Snow, glorious snow

[hrj]

Sure enough, the 3-4 inches of new snow yesterday made the x-country trails at Colby really delightful today. (No new grooming, just powder on top of the old stuff.) This was good for two reasons: I got to practice some decent technique on decent snow; and because it brought more people out on the trails, I had to concentrate on looking ahead, not down at my feet, so I'd have advance warning for giving right-of-way. Got in two hours of skiing today (plus about another hour total of walking over to the campus and back, since the transportation logistics were still ... disrupted).



I have now fulfilled my personal pledge to get in an equivalent amount of exercise over vacation as I would have done in an ordinary corresponding period at the gym. And I'm confirming last year's opinion that I like cross-country skiing a lot more than downhill. (In addition to simply being able to do the one and not the other these days.) I like the ability to just go out and do it, without the need for resorts and expensive equipment and whatnot. (Ok, the trail grooming is nice, but not technically necessary.) I like having the continuous activity, rather than the dash-and-wait of downhill slopes and lifts. I like the ability to combine it with closeness to nature, which is a lot harder to feel in the middle of a tree-cleared downhill run.

And I'm just about ready to be done with vacation and get back to work. But not quite yet.

Comments

[patsmor.livejournal.com]

Lovely picture. I like cross-country for all the reasons you mention, not excluding that it's a reasonable amount of exercise for not a huge price, and uses different muscles than some other forms.

I do miss it a lot. There is one XC resort that I know of in the Tahoe area, but they apparently don't keep their trails open in low snow seasons. I'm glad you're having a wonderful time!

[dr-zrfq.livejournal.com]

Nice picture! Cross-country skiing is something I'd like to try myself, which would be easier if we lived anywhere close to a place that had good XC facilities (and if my budget allowed it).

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

My son and his wife are even at this moment in Canada on a skiing holiday. They like the thrill of hurtling down snowy slopes, whereas the only type of skiing I've ever fancied trying is cross-country. Perhaps one day I'll try it before I get too old? :)

[hrj.livejournal.com]

Back 30 years ago, I loved the thrill of hurtling down snowy slopes. Then I ran into a rock and broke my pelvis and the thrill palled significantly.

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear. I'm sure it would. :(