First Official ThrusdayBike of the Season: The Kanc, 10:30 am

Thursday, April 25, 2019

For the first official ride of the season, let's do a ride up the Kanc to Rocky Gorge. The river should be spectacular after all this rain. It is not a hard ride, just a gradual grade alongside the river. The road is smooth and clean, there is hardly any traffic at this time of the year.

There are a variety of distances that can be done. For those wanting more distance, ride up to Bear Notch Road or beyond. We will spread out along the way, traveling at different paces, but we typically all meet for snacks at Rocky Gorge. The day looks good for weather!!

Let's meet at 10:30 am, ready to ride, at the Saco Ranger Station at the start of the Kanc. There is not a lot of parking available here, so carpool over there. Perhaps start in Conway Village and bike over? One place to start is at 10:10 am at the south end of the big parking area at the shopping plaza that contains the Conway State Liquor and Wine store on Route 16 in Conway, where the old IGA was located. It is next to Rockingham Electric Supply and across the street from Super Shoes. I will park there and bike over the covered bridge and through Conway Village to the Kanc. Another place to park could be at the Ham Arena.

From the Ranger Station to Rocky Gorge and back is about 18 miles. Go to Bear Notch Road and get 24 miles. Starting at the IGA parking lot adds 3 miles round trip.

Bring snacks or lunch. See you there!

Bear Notch Road, below the gate, on Tuesday. Not ready to ride, yet....

Cancel for Thursday, BUT bike today? Kanc, Saco Ranger Station at 1:55 pm

Thursday, April 18, 2019

The weather forecast is for clouds and low 40's. Showers coming in in the afternoon. Ugh, not very enticing. What to do?

I looked at some trailheads yesterday and saw crusty conditions and lots of debris. I am sure there is likely better quality snow somewhere, but the low 40's makes me think it could be crusty and not a day for basking in the spring sunshine on soft corn snow.

As for biking... low 40's and clouds once again just does excite me... after we have seen really nice days on skis and on bikes it is hard to get excited about heading out for a ski or bike.

I think I will just say no to this Thursday.

Anyone want to bike TODAY, Wednesday, in the afternoon? In the warm spring sunshine? Meet at the Saco Ranger Station on the Kanc ready to ride at about 1:55-2:00 pm. We will be riding by at that time and will make a swing thru the parking lot to look for bikers to join us.  Join in!

Bear Notch Road and Experimental Forest Roads 10:00 am

Thursday April 11, 2019

Looks like it is not a difficult choice between skiing or biking.... It is snowing as I write this.

Let's do Bear Notch Road and the Experimental Forest Roads. Thursday looks like a good day, with sunshine and temperatures headed up into the high 40's.

Meet at the parking lot just below the gate on Bear Notch Road at 10:00 am. We will climb up on the road and turn onto the Experimental Forest Roads, following them to the summit. The snow should slowly soften as the morning progresses, giving us a good trip downhill on Bear Notch Road.

Bring lunch and beverage, also, sunscreen!

Prospect Farm 10:00 am, meet at JacksonXC to carpool

Thursday, April 4, 2019

The temperature will drop tonight and will only climb to about 38 degrees in the afternoon. The sun and the temperature will soften the snow just enough for good skiing tomorrow. Prospect Farm was groomed today (Wednesday), so that will make a nice surface. It was excellent on Monday, even though it was quite windy, most of the trail was protected from that chilly wind.

Meet at JacksonXC, in the parking lot next to the lodge. It is likely that the lot at Madeline's will be a swamp so avoid parking there. Carpool up to Prospect... it has been good skiing so it is a popular place to be! I will not be able to join in... I am off to CT and I am going to leave early in the day to be able to  do a bike ride on the snow-free bike paths down there.

Susie, Jackie and I skied Bear Notch Road on Tuesday. It was good; crispy until the sun warmed up the snow, then just enough softening for the trip down.  A loop up there using the road and the Experimental Forest Roads just might be next week's plan. I think it might be a bit too crispy tomorrow with the colder temperatures.


Jackie took these photos of Susie and me on Bear Notch Road...it will be awhile before we can bike it:




The big rocks that mark the edge of the parking areas at the scenic pull-outs are not at all visible, not even as lumps in the snow. There must be at least 3 feet of snow packed down hard on the road:

Bretton Woods, 9:30 am Bring you JacksonXC pass for half price

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Let's do the last grooming day at Bretton Woods. I have been there many days over the past week after they received 18" of powder from last weekend's storm. It has been excellent! It is crisp fresh groomed in the morning then softens a bit, today started the slightly slower skiing (but not at all mush) at about 1:30, tomorrow it will likely soften earlier, due to warmer temperatures.

Plan A is to ski up Ammonoosuc Spring Trail to Mountain Road, head up to the T-bar. If in operation, ride the T-bar up to the cabin for lunch at the picnic table. Bring lunch and beverage. If not in operation, ski up the T-bar route.

Although the desk staff said it was not groomed today, I ventured over to the trail system to check it out because it looked freshly groomed to me as I drove past. Yes, the Ammonoosuc Spring Trail was groomed nicely. The Water Bucket Trail had not been groomed but was nice skiing because it had softened. I did not go up too far due to time constraints.

I think it should be good for Plan A. You can determine this as you climb up. Plan B is to ski the other trails, which have been excellent, with excellent views and warm sunshine... no hat no gloves no jacket...and no klister needed (hard wax for grip at least up until now). Those with waxes, be sure you have treated your skis with F4 and carry some along, just in case.

Meet at Bretton Woods Nordic, in the lodge at 9:30 am.  Bring your JacksonXC pass for half price.

Carpool out of the Attitash parking lot, far end away from the lifts at 8:50 am.

I cannot join you (argh!, so disappointed) but you will be in the good care of Rob, he knows the routes.

Enjoy, and send me a report!!


Bretton Woods yesterday:




Bretton Woods today, lunch break with a view:

JacksonXC at 9:30 am

Thursday March 21, 2019

Ah Ha!!! The weather WILL be fine tomorrow for ThursdaySki. Maybe not the perfect sunshine as we have had over the past few days, but not the previously forecasted rain. The Bombogenesis is scheduled for Friday - Saturday...More snow!!!

Let's stay relatively close, just in case. How about meeting at JacksonXC at 9:30 am?

My hope would be to do the North Hall, Maple Mountain, Kenney, Ellis one way from the Rocky Branch. It should warm up enough to have this route be soft and fun.

See you in the lodge at 9:30, we will review the grooming, the temperature and the conditions and then shuttle up to Rocky Branch.


Fotographer Frank's Foto of us last week in the mild springtime weather!

JacksonXC, 10:00 am

Thursday, March 14th, 2019

Looks like warm temperatures so it should be good skiing!!  Let's meet at JacksonXC and choose the best trails of the day. Maybe a long trip on the North Hall, Maple and Keeney? Lunch in the sun on the Maple Mountain Loop? Maybe East Pasture??

We will decide based on the grooming report. Meet in the JacksonXC center, ready to ski at 10:00 am. Bring lunch and/or snacks plus a beverage.

I am now returning from Washington DC by train. I was attending the National Bike Summit, as one of 4 participants representing New Hampshire. One of the best parts was using the DC bike share system, "Capitol Bikeshare" for an on-bike seminar observing bike infrastructure in Arlington and also as a means to commute to Capitol Hill. We lobbied (first time I have ever done this...) for attention to Alternative Transportation in the current transportation legislation and, of course, to introduce the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail. We met with the aides of NH Senators Shaheen and Hassan and Representatives Pappas and Kuster.

One of the surprisingly popular modes of alternative transportation in the DC area is the electric scooter, another share system like the bike share. They are everywhere.

Great to be on a bike again!! Awakening the 'Saddle".