by Dick Carlson
I had an interesting ski day last winter. It just snowed a foot! So, I’m off to the local alpine ski area for some great powder turns. Arriving just before 9am – hmm, already parking in the way back lot... I had a few good runs before the crowds overwhelmed me. I returned home, switched gears, and enjoyed the afternoon on groomed cross-country ski trails and the local wilderness routes away from the frenzied pace of alpine skiing.
Cross-country ski areas are a great resource for winter recreation. And, what was that resolution you made just the other day to get in shape? Cross-country ski areas offer a groomed snow surface and most of the skier services you expect to see at an alpine ski area: warm lodge, rentals, lessons, food service, and lodging at the larger ski centers. Cross-country ski areas are also headquarters for information on snowshoeing and backcountry skiing. Many areas are adjacent to state land and great backcountry ski and snowshoe routes with trail information and rental equipment.
This winter it appears that cross-country skiing has gone back to its roots – back to hiking! Well not really, but it has certainly been a challenging November and December for ski areas and cross-country skiers. Most areas do not make snow. There has been some cross-country skiing, but it has been sketchy at best and short-lived. But, think positive. Real winter is right around the corner! Here is a rundown on what to expect this winter for special events, pricing deals, and some great winter fun!
Traditionally the first weekend in January is Winter Trails Day or Ski Fest – offering free lessons and discount rentals for first-time cross-country skiers. This year activities are planned at Lapland Lake, Pineridge, and Fahnestock Winter Park in Cold Spring (nysparks.com). If you live in the Capital Region and there is a snow day, bundle up the kids and head to Pineridge or Lapland Lake. Both ski areas offer discounts for trail fees and rentals on snow days, half price or less, and many other discounts and events all season including moonlight snowshoe and ski tours, women’s learn to ski days, and first-time skier discounts.
At Pineridge Cross-Country Ski Area in East Poestenkill (pineridgexc.com) is the closest groomed cross-country skiing to the Capital Region, just 20 miles from downtown Albany. It is however a world away, where their high elevation terrain insures great snow conditions. They also have night skiing available by reservation.
The Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center in Northville (laplandlake.com) also catches some favorable snowfalls being near the western Adirondack snowbelt. They have been offering Adirondack splendor and Finnish hospitality for more than 30 years, and it’s a great resort for adults and families alike. Lapland Lake features large snowcat grooming that allows them to groom faster, and thanks to the power tiller it will ensure very good skiing even in icy conditions.
Heading farther north, the Garnet Hill Lodge Cross-Country Ski Center in North River (garnet-hill.com) has changed hands and the new owners are committed to a quality groomed cross-country ski experience. Garnet Hill features their “ski down-ride back” shuttle bus service, where skiers can ski a variety of mostly downhill routes as far as four miles, and then get a ride back uphill to the ski center. It’s a great service especially for families with children. It is also the jumping off point for great backcountry ski routes in the Siamese Ponds Wilderness Area, and new bridge construction has opened up a variety of wilderness skiing for all abilities.
The High Peaks area has had some of the only Adirondack skiing this winter with a few days at the Olympic Sports Center and at Cascade. The Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid (whiteface.com) is indeed the challenging Olympic trails where the Nordic events for the 1980 Winter Olympics were held here – coincidently 1980 was another very lean snow year, where machine made snow was made in piles then trucked around to cover the trails. Mt. Van Ho is hosting the 30th anniversary of the Lake Placid Loppet on February 4, which is a great citizen ski race offering a 25K or 50K option in either classic technique or freestyle (skate). For more info, visit lakeplacidloppet.com.
Also in Lake Placid, is Cascade Cross-Country Ski Center (cascadeski.com), which is connected to the Jackrabbit and Olympic trail system. If there is more fun cross-country skiing than their Full Moon Ski Parties, I haven’t heard about it! This year Cascade has Saturday parties scheduled on January 7, February 4 and March 10, where you can ski to a bonfire and enjoy live music and food Cascade also features nice trails and a well stocked ski shop with one of the areas largest backcountry ski equipment selections.
In Saranac Lake, Dewey Mountain Recreation Center (deweyskicenter.com) is managed by Adirondack Lakes and Trails Outfitters. Dewey offers skiers groomed trails for skate and classic, ungroomed trails to the summit for skiers and snowshoers, and four nights of lighted skiing. And don’t miss their many events: Friday night ski jams, snowshoe races, Tuesday night ski races, and Saranac Lake Winter Carnival ski and snowshoe races.
Lake Placid is home to the NY Ski Education Foundation, an organization dedicated to youth ski racing programs including Nordic racing. This year they are sponsoring the Adirondack Paintball Biathlon (skiing and shooting) at selected venues (nysef.org).
For years the Adirondack Park Visitor Interpretive Centers in Newcomb (esf.edu/aic) and Paul Smiths (adirondackvic.org) have provided great trails-based recreation programs. These centers are now run by Paul Smith’s College and the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Paul Smith’s VIC has greatly expanded its cross-country ski trail system.
Looking for great skiing – head west! As in most years, the best skiing has been found in the Tug Hill Region of the New York. Osceola Tug Hill Cross-Country Ski Center in Camden (uxcski.com) has had the most skiing this year with a November start and all 40K of groomed trails open at press time. Osceola Tug Hill boasts many snow records including the highest snowfall East of The Rockies, and has a well-stocked ski shop. If you’re looking for a great deal, a midweek trail pass is just $10. East of Tug Hill is the Black River Environmental Improvement Association (BREIA) cross-country ski trails in Boonville (breiax-countryski.org). This is a free groomed trail system located right in the snowbelt with large snowcat grooming.
With the return of winter – it’s bound to happen sooner or later! – numerous smaller cross-country ski areas fire up their groomers and can provide some of the most diverse cross-country skiing found anywhere. Discover grand vistas in the Mohawk Valley at Oak Hill Farms Cross-Country Ski Center in Esperance (oakhillxc.com). In Saratoga County, you can ski through farms and fields at Tree Haven Trails Cross-Country Ski Center at Bob’s Trees in Galway (bobstrees.com). Enjoy Catskill Mountain skiing at Mountain Trails Cross-Country Ski Center in Tannersville (mttrails.com).
The Glens Falls International Ski Trails provide some of the best night skiing in the area. Located near the Glens Falls Family YMCA in Crandall Park these are great trails – get rentals and trail information at nearby Inside Edge Ski Shop. In North Creek, Cunningham’s Ski Barn (cunninghamsskibarn.com) has two long ski trails and a complete ski shop. A couple of summer attractions provide additional snowshoe opportunities, Natural Stone Bridge and Caves in Pottersville (stonebridgeandcaves.com), Ausable Chasm in Keeseville (ausablechasm.com), and High Falls Gorge in Wilmington (highfallsgorge.com).
Resources for cross-country skiers looking for ski center information or ski reports visit crosscountryskinewyork.com. For the latest ski reports call the I LOVE NY show phone at 1-800-CALL-NYS and follow the prompts for cross-country skiing.
Dick Carlson (nyxcski@yahoo.com) lives in North River, and is director of the Cross Country Ski Areas of New York.
