When I moved to New England in 1977, there were no cross country centers or groomed trails near Keene. Friends introduced me to Nordic skiing by taking me out on backroads and snowmobile trails. The idea of paying to ski seemed ludicrous!
Since then, I’ve come to appreciate what goes into running a cross-country center and why it’s necessary to charge the trail users. The amount charged is minimal compared to downhill ski areas, and it all goes to a good cause. It supports grooming, trail maintenance, land agreements and staff that make a cross country ski area operate smoothly.
kAmpD :E DE2E6D @? y24<D@? $<: %@FC:?8’D H63D:E6[ “(96? J@F 4@>>:E E@ y24<D@? )r H:E9 2 D62D@? A2DD J@FC 5@==2C 8@6D 7FCE96C 7@C J@FCD6=7[ 7@C E96 %@FC:?8 r6?E6C p}s 7@C J@FC 76==@H D<:6CD] $62D@? A2DD AFC492D6D =6E y24<D@? )r A=2? @FC 3FD:?6DD @A6C2E:@?D @G6C E96 4@FCD6 @7 2 D62D@? :?DE625 @7 52J\E@\52J^9@FC\E@\9@FC] t249 5@==2C 62C?65 E9C@F89 D62D@? A2DD D2=6D[ EC2:= A2DD6D 2?5 >@C6 8@6D 324< :?E@ y24<D@? )r] %9:D 96=AD FD 4@?E:?F6 E@ >2:?E2:?[ 8C@H 2?5 :>AC@G6 @FC EC2:= ?6EH@C<]”k^Am
kAm|@F?E (2D9:?8E@? '2==6J $<: %@FC:?8 2?5 $?@HD9@6 u@F?52E:@? FC86D A6@A=6 E@ DFAA@CE E96> “3J AFC492D:?8 2 D62D@? A2DD[ 52:=J >6>36CD9:AD[ A2CE:4:A2E:@? :? @FC 6G6?ED @C >2<6 2 E2I\565F4E:3=6 5@?2E:@? @?=:?6] *@FC DFAA@CE :D ?66565 E@ 96=A FD 4@?E:?F6 E@ 249:6G6 @FC 8@2=D]”k^Am
kAmrC@DD\4@F?ECJ 46?E6CD ?665 >@?6J 7@C 8C@@>:?8[ 6BF:A>6?E 2?5 EC2:= >2:?E6?2?46] ~A6C2E:?8 E96:C 46?E6CD 2?5 A2J:?8 E96:C DE277 E2<6D C6G6?F6] %96C6 2C6 7F6=[ 6=64EC:4:EJ 2?5 @E96C 3:==D E@ 36 A2:5[ E@@] $62D@? 2?5 52J A2DD D2=6D 96=A A2J E96 3:==D]k^Am
kAm|2?J @7 E96 =@42= }@C5:4 46?E6CD 2C6 ?@?\AC@7:E @C82?:K2E:@?D @C 72>:=J\CF? @A6C2E:@?D] %96:C 8@2=D 2C6 ?@E E@ >2<6 9F86 AC@7:ED[ 3FE E@ >2<6 6?@F89 >@?6J E@ DFAA@CE E96>D6=G6D H9:=6 AC@G:5:?8 BF2=:EJ D<: 6IA6C:6?46D] x 5@?’E E9:?< 2?J3@5J 86ED C:49 CF??:?8 2 4C@DD 4@F?ECJ 2C62]k^Am
kAms2J A2DD @C D62D@? A2DDn x7 J@F =:<6 E@ D<: 2E 2 A2CE:4F=2C E@FC:?8 46?E6C >@DE @7 E96 E:>6[ 2 D62D@? A2DD >:89E 36 E96 36DE 2?5 4962A6DE 2=E6C?2E:G6] ~?46 J@F 92G6 E96 A2DD[ J@F 42? 8@ 2?JE:>6 J@F H2?E] |2?J =@42= 46?E6CD @776C DA64:2= “62C=J D62D@?” 5:D4@F?ED :7 J@F 3FJ J@FC A2DD 6:E96C 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 A2DE D62D@? @C ;FDE 367@C6 E96 DE2CE @7 E96 ?6H D62D@?]k^Am
kAmq642FD6 @7 r~'xs\`h[ E9:D J62C :E >2<6D 6G6? >@C6 D6?D6 E@ AFC492D6 2 D62D@?’D A2DD 62C=J 2?5 D2G6 >@?6J]k^Am
kAm|2?J }@C5:4 46?E6CD 92G6 @?=:?6 AFC492D:?8 D@ J@F 5@?’E 92G6 E@ 8@ E@ E96 46?E6CD] ~?46 J@F 92G6 J@FC D62D@?’D A2DD[ 2446DD E96 EC2:=D 7C@> 2?J A@:?E 2?5 2G@:5 4C@H5D ?62C =@586D] xE 8:G6D J@F E96 7C665@> E@ A=2? J@FC “D@4:2= 5:DE2?4:?8]”k^Am
kAmx7 J@F =:<6 E@ D<: 2E 5:776C6?E }@C5:4 46?E6CD[ J@F >:89E @AE E@ 3FJ 52J A2DD6D] |2?J @7 E9@D6 H:== 2G2:=23=6 @?=:?6[ E@@[ D@ J@F 42? 2G@:5 8@:?8 :?D:56 E@FC:?8 46?E6C 3F:=5:?8D] *@F 42? 49@@D6 H96C6 J@F 8@ 56A6?5:?8 @? 4@?5:E:@?D[ E:>6 2?5 4@?G6?:6?46] $@>6 J62CD[ D?@H :D 8@@5 :? D@>6 DA@ED[ 3FE E9:? :? @E96CD] %9:D @AE:@? 8:G6D >@C6 7=6I:3:=:EJ]k^Am
kAmu24E@CD E@ 4@?D:56C H96? 3FJ:?8 2 D62D@?’D A2DDi `] (96C6 5@ J@F =:<6 E@ D<:[ H92E <:?5 @7 EC2:=D 5@ J@F AC676C[ 2?5 9@H >F49 E6CC2:? 5@ J@F ?665n s@ J@F H2?E E@ E2<6 J@FC 5@8D @C 49:=5C6?n a] w@H >F49 42? J@F A2Jn bX (92E’D 4@?G6?:6?E E@ J@F @C 9@H 72C 5@ J@F H2?E E@ 5C:G6n cX pC6 E96C6 2?J 6IEC2 36?67:ED E@ E96 A2DD — D<: D9@A[ 4=:?:4 @C =6DD@? 5:D4@F?ED[ 8F6DE A2DD6D @C C64:AC@42= A2DD6D 2E @E96C 2C62Dnk^Am
kAm~?46 J@F’G6 4@?D:56C65 E96D6 724E@CD[ 6:E96C 8@ @?=:?6 @C E@ E96 46?E6C E@ AFC492D6 J@FC A2DD — E96 62C=:6C E96 36EE6C 2?5 4962A6CPk^Am
kAmx? |@F?E (2D9:?8E@? '2==6J[ H6 2C6 7@CEF?2E6 E@ 92G6 D:I }@C5:4 46?E6CD] t249 @?6 :D F?:BF6 2?5 @776CD :ED @H? 3=6?5 @7 4C@DD 4@F?ECJ D<: 2?5 D?@HD9@6 6IA6C:6?46D]k^Am
kAmq6=@H[ x’G6 =:DE65 E96> 2== 2?5 8:G6? :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE E96:C 25F=E 2?5 D6?:@C D62D@? D<: E:4<6E AC:46D[ 2?5 62C=J D62D@? DA64:2=D[ 2D H6== 2D 255:E:@?2= 36?67:ED E@ D62D@? A2DD 9@=56CD x 7@F?5 @? E96:C H63D:E6D]k^Am
kAmq62C }@E49 $<: %@FC:?8 r6?E6C :? q2CE=6EE] (63D:E6i k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^362C?@E49D<:E@FC:?8]4@>Qm362C?@E49D<:E@FC:?8]4@>k^2m] r2== We_bX bfc\aaff] %6CC2:?i edz] a_`h\a_a_ AC:46Dj p5F=E S`ed] r2== 7@C E9:D J62CUCDBF@jD AC:4:?8[ 36?67:ED 2?5 562=D]k^Am
kAmqC6EE@? (@@5D }@C5:4 r6?E6C] (63D:E6i k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^E4G@KHcQmE:?JFC=]4@>^E4G@KHck^2m] r2== We_bX afg\bbaa] %6CC2:?i `__z] p44@C5:?8 E@ :ED H63D:E6[ U=5BF@jqC6EE@? (@@5D 92D 4FCC6?E=J DFDA6?565 2== D62D@? A2DD D2=6D 7@C E96 a_a_\a` H:?E6C D62D@?]UC5BF@j xUCDBF@j== ECJ E@ 86E >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE E9:D 2?5 H:== 255 :E E@ 2 7FEFC6 2CE:4=6] x? E96 >62?E:>6[ 4964< H:E9 E96> 23@FE D62D@? A2DD6D]k^Am
kAmvC62E v=6? %C2:=D :? !:?<92> }@E49] (63D:E6i k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^FA85EJcQmE:?JFC=]4@>^FA85EJck^2m] r2== We_bX cee\bhgg] %6CC2:?i cdz] U?3DAjp5F=E W286D `g\e`X D62D@? A2DD :D S`ad[ 367@C6 s64] `[ S`d_ 27E6C s64] `] $6?:@C Wea\A=FDX D62D@? A2DD 367@C6 s64] ` :D Sfd[ S`__ 27E6C s64] `] u:CDE\E:>6 A2DD 9@=56CD 86E 2 d_ A6C46?E @77 562= U>52D9j 25F=ED[ Sfd[ D6?:@CD[ Sd_]k^Am
kAmq6?67:ED :?4=F56 F?=:>:E65 FD6[ H:E9 ?@ 3=24<@FE 52E6D[ E@ E96 vC62E v=6? EC2:= DJDE6> 7@C D<::?8[ D?@HD9@6:?8[ 2?5 72E 3:<:?8 W4@?5:E:@? 56A6?56?EX[`_ A6C46?E @77 2== :?\DE@4<[ ?@?\D2=6 :E6>D 2E vC62E v=6? ~FE7:EE6CD[ 7C66 FD6 @7 D9@H6CD[ 5:D4@F?ED @? 6G6?ED 2?5 C246D 2?5 @?6 d_ A6C46?E @77 E:4<6E 7@C E96 |E] (2D9:?8E@? $?@Hr@249] x? 255:E:@?[ D62D@? A2DD 9@=56CD 42? D<: 2E y24<D@? $<: %@FC:?8 r6?E6C :? y24<D@? 7@C ;FDE Sd F?E:= s64] b`]k^Am
kAmy24<D@? $<: %@FC:?8 u@F?52E:@? :? y24<D@?] (63D:E6i k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^;24<D@?I4]@C8Qm;24<D@?I4]@C8k^2m] r2== We_bX bgb\hbdd] %6CC2:?i `d_z] p5F=E W286D `h\ehX D62D@? A2DDi S`gd 367@C6 s64] `DE[ $6?:@C Wf_\A=FDX S`db 367@C6 s64] `] p7E6C s64] `[ p5F=E :D Sa_d[ 2?5 $6?:@C :D S`fc]k^Am
kAmq6?67:ED :?4=F56 F?=:>:E65 D<::?8 2E y24<D@? )r 2?5 @?6 7C66 @?6\52J EC2:= A2DD 7@C 2 8F6DE] %6?E2E:G6 7@C a_a_\a_a`i Sd 25F=E EC2:= A2DD6D 2E vC62E v=6?P $9@H J@FC y24<D@? $<: %@FC:?8 $62D@? A2DD 2?5 D<: 7@C @?=J Sd] %9:D 4@@A6C2E:G6 2CC2?86>6?E :D G2=:5 7C@> @A6?:?8 52J E9C@F89 s64] b`] %6?E2E:G6 7@C a_a_\a_a`i d_ A6C46?E @77 52J A2DD6D 2E >2?J }6H w2>AD9:C6 4C@DD\4@F?ECJ D<: 46?E6CD[ :?4=F5:?8 vC62E v=6? %C2:=D[ t2DE>2? W:? vC2?E92>X 2?5 >@C6] WvF?DE@4<[ q62C }@E49[ qC6EE@? (@@5D ?@E :?4=F565X] x?G:E2E:@?D E@ DA64:2= 2AC6D\D<: A2CE:6D 2?5 A@E=F4< 5:??6CD] s:D4@F?E65 C2E6D @? D62D@?2= AC@8C2>D DF49 2D uC:52J v=:56CD[ t2DJ $=:56CD 2?5 $<: $49@@= 4=:?:4D] '2=:5 2?J @A6C2E:?8 52J @7 E96 D62D@?]k^Am
kAm|@F?E (2D9:?8E@? '2==6J $<: 2?5 $?@HD9@6 u@F?52E:@? :? x?E6CG2=6] (63D:E6i k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^F4aAK4;QmE:?JFC=]4@>^F4aAK4;k^2m] r2== We_bX bde\hha_] %6CC2:?i cdz] p5F=E W286D `d\dhX D62D@? A2DD 7C@> s64] `\ac :D Seh[ 27E6C s64] ac :E :D Sge] $6?:@C W286D e_\f_X A2DD6D 2C6 Sdb 7C@> s64] `\ac[ 2?5 See 27E6C s64] ac]U?3DAj$<:6CD @G6C f_ D<: 7C66]k^Am
kAm%@H? @7 r@?H2J C6D:56?E^?@?C6D:56?E E2IA2J6CD 86E 7C66 D62D@?2= A2DD6D H:E9 2 S`d AC@46DD:?8 766 7@C E96 7:CDE :DDF6[ Sd 7@C 6249 C6?6H2= 766] #6D:56?E A2DD6D H:== 36 2G2:=23=6 2E E96 E@FC:?8 46?E6C 2E #28865 |@F?E2:? 27E6C s64] `]k^Am
kAmp??F2= >6>36CD9:AD 2==@H F?=:>:E65 2446DD E@ E96 EC2:= ?6EH@C< 5FC:?8 E96 D62D@? 2?5 5:D4@F?ED 2E E96 %@FC:?8 r6?E6C 2D H6== 2D 7C66 A2C<:?8[ E@FC:?8 46?E6C 724:=:E:6D[ H2I C@@> 2?5 AC@8C2>D]k^Am
kAm!FC:EJ $AC:?8 )r 2?5 $?@HD9@6 #6D6CG6 :? |25:D@?] (63D:E6i k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^EG4G8DbQmE:?JFC=]4@>^EG4G8Dbk^2m] r2== We_bX bef\gghe] %6CC2:?i a_z] {2DE J62CUCDBF@jD p5F=E D62D@? A2DD H2D Sg_] xUCDBF@j> H2:E:?8 E@ 7:?5 @FE E9:D J62CUCDBF@jD D62D@? A2DD AC:46]k^Am
kAm|2?J }@C5:4 46?E6CD 2C6 DE:== H@C<:?8 @FE E96 56E2:=D 7@C E9:D ?6H D62D@?] r~'xs\`h 8F:56=:?6D 2?5 4@?46C?D 23@FE 8F6DE 2?5 DE277 D276EJ 5:4E2E6 E9:?8D H:== 36 5:776C6?E E9:D J62C] r964< H:E9 6249 46?E6C E@ D66 H92E E96:C @776C:?8D 2?5 C6DEC:4E:@?D H:== 36]k^Am
kAm(:?E6C 2?5 D?@H H:== DE:== 4@>6[ 56DA:E6 E96 G:CFD] !6@A=6 2C6 6286C E@ 36 @FED:56 4C@DD\4@F?ECJ D<::?8[ D?@HD9@6:?8 2?5 72E 3:<:?8] ~?46 E96J 92G6 E96:C A2DD6D[ E96J’C6 2== D6E E@ 8@] v6E J@FCD ?@H[ D2G6 D@>6 >@?6J[ DFAA@CE J@FC =@42= 2C62D 2?5 2G@:5 E96 4C@H5DPk^Am
kAmk6>m$2==J |4|FC5@ :D 4FCC6?E=J 2 4C@DD\4@F?ECJ D<: :?DECF4E@C 2E y24<D@? $<: %@FC:?8 u@F?52E:@?] u@C 2=>@DE 7@FC 564256D[ D96 92D 6IA=@C65 }6H t?8=2?5’D 8C@@>65 2?5 F?8C@@>65 EC2:=D @? 2== <:?5D @7 D<:D]k^6>mk^Am

(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.