After the Upper Valley got the biggest snow storm (20ish inches) since I moved to NH, I was itching to get out on the ski trails this morning. Unfortunately, I hadn’t considered how many of the cross country areas I use in winter had already closed for the season. And not just “we aren’t grooming” closed - some had warnings about restricted access due to mud season. I only really had two choices: go to Oak Hill (i.e., Dartmouth) on a day they had scheduled ski races or break trail somewhere familiar. After digging my car out (yikes) of a huge snowdrift (1045), I chose the latter option and drove to Enfield (I-89, US-4 and NH-4A) to check on a section of the Northern Rail Trail. The roads weren't good but the weather was great (sunny and in the high 20s). Even better: the parking lot for Mascoma Lakeside Park had been plowed. But then the real work began! Let me tell you: breaking trail on skis is not fun in 20+ inches (with drifts in places up to 3 feet)… For the first hour, I was wading more than skiing. Even though someone had previously walked part of the trail in snowshoes, there were places that I sank up to my thighs. Along the way, the bottom of my wax-less skis got coated with about three inches of sticky snow. Determined, I retraced my route several times within a mile long section south of the Enfield Depot and gradually packed down the surface. Other people walked through the area on snowshoes while I was there and helped to make the base layer even stronger. I believe the sun helped too, refreezing the tracks after I went through. As a result, the second hour was MUCH easier and fun. I was gliding and getting a real vertical stride going. In the end, I logged two hours on my EVOs in two hours (1150 to 1350). Feeling great as I got in my car to go home (arrived at 1430). Hoping that this snow lasts for a few days because I’m not done enjoying this “Winter” season yet!
