The XC Skiing thread

[ides1056]

I will try. The route is Adventure Cycling's Southern Tier. I will take my bike on Amtrak from Northampton, MA to Jacksonville, then ride to St Augustine where the route begins. Hoping to leave a week from now.

[cny rider]

Caleb where are your pics from?
I skied the big loop near Arnold Lake (Hartwick State Forest) today.
Conditions were spectacular!
Unfortunately this week looks like a disaster, with multiple days in the 40s and rain showers.
I fear today was my last day skiing locally, and could be it entirely unless we go to ADK's or Tug Hill.

[caleb]

Caleb where are your pics from?
I skied the big loop near Arnold Lake (Hartwick State Forest) today.
Conditions were spectacular!
Unfortunately this week looks like a disaster, with multiple days in the 40s and rain showers.
I fear today was my last day skiing locally, and could be it entirely unless we go to ADK's or Tug Hill.

The shots above are from Minneapolis.

Glad to hear that conditions were great on the Arnold Lake trail. Is that the trailhead on the corner where Joe Cornell Road Ts into Arnold Lake Road? If so, I've never skied that loop, but I have hiked it. Does anyone groom it, or is it skier-made tracks?

The closest groomed skiing I found out there was at Lapland. They had some nice trails. I do regret never making it up to Lake Placid to do their marathon.

[cny rider]

Yep that piece of land, although I usually park in a different lot on Arnold Lake Road, near where the Hartwick
State Forest road starts.
No grooming. I'm the guy laying tracks at least 50% of the time.

[caleb]

And.... we skiing!



Such as it is when there's no real snow and it's 40 degrees at 10am. But we've got 1.5k of fake snow, and it's enough to get out and get moving.

Anyone else out yet?

[ides1056]

No fair.

We have snow, and cold, but not enough of either to merit skiing.

Shotgun season ends Saturday, so the woods will be open again.

[guido]

We have crusty scraps of snow. Even the local center that makes snow don't have enough down to open skiing. Next week should be better conditions to make snow and the forecast shows 5" seven days out.

To ski around here is an exercise in hope...

[WFSTEKL]

No fair.

We have snow, and cold, but not enough of either to merit skiing.

Shotgun season ends Saturday, so the woods will be open again.

As you are aware, we received snow before Halloween, and that is le basier de la mort for snow potential going forward. I hope that we somehow escape the curse this year. My skis are waxed.

[DCT]

And.... we skiing!



Such as it is when there's no real snow and it's 40 degrees at 10am. But we've got 1.5k of fake snow, and it's enough to get out and get moving.

Anyone else out yet?

Jealous! Keep the ski pictures coming.

[guido]

As you are aware, we received snow before Halloween, and that is le basier de la mort for snow potential going forward. I hope that we somehow escape the curse this year. My skis are waxed.

And that was enough to actually ski in if you were organized and fast enough to get out. Alas I was up to my elbows in other stuff and it was gone 3 days later...

[ides1056]

As you are aware, we received snow before Halloween, and that is le basier de la mort for snow potential going forward. I hope that we somehow escape the curse this year. My skis are waxed.

Last year was good at Notchview. There was little snow overall, but they managed to keep trails well covered and groomed. It's not like back in the day when we started in November and ended in March. I am thinking about winter cycling shoes.

Prospect may well be good, but I am loathe to drive at this point.

[WFSTEKL]

Last year was good at Notchview. There was little snow overall, but they managed to keep trails well covered and groomed. It's not like back in the day when we started in November and ended in March. I am thinking about winter cycling shoes.

Prospect may well be good, but I am loathe to drive at this point.

I once chased the early snow at Prospect. It is too time intensive (from Amherst) for me now. We live adjacent to the college golf course, and ski from the door when snow exists. I am happy to make a big loop and ski laps into dusk. When I am in ski mode I can think of no better way to move the body. When I am in cycling mode I can think of no better way to move the body. When I am in rowing mode, well, I prefer to watch the kids do it.

[fmbp]

And.... we skiing!



Such as it is when there's no real snow and it's 40 degrees at 10am. But we've got 1.5k of fake snow, and it's enough to get out and get moving.

Anyone else out yet?

I was out there skiing that same loop on Saturday morning - but in the tracks. This has been a depressing early winter for MPLS skiers. I'm tired of my roller skis.

[j44ke]

They are promising a pummeling amount of snow tonight in the range of 16-24" and then daytime temps will be below freezing until Sunday. Our landscaping team has been working for the last two weeks and has 5 miles of interlocking trails cleared on the property. We'll be snowshoeing tomorrow. One of these days we'll have skis. But looking forward to it nonetheless.

[caleb]

They are promising a pummeling amount of snow tonight in the range of 16-24" and then daytime temps will be below freezing until Sunday. Our landscaping team has been working for the last two weeks and has 5 miles of interlocking trails cleared on the property. We'll be snowshoeing tomorrow. One of these days we'll have skis. But looking forward to it nonetheless.

Have you looked into the recent iterations of tele and alpine touring skis? If I had stayed in the Catskills, I certainly would have given it a try.

[j44ke]

Have you looked into the recent iterations of tele and alpine touring skis? If I had stayed in the Catskills, I certainly would have given it a try.

I went to Jay's favorite shop in Adams MA, and the nice guy there had some skis picked out based on my description of inexperienced skier on trails through rolling terrain with lots of trees. But now that's in my neither long term nor short term memory, so most likely gone forever. I think Fischer skis, Rossignol boots (which looked exactly like Fizik Artica winter cycling shoes.)

Any models you were thinking of specifically?

[guido]

12-18 forecast for tonite so the season may be kicking off with a bang...

[j44ke]

Current radar (see time/date stamp) - we're in the open "mouth" just SE of Albany:

Screen Shot 2020-12-16 at 5.04.56 PM.jpg

[lumpy]

I went to Jay's favorite shop in Adams MA, and the nice guy there had some skis picked out based on my description of inexperienced skier on trails through rolling terrain with lots of trees. But now that's in my neither long term nor short term memory, so most likely gone forever.

The guy at Berkshire Outfitters is still there and he'll be happy to see you; tell him again, he'll tell you again. It's my favorite shop too.

[j44ke]

The guy at Berkshire Outfitters is still there and he'll be happy to see you; tell him again, he'll tell you again. It's my favorite shop too.

Will do.