The XC Skiing thread

[Moke]

Yea, Missoula is finally in business and it is perfect.

[Bobonli]

Is it safe to go skiing this winter? I'm pretty scared to go anywhere crowded.

It depends where you are and how well they are controlling things. I’m at a smaller mom and pop type placed, mentioned above, and the parking lot looks 1/4 full. No crowds no lines longer than 30 people, eat and change in your car. Very safe. I’ve heard other places on the east coast have lines and crowds. Glad not to be there.

[72gmc]

I'll add that the layout of the area makes a difference. My kid and I went to a mom and pop area in Oregon. I've visited that place since I was a kid, and for the first time it occurred to me that all of the lifts originate from the same low point. All of the lift lines overlap and mingle.

[j44ke]

More snow! I think we got 3-4". Last bit was actually some kind of granular ice. I went out snowshoeing and could see how this might be a nice combo? Firm crusty stuff underneath powdery inches and then some tiny ball bearings on top.

[cny rider]

Just back from 4 days in the Adirondacks.
The best snow conditions were on Tuesday and the kids made their first trip in to Avalanche Pass.
If you've never been it's an absolute classic ski trip. It's only for doing in good conditions though.

IMG_8740.jpgIMG_8751.jpgIMG_8759.jpg

[ides1056]

One thing you can count on when skiing is that conditions will be variable. Two days ago ice predominated and the grooming was inconsistent. Yesterday four or five inches of new snow was down and more falling made for a very different process. What I love most about skiing is the feel of snow underfoot, the way it gives under the ski as it runs. Endlessly fascinating. And the quiet. You can almost hear your heart beat.

[ides1056]

I went for a ride today for the first time in maybe three months. 65 degrees, down in the valley along flat, quiet roads.

Skiing rules. I will suffer for the next nine months till snow flies again.

[WFSTEKL]

I skied in April last year. Hope remains.

[lumpy]

I went for a ride today for the first time in maybe three months. 65 degrees, down in the valley along flat, quiet roads.

Skiing rules. I will suffer for the next nine months till snow flies again.

It's not over 'til it's over. This is only mid-March, plenty of time for a few more storms. Skied the Thunderbolt yesterday, slacked off today, planning to go out for a spring tour tomorrow.

[ides1056]

Oh, yeah. Not over.

But I could do with another three months or so. Skiing is just more interesting.

[j44ke]

Snow sketched into the schedule for Tuesday. ~2". Night time temps will be below 30F for a while with day time temps above freezing, so open areas may be a couple inches of mud over hard ground.

[WFSTEKL]

Snow sketched into the schedule for Tuesday. ~2". Night time temps will be below 30F for a while with day time temps above freezing, so open areas may be a couple inches of mud over hard ground.

Sugar weather.

[72gmc]

This forum introduced me to Ezra Caldwell, and this XC skiing crowd introduced me to Sophie Caldwell, and now she's retiring from racing. Sadie Bjornsen, too.

Not sure where I'm going with this, other than ... thanks! It's been a while and I still look forward to this thread. Have a good time out there.

[ides1056]

I went for a ride yesterday: three hours of flat roads at sixty degrees and then some. I could hardly walk last night. My legs were all gumby from doing nothing. Oy.

[vertical_doug]

Temperatures crashed overnight so today was an emergency mental health day!



On the right side of the photo, about 1/3 in, the farthest gray mountain... is that Greylock? It looks like Moby Dick to me too.

[j44ke]

Mt Greylock is more to the left. That's probably Mt. Monadnock.



Our place is the woods behind the upper limbs of the tree with the orange things at its base.

[lumpy]

That's Greylock, all right. You can see Monadnock from Greylock, but I doubt Catamount's high enough.

[vertical_doug]

Call me stubborn, I think it is Greylock.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35410232

If you zoom in and drop to satellite, it lines up

I don't think the factor is how tall is Catamount, but how tall is greylock and the stuff between the two is not that tall as the crow flies...

[j44ke]

Well I'll have to look at Greylock again the next time I am up there. I don't remember it having that shape.

[lumpy]

Call me stubborn, I think it is Greylock.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35410232

If you zoom in and drop to satellite, it lines up

I don't think the factor is how tall is Catamount, but how tall is greylock and the stuff between the two is not that tall as the crow flies...

I meant the height of Catamount was an issue as far as seeing Monadnock - Monadnock's hidden by the intervening highlands.