January Doldrums

Pence WI

I’m bored.  I can’t got to Killington or Stowe or Soldier’s Hollow for an epic Nordic ski trip, ski 25k and then lounge in some hot springs.  There are three high pressure systems strung out from Idaho to here creating one of the most extended stagnant weather patterns I’ve ever experienced.  All the trails I work on are waiting for another - even 4” of new snow...

There’s plenty to do: we can cut brush, we can make new signs and improve our trail presence, we can cut overhanging branches, we can get started building the new connector from the East end of Uller to Pence... what?  Build ski trail in 12” of snow?  Forget that.  

But hold up there; why not, we just do it in a different dimension.  In stead of digging down to all the root collars of all the trees that need to be removed, dragging stems and branches off the trail in snow half way up to your knees and getting soaked in sweat and snow, why don’t we work up the trail like we did back in the early ‘70s?  We hand cut brush and branches, slither our way between the big trees, mark it with discipline and pack/track the trail with our old back-country skis for the season and let people get a feel for the new route and be re-introduced to the roots of cross-country skiing.  

The trail will never see a machine-groomer this year.  Only a handful of skiers will try it; but we’ll have a connector up and running and there will be a unique new (old, antique but novel) winter experience for all of us cabin bound skiers to try.  Once we get some new snow on the hills, we can re-issue the Uller challenge to ski from Weber Lake to Pence.  The trail from Hoyt Rd to Weber will be machine groomed; but from Hoyt to Pence, well that will be a little different.

Hand and foot work starts Monday, 11 January 2021.  Don’t crowd up when you get there.  Bring your hand saw, loppers, skis or snowshoes and we’ll punch it through.  

I wonder if I can fit in my old wool knickers... I wonder where they even are...   OMG, I feel like I’m 25 again!