I went to Mass (0800) this morning - it was very cold again (glad I dressed warmly). I then drove to Eastman for some more cross country skiing. When I arrived (0915), temps were still in the teens and all the trails were almost solid ice. What a difference 24 hours makes! I was layered up ok, as I usually am for a ski day, but my normal gloves weren’t thick enough to protect my finger tips. So, unlike previous visits, I had to interrupt my ski and return to my car for something warmer. Another challenge: without recent grooming, the tracks were difficult to use. Even with these obstacles, however, I ultimately stuck to my original plan of staying on the trails for two hours. After getting warmed up on the green (beginner) trails I usually use, I ventured away from the Cross Country Center to explore some blue (intermediate) trails to the west. This required me to navigate some tricky hills and cross several roads. Sadly, I found conditions on Croydon Run and Longwood Loop to be even worse than I’d seen on the Lazy Loop. As a result, I did a LOT of walking - mostly so I wouldn’t careen into the trees but also because of my unfamiliarity with the new trails. At one point, the grooming machine came by; when I saw how little effect it had on the track quality, I decided to walk over (by gravel road) to the northern end of the Croyden Connector and use that familiar trail to get back to my “normal” routine. This proved to be a good decision and I spent the rest of my time skiing on better quality tracks. Didn’t see any other skiers until just before I reached my car again (1115) - felt like the place was open just for me! With the sap starting to run from nearby maple tree farms yesterday, it seems like I may not get a lot more chances to ski this season. No matter - trying out more trails this year has really boosted my confidence!
