The XC Skiing thread

[ant_tip]

And.... we skiing!

Looks familiar. I was there at CXC Cup race during a business trip last February, rented a fat bike and enjoyed the Theodore Wirth Park trails :)
I miss all the local breweries...

[j44ke]

When I woke up, I was slightly disappointed by the depth, but it seems to have picked up speed as the backside of the front approaches. I'd say we are right around 20" right now, with about 3-4" since 6AM. Fine sticky snow. My boots had an extra 3/4" of height to them just after walking around on the porch. Birds are in full panic eating mode. Need to get coffee and breakfast and I'll go out and refill the feeders. Then go play in the woods!

[ides1056]

Abundant snow at 1700' in Cummington. Wetter than I expected, or not as dry as forecast. Still coming down pretty hard. Tractor plugged in. Will blow and plow when it stops. I'd have had everything on the list done beforehand, but had to bury a horse on Monday, which backed up my schedule by a day.

Notchview will be good. Hawley. Prospect will be outstanding.

[vertical_doug]

When I woke up, I was slightly disappointed by the depth, but it seems to have picked up speed as the backside of the front approaches. I'd say we are right around 20" right now, with about 3-4" since 6AM. Fine sticky snow. My boots had an extra 3/4" of height to them just after walking around on the porch. Birds are in full panic eating mode. Need to get coffee and breakfast and I'll go out and refill the feeders. Then go play in the woods!

this is when you realize you shouldv'e bought the riding lawn mover with a plow extension instead of the axe.

[Moke]

My neck of the woods is high and dry, have to do some driving to get to good snow. I am waxed and ready however.

[j44ke]

this is when you realize you shouldv'e bought the riding lawn mover with a plow extension instead of the axe.

Plow guy came this morning. 750’ of uphill driveway requires a bit of power to plow. I just had to do the south porch, the walk to the parking area and then a section in front of the garage door.

Plus dig out the bird feeders and refill.

I measured several spots while digging and average was 18”.

Time to go tromp around!

[rwsaunders]

First pass with the snowblower this morning...about 10" in the Steel City.

[Tom]

...Schenectady County...
South Schenectady 30.5 830 AM 12/17 NWS Employee
1 NNW Niskayuna 30.2 1025 AM 12/17 NWS Employee
1 SSW Aqueduct 30.0 1120 AM 12/17 NWS Employee
Schenectady-GE Plot 29.7 1120 AM 12/17 NWS Employee

Storm total observations Albany NWS. Sounds about right. I just spent two and a half hours shoveling my front walk, front steps and kitchen door steps, steps twice because I roof raked, the path out and around the hot tub, finally roof raked the back dormer and north side. That takes maybe 30 minutes normally.

[gregl]

...Schenectady County...
South Schenectady 30.5 830 AM 12/17 NWS Employee
1 NNW Niskayuna 30.2 1025 AM 12/17 NWS Employee
1 SSW Aqueduct 30.0 1120 AM 12/17 NWS Employee
Schenectady-GE Plot 29.7 1120 AM 12/17 NWS Employee

Storm total observations Albany NWS. Sounds about right. I just spent two and a half hours shoveling my front walk, front steps and kitchen door steps, steps twice because I roof raked, the path out and around the hot tub, finally roof raked the back dormer and north side. That takes maybe 30 minutes normally.

If I was in your vicinity, I'd be heading to Lapland Lake. Love the nordic skiing there!

Greg

[lumpy]

I did the bare minimum of shoveling this morning then went out on a tour on the south ridge of Mt. Greylock. Nice light deep snow, slog going out/up, very nice coming back/down.

[guido]

We got 13". The two local ski areas will have things groomed and ready to play tomorrow they say.

[j44ke]

What a day. Three hours in the woods. I could see all the trails even with the snow - but I also knew where to look. Really great addition to the property though.

[ides1056]

Prospect Mountain in Woodford. Where to go:

https://prospectmountain.com/conditions/

We got slammed. Yay.

Notchview will take awhile to settle:

https://www.xcskimass.com/conditions/notchview

Hawley should be lovely too.

[sailor]

Local trails opened today on reservation but I wasn't watching close enough and did not get a slot until tuesday. Hopefully it stays cold to keep the snow this winter.

[lumpy]

Got out for another helping on Mt. Greylock. Good touring. My ski tracks on the lower loop were troughed out by snowshoers, but on the further trail they were still pristine. Going to try to get a quick one in early tomorrow before all my track is eradicated.

[ides1056]

Went to Notchview and was impressed that all the trails were groomed. Soft still but good skating with the right ski.

There's a special kind of tired that comes from doing this.

[ides1056]

Now that we have snow I am taking the opportunity to ski myself into a coma every day. I come home, eat, drink and go to bed. I can do this all winter.

[j44ke]

Now that we have snow I am taking the opportunity to ski myself into a coma every day. I come home, eat, drink and go to bed. I can do this all winter.

Think this storm tonight has not reached you yet, but we are losing inches by the minute. We'll get some back next week, but not 18". Got out three times for snowshoeing. Last one was kind of pointless as I could have just hiked in boots, except that I definitely got a work out from it. All the deer have given up on being wild animals and are using the new paths the landscapers cut. Hilarious. Get to a junction - some go right some go left and some continue on. Very civilized.

[thomas]

Got out three times on my skate-skis this week. That's the best start to a season in years. But it comes to an end tonight and tomorrow, for sure, with heavy rain and 55 degree temps, even overnight tonight. You can't take good snow for granted any more. Get out asap while it's good, cuz it probably won't last.

[Tom]

Eesh. Wouldn't be Christmas without a Grinch storm, I guess. 30 inches to scraps in 24 hours.