After several days of warmer temperatures and rain this week, I didn’t even bother planning to ski this weekend. Last night, though, I experienced the true impact of Facebook on mental health - for worse or better. First, I saw a post about how the Eastman Cross Country trails were closed until further notice (“the ski season might be over”). As my hopes sank, I scrolled a bit further and found a post about the Green Woodlands (“we have a great base and are grooming - tomorrow should be wonderful”). Armed with this wildly disparate view on snow and Winter conditions from locations I’ve regularly used, I made plans this morning to head towards the latter trails complex this afternoon. After working around the house all morning, I departed my condo at 1430 and drove (via Etna) towards the parking area for the Green Woodlands in Dorchester. On the way, it seemed like it was a bad sign that the dirt roads on the way showed signs of mud season, full of ruts and slick in places. Believe me, I crossed my fingers all the way to the west side of Dorchester... Upon arrival (1500), I was rewarded with a packed parking lot (I got the last spot)! I guess others heard the same news… For the next two hours (1510 to 1710), though, I skied to my heart’s content (4ish miles), rarely encountering anyone. It was very windy and icy (temps in low 20s) but I was bundled up well. I stayed mostly on the southeast side of Cummins Pond and enjoyed groomed tracks, along with fast downhills - in some places, I only needed my arms to keep the momentum going for hundreds of yards. By the end of my ski, I’d almost forgotten about the bare ground, mud and dirty snow piles back at my condo. Afterwards (1715), I reversed my early afternoon driving route to reach my condo (arrived at 1745). VERY glad I ventured outside today - thanks, Facebook!
