In this Issue
February 2006

NORDIC NOMAD
Notch this one into your ski plans
By Tim Kane

Tim Kane

Guide to Area Cross Country Ski Centers

WINDSOR—My eight-month-old son’s first glide on cross-country skis came atop his dad in a backpack last Sunday. You’re never too young to start kicking some tracks. We had a wonderful time exploring conservation land abutting our home - that is until he decided to take a nap. But the threat of falling with him on ungroomed, single-track trails was ever present. So I can’t wait for a time when we can soon experience the many perks of skiing at a professionally-run Nordic center in western Massachusetts.

Notchview in Windsor, Mass. is certainly high on that list. Smiling, happy people abound here, and so do well groomed but somewhat challenging terrain. At 2,297-feet in elevation, this cross-county skiing and snowshoeing center offers a long season with consistently good snow conditions. Notchview’s vast network of 23 trails is well designed and intersect in a logical manner. Skiers can seek shelter from the wind in beautiful strands of evergreens and hardwoods, or perch out on several meadows overlooking spectacular vantage points of the surrounding Hilltowns.

Run by the Trustees of Reservations, Notchview winds through 30 KM of trail systems over 3,000 acres with 17 KM reserved for classical skiing and 8 KM for skaters. There’s trails for all abilities, from the sheltered Kinderloop for kids to groomed skating trails.

I ran into John Follet of Chesterfield on a recent visit there and found his belief similar to mine: There’s no bad attitudes here or aggressive skaters who ski over us classical gurus. He finds solace in negotiating several trails lined with evergreens trapping snow above. The sight is heavenly.

Newly added this year is a designated back-country skiing and snowshoeing area across Route 9 from the main center. Though I did not have time to explore this area during my recent visit, the map provided shows Hume Brook Trail and Dog Loop as the trail systems for this type of experience. Sounds fun. There are also untracked backcountry options on the northern corner of the main property off Judge’s Hill and Bates Road.

The main lodge offers a few snacks, a warm fireplace and picnic table area. This place serves a mean hot chocolate.

UPCOMING NORDIC EVENTS IN WESTERN MASS.
Feb. 4 - Tracking the Fisher. Snowshoe exploration with tracker-naturalist David Brown. Northfield
Feb. 4 - Basics. Workshop for new skiers and old from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with lunch. Stump Sprouts
Feb. 5 - Cross Country Skiing for Women from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Northfield
Feb. 10 - Moonlight Skiing from 7-9 p.m. Notchview
Feb. 10 - Full Moon Skiing. Maple Corner Farm
Feb. 11 - US Ski Team Day. $1 per ticket benefits our Olympians. Stump Sprouts, Northfield, Canterbury
Feb. 11 - Freestyle Race. 9 a.m. start. Notchview
Feb. 11 - Family Snowshoe by Moonlight at 5:30 p.m. Northfield
Feb.12 - Ski and Feast at 1 p.m. Food Bank benefit. Free instruction, reduced price rtls and skiing, feasting. Stump Sprouts
Feb. 12 - Moonlight is for Lovers*** 6:30 start. Snowshoeing and refreshments. Northfield
12 - Winter Carnival. 9 a.m. registration. Free racing for the whole family, fun and prizes. Canterbury
Feb. 14 - MIAA High School State Championships. Morning. Notchview
Feb. 14 - Guided Moonlight Skiing followed by snacks and music. Canterbury
Feb. 18 - 19 US Colliegiate Ski Assn. Races. Mornings. Notchview
Feb. 25 - Animal tracking on Snowshoes from 1-4 p.m. Family oriented. Northfield

Read previous columns from the Nordic Nomad.