Training Log Archive: ernst

Loop de poop w. Jena on Clyde's trails. Then over to SH, the usual bustling around the trails and shortcuts, including down to the solar pit, etc. Glad I went, 10 minutes after return it started to rain.
I noticed a fat tire track, but it was only slightly noticeable - seems like he/she tried the utmost to not destroy the ski tracks. My sign is working...

First with Jena over to Clyde's. Unfortunately the approach is messed up by the owner's RV. On the other side the trails have been untouched and were beautiful. (20 minutes0
Then over at Spruce Hole. Glorious morning, just a tad on the warmer side, but no problem with caking today. Saw a middle-aged couple, their first time, I welcomed them. Tried to create another shortcut around the hill to avoid the near-bear hemlock groves, but there were numerous obstacles (sticks etc). Need another 3-5 inches for that one.
Rain in the forecast, bummer!

Out for a ski down to the field. 2 inches new snow, but with temps at 31 after about 1.5 miles collected awful snow cakes with my skis. Had to call it quits and walk back home. Would have been a warm wax day.

Waited till temps dropped to 28, then tried again. What a difference! Absolutely perfect conditions. All the icy spots are now covered with new snow. I tried to ski all trails exactly once. To avoid doubling back from
the old folks place, I followed ski tracks that went to crappy woods (I know from summer season) but with my headlamp, I just followed the tracks. I wonder if it is the same skier(s) coming from College Woods just as on Saturday. Definitely not a beginner route. The complete round-touir took me 70 minutes. That means the area would lend itself to a good middle distance classic-only Ski-O. But would still need a little more snow - too many small bushes sticking up on the logging rides, although they are not at all hindering the glide. Some day.

Balmy day out, had some time between grading. First a warmup with family (N &J) then by myself. Over at Spruce Hole (where else?). Laid new tracks through the woods via backslope to big field. high 30's but still
very fast in the transformed snow. Icy areas are softening up a bit, which is good. Met Anne with dog, she commented positively on the conditions. We'll keep playing - a little snow expected for tomorrow.

Missed a beautiful day working and getting letters ready for mailing, so had to go out in the dark. The usual cruising - a couple of hill workouts on the one and only hill plus down and up the solar array. Cover is getting thin in just a few very exposed areas - otherwise just great! Now over 50% double poling, the way it is during the racing. I layed about 1 km of "new" track on the main drag with little effort. Wish we had a flurries every now and then to freshen the surface. Warmer days may spell doom for "Spruce Wood XC Skiing".

C • Spruce Woods 2

Trying out the frozen crust. Not too bad. About 30% was postholed (walkers and one or two very big dogs) , the rest was fine. As a matter of fact, it was just like racing. Fast gliding, about 50% double poling. Perfect day (~ 20 degrees, sunny, no wind). ~ 60 minutes training, then warm-down with Jena. All around Spruce Hole. Encountered a nice young dude with his Australian sheep dog, that was totally afraid of my blasting over the icy tracks.