Training Log Archive: jima

At Gunstock - marginal conditions. 1-2" of soft powder on top of whatever was left after the major thaw and rains of the past few days. Found a few good sections, connected by some crap.

Took one good header when a rock grabbed one ski. Smacked my right knee pretty good and knocked the wind out of myself.

Moved over to the lanes which were slightly better. Some graceful V2 on the long gentle downslopes that felt magnificent.

With Jon. Started at the base of the Belknap Carriage Road, up the trail to the top of Gunstock. Saw an older couple who were out on foot. THink he's one of the fire tower crew. They mentioned that someone has cut in a new trail that bypasses the nice outlook - wasn't blazed or anything, but there been some work put in to cut branches back etc.

We didn't really need to snowshoes to stay on top most of the first part, but they sure helped with grip.

We set the trail over to the outlook and then back to where it linked up with the new bypass. Some neat natural ice formations where the water comes out from between the rocks and steps down over the ledges.

From the top of Gunstock, took the yellow and blue trails over to the summit of Belknap. It's pretty quick down to the saddle, where trails head off to the parking lot at the top of the carriage road, and the orange trail that loops to the base of Gunstock, but fartehr than I remember up to the fire tower.

Took a couple of pictures at the fire tower, then headed down the yellow and white trails.

Short outing at Gunstock - needed to be back home for a work call by 11:00.

Quite a few of the GNA kids out. seemed to be enjoying it almost as much as I was.

Short outing at Ahern in the afternoon - some of the trails have been snowshoed in, but some sections were fresh.

Would hace needed the bigger Axis shoes two days earlier, but the wrnth has melted stuff down and set it up quite a bit.

Spent part of the morning shovelling off the flat sections of the roof - promise of 1/4" of rain later today. Gunstock have gotten abotu 1-2" of powder before it changes to mist/rain, on top of some pretty well packed stuff. Was not waxed for the snow conditions - base is whatever I finished the year with last year, and dabbed on some F4 on top of that.

Looks like the GNA crew had been out training - some pretty beaten in uphill sections. Reversed the new trail ("U" - Cross Bow) apparently it will be raced east to west - a couple of killer uphill sections on the first part, a gentle climb along trail 3, then a screamer curving downhill where it comes back to trail 2.

Talked to Paul - the new XC center manager - seems to like the map. Is linking me up with Jonah - the Gunstock tech guru to clean up the legend and get a much smaller scale version to post outside the center in a couple of places.

Cold (10 F) and snowing. Only grooming that had been done was someone zipping around on a snowmobile - no roller. I assume he was trying to firm up where the tracks on the large groomer will be going tonight.

Skating was tough, plus my wax felt like sandpaper - walked straight up the first hill - no glide at all until it wore off or got buffed in, not sure which. Went on the new upper trail on N side of Cobble- looks like it will be considered an extension of T - at least that how it's coming out on my version of the map.

Will be nice to get out on the new trails and see how they are when they're properly groomed.

First ski of the season - wanted to try to get down to Weston for Aims and Terry's wedding, but after the last week, slept in until 8, then had to clear the driveway of the 8-10" that we got, then the grandbabies were here, then the day was already half gone.

They rolled it a couple of times. Only went through to rock twice. It was pretty soft, not too many folks had been out. Taking most of the past 6 weeks off because of the madness at work didn't help - I'm going to feel it tomorrow.

Supposed to get another 12-18" Sunday - Monday - a nice way to start winter.