Cross country skiing advice

Ricky g · 03-05-2022, 03:33 PM

Hi folks,

This is my first winter up here in Meredith and the lake region. I’m looking for some relative flat, beginner level XC skiing. I’d like to find some local trails suitable for skiing and avoid groomed areas and Nordic centers.

Thanks, Rick

John Mercier · 03-05-2022, 05:26 PM

Meredith has different areas... but here is one.
https://www.meredithnh.org/sites/g/f...25july2011.pdf

If you contact their conservation commission they would have more.

Some of the golf courses might be an answer. I know that some keep the restaurant portion of them open in the winter, and may want to see an increase in a customer base.

John Mercier · 03-05-2022, 05:48 PM

I should have thought of this during the last post.
Laconia used to train us during winter PE class at the Middle School - Opechee Park.

It should be a perfect option if the day is calm and not too windy.
Easy parking, and once you are in the baseball fields, plenty of area.

Even has low sloping hills near the Cove to practice up and down hill skills.

mswlogo · 03-05-2022, 08:14 PM

I love going on the lakes themselves when conditions are right.
Snowmobiles often make a nice path.
I love it flat so you get a nice steady pace. Can’t get any flatter.
Fun visiting the huts.

LikeLakes · 03-07-2022, 07:49 PM

Rick, you may find that as you gain experience some of the groomed Nordic centers are actually the best skiing. The area just north of N. Conway, can't think of the name, has absolutely beautiful areas with a lot of flat terrain, you can choose to be in tracks or not. I ski at Waterville a lot, love the variety.

Unfortunately the warmth and rain may end the season. I hope we can get out a few more times.

Ricky g · 03-09-2022, 05:06 PM

thanks for the reply, LikeLakes,

I think perhaps you're thinking of that place in Jackson who's name I can't think of either, though there are a number of places around there. I'm actually not a beginner, myself. I was asking so that I could have a few easy places nearby to take some visiting friends and family that want to try it out. alas, you're probably right that this weather will be a season ender, esp with the rain coming this weekend on top of the warm temps.

upthesaukee · 03-09-2022, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricky g

thanks for the reply, LikeLakes,

I think perhaps you're thinking of that place in Jackson who's name I can't think of either, though there are a number of places around there. I'm actually not a beginner, myself. I was asking so that I could have a few easy places nearby to take some visiting friends and family that want to try it out. alas, you're probably right that this weather will be a season ender, esp with the rain coming this weekend on top of the warm temps.

It's Jackson Ski Touring Foundation Nordic Ski Area, commonly known as Jackson XC.

Here's the link to their website: https://www.jacksonxc.org/

We were season ticket holders for about 5 years. We loved the Ellis River trail, and the upper fields by the Eagle Mountain House. Trails were extremely well maintained and hard to believe, but people were actually respectful of the trails.

Dave

LikeLakes · 03-10-2022, 12:11 AM

Way back we were season pass holders at Jackson for a number of years, beautiful trail system. But I was referring to a place in Intervale, near Ragged Mountain Sports I think. I haven't been there but some friends go often and really like the open fields and flat terrain that is available.

upthesaukee · 03-10-2022, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LikeLakes

Way back we were season pass holders at Jackson for a number of years, beautiful trail system. But I was referring to a place in Intervale, near Ragged Mountain Sports I think. I haven't been there but some friends go often and really like the open fields and flat terrain that is available.

You're correct on the name and that is where we got our XC skis. Well maintained trails, mainly flat. You can climb up and cross rte 16 to trails behind part of the village. You could also cross rte 16 near the store as well to access trails over near the RR museum.

We started going to Jackson because they had far more trails and you could ski right to several restaurants in the village.

Dave

LikeLakes · 03-10-2022, 02:16 PM

Dave, we had so much fun at Jackson, only reason we tend to go to Waterville is time, we can be there so much quicker.

Ski right to restaurants ... we had several times that we made "quick" visits to restaurants, we'll just have a cup of cocoa and warm up. Then a few drinks later the last thing we felt like doing was jump back into the skis to go back!

03-05-2022, 03:33 PM	#1
Ricky g Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2021 Posts: 17 Thanks: 2 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Cross country skiing advice Hi folks, This is my first winter up here in Meredith and the lake region. I’m looking for some relative flat, beginner level XC skiing. I’d like to find some local trails suitable for skiing and avoid groomed areas and Nordic centers. Thanks, Rick

03-05-2022, 05:26 PM	#2
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,264 Thanks: 3 Thanked 574 Times in 470 Posts	Meredith has different areas... but here is one. https://www.meredithnh.org/sites/g/f...25july2011.pdf If you contact their conservation commission they would have more. Some of the golf courses might be an answer. I know that some keep the restaurant portion of them open in the winter, and may want to see an increase in a customer base.

The Following User Says Thank You to John Mercier For This Useful Post:
Ricky g (03-06-2022)

03-05-2022, 05:48 PM	#3
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,264 Thanks: 3 Thanked 574 Times in 470 Posts	I should have thought of this during the last post. Laconia used to train us during winter PE class at the Middle School - Opechee Park. It should be a perfect option if the day is calm and not too windy. Easy parking, and once you are in the baseball fields, plenty of area. Even has low sloping hills near the Cove to practice up and down hill skills.

03-05-2022, 08:14 PM	#4
mswlogo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 660 Thanks: 196 Thanked 222 Times in 143 Posts	I love going on the lakes themselves when conditions are right. Snowmobiles often make a nice path. I love it flat so you get a nice steady pace. Can’t get any flatter. Fun visiting the huts.

The Following User Says Thank You to mswlogo For This Useful Post:
Ricky g (03-06-2022)

03-07-2022, 07:49 PM	#5
LikeLakes Senior Member Join Date: May 2021 Posts: 339 Thanks: 50 Thanked 92 Times in 66 Posts	Rick, you may find that as you gain experience some of the groomed Nordic centers are actually the best skiing. The area just north of N. Conway, can't think of the name, has absolutely beautiful areas with a lot of flat terrain, you can choose to be in tracks or not. I ski at Waterville a lot, love the variety. Unfortunately the warmth and rain may end the season. I hope we can get out a few more times.

03-09-2022, 05:06 PM	#6
Ricky g Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2021 Posts: 17 Thanks: 2 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	thanks for the reply, LikeLakes, I think perhaps you're thinking of that place in Jackson who's name I can't think of either, though there are a number of places around there. I'm actually not a beginner, myself. I was asking so that I could have a few easy places nearby to take some visiting friends and family that want to try it out. alas, you're probably right that this weather will be a season ender, esp with the rain coming this weekend on top of the warm temps.

The Following User Says Thank You to upthesaukee For This Useful Post:
trfour (03-09-2022)

03-10-2022, 12:11 AM	#8
LikeLakes Senior Member Join Date: May 2021 Posts: 339 Thanks: 50 Thanked 92 Times in 66 Posts	Way back we were season pass holders at Jackson for a number of years, beautiful trail system. But I was referring to a place in Intervale, near Ragged Mountain Sports I think. I haven't been there but some friends go often and really like the open fields and flat terrain that is available.

03-10-2022, 02:16 PM	#10
LikeLakes Senior Member Join Date: May 2021 Posts: 339 Thanks: 50 Thanked 92 Times in 66 Posts	Dave, we had so much fun at Jackson, only reason we tend to go to Waterville is time, we can be there so much quicker. Ski right to restaurants ... we had several times that we made "quick" visits to restaurants, we'll just have a cup of cocoa and warm up. Then a few drinks later the last thing we felt like doing was jump back into the skis to go back!

The Following User Says Thank You to LikeLakes For This Useful Post:
upthesaukee (03-10-2022)