With warm temperatures today and some sunshine, it was much like spring skiing on the cross-country trails of Trapp Family Lodge.
I arrived at lunchtime and the nordic center was buzzing with skiers enjoying the sun and skiing. I first tried my classic skis, but immediately found out that my wax didn't give me any "kick" on the fast snow and tracks. That's why I always bring a backup set of equipment! I returned to my car to put on my skating boots and grab my skating skis. Today was a skating day or a day to have classic waxless skis (the kind with fish scales on the bottom).
I decided to go to the much less traveled eastern side of the nordic network, which is across the street from the lodge. I skied past the guest houses and zipped down the groomed corduroy snow on Sleigh Road and Aither Trail. The tracks and grooming were very good over here because few people had skied here. I stopped a number of times to listen to the birds, look at animal tracks, and watch the water dripping from the trees. I like the peacefulness of these less popular trails.
You know how most people check to see what trails are open? Well I wasn't one of those people today. So I was quite surprised to see orange tape across the entrance to the Skater's Waltz trail, and a trail closed sign in front of the ungroomed bottom stretch of Aither's Trail. Both would have taken me across the road to do a big loop. Oh well, up the big hill I went on Ayers Track and I soon ended up crossing the field where the sleigh goes and then reaching the nordic center again.
After a quick break, I did a shorter loop on the more traveled side of the network. I found the conditions on Russel Knoll and Sugar Road challenging in the afternoon because all of the grooming had been squashed by skier traffic. The snow was quite slick. I bet it was good here in the morning when things were freshly groomed.
When the snow is wet (we had a snow-rain-snow cycle over the last two days) and the temperatures are warm, corduroy is your friend.
It was great to get out on the trails and get some much needed exercise and sun after a busy week with some ugly weather!
IF YOU DID SOME SKIING TODAY, we'd love to hear how it was!
