uh, "enthusiast conditions". Which in practice means wet or icy grainy hard snow, klister (gooey ski wax out of a tube) and lots and lots of poling. We did manage to string together over 30 km on Sunday though, once you find a flat enough trail and get poling you can pick up a fair amount of speed. But I'm limp in lots of strange places today, hardly used my legs but used lots of balancing muscles instead.

[Crankin]

Just came back from a 2 day ski in western MA. We went to Notchview on Saturday. Didn't get there until around 1, and it was already snowing. I am not sure about this place. It was pretty, in the woods, but it was hard to judge, since the grooming was completely obliterated by the snow falling. Also, the trails were kind of easy, even the blue ones. There was a black trail, but it was nearing 4 PM and we decided we needed to head back to the center. This place is run by the Trustees of Reservations, a private, non-profit that manages land/recreation areas and historic houses. We headed east a bit to our B and B in Greenfield, about 5 miles from Northfield Mountain, where we have been quite a few times. The B and B was great, and we had 2 awesome dinners in restaurants in very small rural towns I had barely heard of. Skiing at Northfield was fantastic. It was really cold and windy yesterday, so hardly anyone there. We climbed up to the summit on blue and black trails, and skied down a green trail (not a good choice, it was too exposed and windy). After lunch, we did more climbing and descending on some good hills.
Getting ready to head out to the Methow Valley in WA on Saturday. Just spoke to our tour guide. It is warm there, but the skiing is OK. We are going to take a skate ski lesson the first day, and then see how we do. Otherwise, we'll stick to the classic and do some snow shoeing.

[DebW]

I skied a section of the Catamount Trail in Vermont last weekend. Stayed at the Landgrove Inn and skied Section 7. Untracked backcountry snow. Hard work but beautiful.

[Blueberry]

Wonder how safe it is to drive to NC.

I should check the weather report.

Interstates are clear in Central NC - but the snow is pretty much gone (and it was mostly sleet anyway). Not sure about the Boone area - they might still be good.

[Crankin]

I remember when I lived in Miami, lots of people went to NC to ski. Of course, this was downhill skiing in 1970, but I assume there's touring centers there now. X country skiing has become super popular since I started in 1992.
I skied again at our local touring center in the next town. It's vacation week here in MA... so lots of kids, but really, once I got out just a little ways, it was fine. Not quite as powdery as the past few weeks, as it's above 30 today and there's been a lot of use at this place, I am sure.

[zoom-zoom]

Oh, yeah, West MI snow conditions are all over the map. I suspect I'd still be happy with no wax.