Training Log Archive: jima

Back out again - skating this time. Initially headed out Maple from the bottom, hoping that the well groomed conditions meant that they'd cleared the big pine that was down on the section between Short Oak and the Cutover - nope. Got to that point, turned around and dropped the drag and made it smooth. Web site claimed Short Oak was open - nope on that as well.
Not sure what I have on those skis for wax - probably for warmer conditions as they were a bit slow.
Had a great time - no faster skiers out there to destroy my illusions that I still have it.

Pretty darn good coverage - they've had the big machines out and skate groomed and set track on a lot of trails. Still a few prime sections that have major blowdowns some they've run the machines through, but without the corrugator drag (or whatever it's called) to smooth things out - so irregular fluff.
Went with my skintecs today - was ideal hard blue conditions, but somehow my good waxable classic skis never got cleaned off at the end of last season and it looked like klister - which would have been sub-optimal.
Think I'm going to feel this in the morning...

Then for a change of pace, headed over to the downhill slopes. Parking lot had started to clear out, so got a close-in slot. Panorama Quad was running to the summit - got in 2 runs from the top before that closed down at 4:00. 2nd trail I went down could have used some more attention. They must have been blowing snow that set up like ice. They'd tilled it a few times, but was still death cookie conditions. Felt sorry for some smaller kids (and their parents) trying to make their way down a particularly steep pitch.
Went over to the Pistol lift, but the only trail down was the 'terrain park' with jumps and rails and 'features' and wall to wall people.
Headed to the Ramrod lift - did a couple of runs there, then called it a day.

36" of beautiful whiteness all around here.
Debated heading over to Gunstock to ski on the groomed trails, but opted instead to head out on snowshoes.
Pulled out the big monsters that Dad got for me way back when I was in my teens - 50" tall, 12" wide, ash frame and rawhide laced. Had restrung the center portion of the rawhide when I got them - mice had feasted on that one so Dad got them at a good price - money was tight back then. He worked at Page Belting, which made thick leather drive belts for the mills among other things. He got a quarter piece of rawhide - which is pretty big, we soaked it in the tub, then sliced off strips and matched the weave/pattern from the other one. Good memories.

Parked at Gilford Elementary - been a few folks heading up the Blue Trail and a couple skiers had come down, so it was packed out, but on the narrow side. Modern snowshoes are not as wide, and there's a tendency to get a single track packed in and everyone just stays on it. I did widen it out in places, alternating which side I'd bust out, as the fresh stuff was well over a foot higher than the packed. Took a right onto the lower section of the Benjamin Weeks trail - just a couple folks had been on this piece, so it wasn't as packed - easier to go right over their tracks, but sinking in pretty good. There's a short very steep uphill section - glad I had poles with me - was slipping back some with each step, and had to lift my foot really high to keep even the up-swept tips from plowing in.
Short piece where it links back up with the Blue Trail, then plunged off onto the yet-untouched upper section of the Weeks trail. That was some deep snow! Even with the floatation from the large surface area, was going down 18"+ with each step. Almost wandered off the trail in a few places - all of the short stuff was well buried and the treadway was not apparent at all. Got saved by blazes several times. Ran out of steam after about 1/2 km - been a long work week. Turned around and headed back down - stayed on the Blue trail for a change of scenery - widened that out for most of the way.
Temps down to the lower teens when I got back to the truck. Hadn't felt that cold - was working pretty hard and with no wind it was downright pleasant.

C • You hit the jackpot! 2