The single digit temps overnight set the snow surfaces very well. Through the entire work day, I was itching to get outside! At 1645, I drove over to the Dartmouth rugby fields to see if others might have broken some trails. On the way, I passed LOTS of young people (members of sports teams?) who were running in the pleasant (40 degree) temperatures. When I arrived (1700), I found something even better than I'd ever imagined: groomed tracks (presumably made by the Oak Hill Outdoor Center staff)! They weren’t the normal routes but I reveled in the nicest conditions I’ve seen since February. I started on Gariplay Field but decided - for the first time - to cross Reservoir Road and see what was behind the Ray School. As I went deeper into woods on the edge of town, I soon realized that I was inside the Storrs Pond Recreation Area. This was the first time I’d been there and it was nice to get a look at the popular camp and swimming hole. The trails back there were quite challenging, with big climbs and steep descents. I fell a few times - mostly because of the slippery/sticky conditions but also because of how fast I was going. Woohoo! Most everyone else was a skate skier but I did meet one lady (Dorothy) who was skiing Classic like me. After reaching a place called Area 5 (along NH-10), I realized I probably wasn’t going to have enough daylight to get back to my car. So, for the last 20 minutes of my 1.75 hour adventure, I walked on the road. Reached my car at 1845. Overall, skied/walked about 3.5 miles on a beautiful day. Made it home by 1900. Temps should be low double digits overnight so I’m hoping for another chance on my EVOs tomorrow afternoon!
