About 6″ of heavy wet snow fell on the still leaf-laden trees of mid-autumn.  The trees were not happy, many completely snapped, others were leaning over at unnatural angles.  Sandy had just blown down some two dozen trees in the local woods that were blocking the network of trails.  Plus, there were even more blown down on some of our single track trails that my buddies and I have made over the years. (Mostly my buddies, but I have/do help as well).

Fresh snow always has a way of making things brighter and happier.  It was beautiful outside.  Plus, the adrenaline pumps a little extra fiercely the first time you click into the bindings for the season.  My backcountry cross-country skis have old school, three-pin bindings and my boots are also the soft, duck-billed 75 mm norm of old school telemark gear.  This set up is similar to light duty tele skis, since they have a full metal edge.  But, they are extremely light and much softer and they also have scales under foot on the base.  Either way, there is nothing like gliding on two planks.

Luckily, we did not lose power after this snow storm, but we had lost it for 3 nights after Sandy the week before. We were obviously lucky on both accounts as the damage after Sandy in this area was extraordinary, but that’s for a different blog entirely.

The trails run through the local woods and one surrounds the reservoir.  All of the trails, even some of our single track mountain biking trails that run between the older, more established trails, serve as excellent cross-country ski trails.  Here, are my tracks as I make my way around the reservoir.  I was probably out there for about 2 hours and made my way through most areas of the woods.  The snow was very heavy and by the end of the morning, had started to stick to the bases (and the tops) of my skis, which made them heavy and I started to feel it in my upper hip area being the first day out.

I was extremely happy to have had the opportunity to get out on skis, in fresh snow, before Thanksgiving, without even having to drive anywhere.  The ski season is off to a good, early start!