One of my favorite places to ski in the Upper Valley is the Green Woodlands, a huge swath of private land between the towns of Lyme and Dorchester (NH). The owner apparently enjoys driving a grooming machine and making warm fires for skiers who make their way deep into the woods on the hills that parallel the Appalachian Trail nearby. I was awake early, eager to take advantage of the remaining snow and wary of large crowds at this popular ski spot. I drove (via Etna and Dartmouth Skiway) to Green Woodlands and was able to start my workout by 0900. The air felt cool but I wasn't too cold (lots of layers). The trails were in good condition, which was an added bonus - this is my third ski season visiting the winter wonderland of GW and I was not disappointed today! For three hours, I made my way deeper into the trail network than I ever have, exploring remote hills, valleys and clearings. Trail conditions (and the weather generally) were excellent. The snow is regularly groomed and last night’s light accumulation added just the right surface on the tracks. It wasn’t cold, either. Along my way through the woods, I met several interesting people. One local man who said he has been skiing the GW “since they were created” practically dared me to visit some challenging areas of the network - the joke was on him, though, because I did just that. What was even funnier, though, was that he was there to see me make it each time. I met another lady who was wearing a backpack - as we got to talking, I learned she was training for the Canadian Ski Marathon, which takes place in February every year (between Montreal and Ottawa). There are several challenge levels than can include distance, self supported camping, etc. I wished her well in her efforts. Finally, I repeatedly saw a young lady who was quite speedy on her skis. I learned later that she trains most days at GW for ultra-distance (greater than 50K) ski events. Future Olympian? Finished at noon after six miles of trails. Overall, my day was awesome - I never fell or removed my skis while I traveled in the area. It only got crowded towards the end so I’m hopeful I’ve found the key to an enjoyable time at GW... After getting done, I drove home (backtrack route) and was at my condo before 1300. Great day outdoors!
