Training Log Archive: ernst

Jena wanted to go to the far (S) causeway, so I obliged. I had not previously tracked this side, so it was slow going making tracks with a soft 8-12 inch snow pack. Note: We are now in the SNOWBELT of the NE according to
http://www.weather.gov/images/nerfc/ops/sd1_today....
Seacoast NH; The Nordic Skiers' Paradise....

C • Snow belt 3

It ended up getting quite warm today in the sun. I did some early morning path shoveling. Really just swiping the powder around. Unremarkable effort. Mario came later to "raze" the roof and touch up some paths and around the driveway. NH Primary day ended up being sunny and beautiful. Looks like NH felt the "Bern". Busy day, so after a good dinner, and at 17F, I decided the tracks would have recovered from the sunny onslaught of the day. My assessment proved to be correct. Looped around Spruce Hole, it was a powder-dream! I touched up all the trails I had set after the Friday storm, most of them I went twice over, plus I added the Sandpit up and down. Stopped on occasion for gazing at the sky. What a day: Mardi Gras, New Year (of the Monkey - well that was yesterday, but it took me a day to realize it), NH primaries, my dental appointment that I forgot, but was able to reschedule, and on...

Out with Jena on Clyde's trail. New powder snow (~ 2 inches). Trails of varying quality. Still bumpy in places where snow clumps have fallen from the trees. Other sections were deep and powdery. Could use another 2 inches.

Then over to Spruce Hole by myself. Tracks are generally better on this side. On tele skis. Had to pull out several fallen branches that were buried right under the tracks. Touched up my 2 accesses, then Electric Avenue, Deer Run, Half Moon, to gate, Boundary, 1/.2 Elec Ave to Traverse, then out and back on Water Line, then back El. Ave, Well Rd Loop and back home. Light snow, 20F. Love it!

Early morning ski w. J. Spent half the time clearing the trails (Clyde's). Another splendid sunrise. Unfortunately it will get warm today. Snow will transform. But more will come Mo-We followed by cold.

To my dismay, temps climbed to 32 before I expected, so hurried up to get over to Spruce Hole for some touching up of the tracks. Met Dan, the snowshoe'er who lives in the duplexes at Sprucewood. Had a nice chat. Seemed to be on the same wavelengths about not being couchpotatoes. It was slow going on my tele skis. Had to stop several times to scrape snowcake from the bottom. Last half was only on established tracks mostly in transformed snow to get my glide going. Now I am starting to yearn for some real training. But where to go. We have more snow than any other place.

Out on Clyde's trails with J at sunrise. 12F Snow has turned to powder at the surface. Trees are still hanging low to the ground. Beautiful, serene. But I am getting tired of shaking the trees loose. Used BC teleskis to make nice tracks. We need some wind to shake things up! I'll go later to try Spruce Hole. Also hoping that the Durham Boat folks will groom for skating later in the day. Looks like we got a solid 10 " .

C • Solid 10" 1

Over to Spruce Hole to make tracks on tele skis. Still a lot of trees bent down to the ground. Snow was powdery. Tracked Electr. Avenue, then tele-turns on the S Hill (snow very powdery, a "free the heel" dream!),then tracked back up the road, over to staging, halfmoon, watermain, and back. Tracked logging cut near Mistretta's hill to create an easier access point to go with the dog.

I am having a lot of fun with the MinnSNOWta Roof Razor. I am getting the hang of it. I channel the snow into the Neuton Electric Wheel Barrow, then race this to the end of porch and down my flimsy ramp, let it go, jump after it down the 4 steps, then tip it over to deposit the compacted block of snow. And another round, etc. I count it as a # 1 workout. I got all the photovoltaics panels clean. Snow was wet/heavy from the sun exposure.

Then with Jena again over the trails at Spruce Wood/Hole. Snow is transformed in about 70% of places, mainly due to melt off the trees but still powdery in shady sections. Tele-hill still powdery. Whooohaa! Added tracking to Wildlife and Boundary. Snowshoe tracks around, the folks avoided the ski tracks. Excellent! My sign works. Wonder how long.
Yes, I started naming the trail/sections. Was even considering of starting a Facebook page "Spruce Hole XC Skiing" so I can report the track conditions to interested local folks. But one thing at a time...

Note: Snow storm # 4. less than 2 days after 55F weather. 1-3 inches forecast. Actual amount is > 8 inches of heavy snow. That is deja vu from the previous storm(s). Love it when the weather folks are underestimating..!

Trying to pack down the 8 inches of heavy snow, w. Nancy following on skis. But spent most of our time freeing bent-over trees from their load by banging them with ski poles. The storm subsided and a bright shine of sunlight hit the tree crowns just before sunset. Incredible light show with the snowy crowns sparkling in a golden glow.

Run with J to earn her breakfast to the far cause-way and back. Did not even need icebreakers (YakTrax) today. Only some ice left on the heavily trafficked (foot) sections, but was easy to sidestep.

Then over to Spruce Hole on my own. Did some trail clearing - there was a bit of downfall and also was able to remove big trunks that I had to step over on my skis for the last month. Everything seemed to be rotting during this thaw. 52F when I got up, 45F when I came back from run. Snow expected tomorrow, and more to come on Tuesday.

A round with the dog before breakfast. Landscape is depressingly void of snow, just ice patches. This ended up being my only run today, rain started shortly thereafter. But walked a fair bit on campus to far away parking and to a meeting across campus.