2010/2011 XC Ski Thread

[pooriggy]

Ok so a new XC ski season is here. Most of NJ got dumped on 2 days ago, let us know where you laid down tracks. With over a foot of snow in most places its helpful to know where a trail has been broken, blazing through 2'+ drifts is a lot of work.

12/28 Tuesday
Went to the Watchung Reservation for some out of track fun. Some sections where beatin down by hikers others where not:drooling:

I spent 1.5 hrs. beating in a trail, there is more to explore here but I had to get back to run some errands. Here is where you park, walk down the hill to the trail head.http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/26407510/ The stop sign on the map is the start of the trail, just follow my tracks in.

Any unbroken trail today will probably have the dreaded breakable crust tomorrow morning, the sun is warm today. So get out there break some ground and tell us where you been.

 

[giff06]

Brendon Byrne SF about a 2.5 mile loop on the Cranberry trail. Pat and I skied the loop 4 times so the track is just getting set. First time through with 2 feet of snow was torture. Park at the Park Office and the trail entrance is a few hundred feet back up the road. At times (mostly weekends ) this park can have a few walkers that just love to walk up ski tracks.
Ed and Pat Gifford
the Snot Rocket tandem

 

[pixychick]

12/29/10 - Skied at Harriman from Lake Sebago lot today. The Lot was just being plowed as we arrived, first car...... so we broke track. Still over a foot of snow in most places. After a half mile we picked up a machine semi groomed double track. I have no idea who put it in, but it was good for skiing, not the usual snowmobile or quad crap that ruins most ski outings. No hikers or snowshoers yet either .....hooray!

Conditions were very good winter conditions. No wind or sun crust. I guess the sun is low enough this time of year to stay behind tree cover. I imagine conditions will hold through Friday according to the forecast. I may go out again tomorrow mid day, if anyone wants to tag along. 😀

 

[freeride]

today i skied 2.55 miles around town field

hope to ski again tomorrow morning. do you ski all the way around lake sebago? trail map 118 shows a dotted line around portions of the lake, the red and yellow trails don't really hug lake. sterling lake has xc skiing, but the alloacted trail doesn't circle the lake. i think its the same as the mtb trail and goes from lautenberg center up to long pond road. i may just go to overpeck south, or darlington golf course

 

[pooriggy]

Wednesday 12/29

I went to Thompson Park today, conditions where really good. There are 12 miles of trail here which is weak for mtbing but great for xc sking.

This place usually attracts xc skiers and today was no exception. I didn't see a lot of skiers but the tracks where definitely there...well for 1/3 of the trails. I blazed a path for the other 2/3's. It was easy today breaking ground the snow was more compressed and I only sank ankle deep in snow as opposed to knee deep yesterday at Watchung. Here is a trail map if you wanna check it out.
http://monmouthcountyparks.com/documents/130/thompson brochure.pdf

The track loop around the rugby field is an easy warm-up, than hop on the reservoir loop for the distance.

 

[cbiker]

Hartshorne Skiing well most of the trails broken out going to ski there tomorrow about 11:00 if anyone is interested

 

[pixychick]

awesome to hear people are getting out to ski in there back yards. That's what it is all about. If we have a warm up or freeze/thaw, some groomed areas may extend us a week. Make the most of what we have.🙂

 

[pixychick]

Here are some groomed options:

Faunstock: http://www.roberts-1.com/fwp/

Mohonk Mountain House: http://www.mohonk.com/recreation/cross_country_skiing.cfm

Minni: http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/127/details.aspx

 

[pooriggy]

Thursday 12/30

I got an early start(7:30) this morning at the Watchung Reservation. It was a cold start with the temperature at 12 degrees but it warmed up quick.

Today was the best day yet on skis, plenty of trail with established tracks. Conditions where a little crusty at first but as it warmed up the snow softened, allowing for better control.

There is just enough elevation here to make it interesting on skis. Put in 2.5 hrs. and still did not cover all the trails. Here is a trail map.
http://ucnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/wrmap804.pdf

The parking lot was plowed on Glenside ave.(deserted village lot) and there is a lot plowed at the bottom of Glenside near Seely's Pond. I parked at Seely's lot and skied out to the end of Surprise lake and back, staying on the upper red trail.

 

[ArmyOfNone]

I did 2+ hours on the canal to 6mr with Brett yesterday. My longest ski to date. I need some work turning. Thanks Brett for com in down and for the lessons!

 

[pixychick]

Conditions still pretty soft and wintery in Harriman. We broke track around lake today. Beautiful sunset. Got some good pictures:

 

[Robson]

With so much snow I have no choice but get into XC skiing...Any advice for first timer?

 

[pooriggy]

With so much snow I have no choice but get into XC skiing...Any advice for first timer?

Here is the basics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3Vue10ItXg&feature=related

Flatter terrain with established tracks will be easier to learn on. Do you have skis?

and don't read this thread.
http://www.mtbnj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20383

Good luck were all counting on you.

 

[freeride]

campor and curry's has good xc stuff. we bought boots today at currys. gonna buy some more skiis at campmor soon

today at darlington golf course. i think is a great place for beginner to intermediate. my 1st time there i loved it

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/61206558

 

[Robson]

Here is the basics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3Vue10ItXg&feature=related

Flatter terrain with established tracks will be easier to learn on. Do you have skis?

and don't read this thread.
http://www.mtbnj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20383

Good luck were all counting on you.

I'm not afraid of learning. I used to do alpine skiing some time ago...I have no skis right now but looks like XC equipment is not that expensive. I'll have to visit Campmor.

 

[pixychick]

If you buy skis and it does not snow anymore this year, they will still be good next year and the year after. Art and I only renew our skis every 20 years. It is not like bikes or alpine skies. Basic equipment is timeless if all you want is basic fitness and recreation.

 

[pooriggy]

Friday 12/31

Had a fun time XC skiing at Allaire with rocknrollgirl, Chris T., Jdog, Kelly and a straggler we found, Keri. Snow got sticky at some points but not enough to ruin the day.

There was a combo of snowshoe tracks, hikers and other xc ski tracks that helped to pack the trails...we also layed down some fresh tracks in a lot of areas. This place certainly has enough track established to get you going.

J found out the hard way the parking lot is unusable...mucho snow in the lot. If you go park down the road from the lot and just cross the street and hop on the tracks to the orange trail.
Here is the lot to park in, zoom in and look for the Geraldine Thompson Care Center across from Allaire.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Hospi...code_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CBgQ8gEwAA

 

[hardtale70]

With so much snow I have no choice but get into XC skiing...Any advice for first timer?

Absolutley read the thread Iggs told you not to. He seems to want you all to hate it and quit. Metal edge,edge,EDGE!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Robson]

Absolutley read the thread Iggs told you not to. He seems to want you all to hate it and quit. Metal edge,edge,EDGE!!!!!!!!!!

I did! By the way, I always do my "homework" before I make any decision🙂

 

[pooriggy]

Saturday 1/1 2011

Went back to the Watchung Reservation and circumnavigated the res. in under 3hrs. Some fireroads some single track and some trailblazing...good times.