With temps in the high 20s, it seemed like a good day to return to the Green Woodlands! After working in my condo for some of the early morning, I left home at 1045. Using Greensboro Road, Etna Road and Baker Hill Road, I made my way to Dorchester Road. From there, the drive to the parking lot for the Green Woodlands wasn't too difficult. I started skiing from the Lyme side again (just after 1115) and made my way into the trails complex. I immediately encountered a lot of young people wearing Dartmouth Green and figured out it was the ski team. After getting deeper into the forest, I decided it might be fun to ski on the the solid surface of Cummins Pond. Fortunately, someone had already driven a four wheeler there and I felt pretty confident of the ice thickness. (I later learned that this body of water is the source of the Mascoma River!) I ended up completing a (counterclockwise) loop on the pond surface - there was some wind but the conditions were pretty good out on the frozen water. I got some nice views of Smarts Mountain, which I previously summited while hiking the AT. After 90 minutes outdoors, I checked out the Warming Hut and was very happy to find a roaring fire and some hot cocoa. I would have been content with only those amenities but I soon learned - from the famous proprietor of the Green Woodlands, Bob - that the ingredients for S’Mores were available outside at the fire pit! Along with several other patrons of the free trail system, I gorged myself on toasted marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers. We all talked about how lucky we were and I took several group photos for others. After about 20 minutes, I headed back out on the trails and did another 90 minutes on lovely, groomed surfaces. The sun came out, the temps might have hit 30 and I had the vast New Hampshire woods almost completely to myself. When I did see people, I spread the word about the S’Mores. I also took more photos, mostly of young families, and watched talented youngsters practicing their skate skiing. After a wonderful day of about three hours (6ish miles) on my EVOs, I reached my car (1445) and headed towards home (left about five minutes later and arrived at my condo just after 1515). It was another great day in the Granite State!
