There was a time when I thought it ludicrous to pay to cross-country ski. When I moved to New England in 1977, there were no cross-country centers or groomed trails in the Keene area. Friends introduced me to Nordic skiing by taking me out on backroads and snowmobile trails.
As a novice, I had a lot to learn. Fortunately, the snow was soft and forgiving. I fell down often but learned how to get up and go again. Eventually, I learned how to climb up hills and then come down safely. Stopping often involved sitting. That winter, I discovered I loved skiing in the woods.
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