Spring sunshine and temperatures were forecast today so we made plans to enjoy the day outside. We put a couple pairs of Nordic skis in the car and headed to Ole's Cross-Country Ski Center in Warren, Vermont. We hadn't been to Ole's this winter for some reason, so we wanted to get there before the season ends.
We started for the Deer Run Trail, first crossing the wide-open expanse that serves as a runway in the summertime. (Ole's is located at the seasonal Sugarbush-Warren Airport.) The sky was bright blue, the snow a blinding white, and there were handsome mountains all around. It's a lovely and quiet corner of Vermont.
Depending on where you are on Ole's trail network, you can get views of the Sugarbush ski trails, Camel's Hump or distant Mt. Hunger. I guess that is why we head to Ole's on gorgeous days!
The sun had softened much of the snow, but it was still powdery or icy in the shady spots. We had sticky klister on our waxable classic skis, and if we didn't keep them moving they would ice up. Going in the counter-clockwise direction, Deer Run would take us downhill past a few homes and a horse farm. Then we'd follow a small stream before climbing into a large meadow. We passed skinny birch trees and eventually entered a corn field with a view of Sugarbush's Lincoln Peak. Nice.
We decided to leave the klister behind for our next loop. We put on our waxless, three-pin touring skis and struck out on the Warren Pinnacle Trail. First we climbed up an open field and then we passed more birches and entered the woods.
We followed the trail a bit and then decided to ski alongside the snowshoe trail that leads to the top of the Pinnacle (1,675'). We weaved our way around trees and moose tracks. The pinnacle only offered mountain views through the trees, but it was fun to bushwhack our way up there on a stunning spring day!
Ole's Cross-Country Ski Center at a Glance
- Located at 2355 Airport Road, Warren, Vermont, at 1,500 feet in elevation
- 45 km of machine-tracked trails
- Half of Ole’s trails are in the fields and half are in the woods
- 30% of trails are rated easy; 50% intermediate; and 20% difficult
- Rentals and lessons are offered
- Free skate skiing clinic weekly & occassional free classic clinics (not for novices)
- Snowshoe trails available, too
- Small café at Ole’s is open 10 - 4 on weekends and holidays
- Beware of muddy dirt roads and parking area in springtime
