January 6, 2010 E-MAIL PRINT

Give in to your minimalist instinct

by Tony Chamberlain/

Lyn heads down a trail on a minimalist trek in local woods. (photo: Tony Chamberlain)

Lyn heads down a trail on a minimalist trek in local woods. (photo: Tony Chamberlain)

Ever have those times when the minimalist instinct takes over? Usually after an intense holiday period, it hits me that it really is OK to be sort of alone and sort of quiet. That’s the time when I leave my Volkl ac3s up on the rafters and get out my skinny skis — Rossignol standard fish scale cross-country skis and head for the nearest woods.

This year I threw in my Tubbs snow shoes and headed for the big snow to the north. (Oh, yeah, last minute I threw in the downhill skis; never know what might happen).

One of the beauties of cross-country skiing is you can do it in the local town forest or golf course along trails cut by other skiers and snowmobilers. You can bushwhack your own trails through the powder.

Or you can head to the areas such as Jackson Cross-Country Foundation in New Hampshire or Trapp Family Lodge near Stowe, Vt.

I can see it (and enjoy it) both ways. In the local Audubon sanctuary, the blazed trails are rough and all-purpose. No snowmobiles allowed, but skiing, hiking, dog-walking and even horseback riding is all going on in the woods.

This is a wonderful winter, something-for-nothing experience: Click on the skis or snowshoes and off you go. As I say, very minimalist and satisfying. Such sessions in the outdoors can last a day or just a stolen hour or two in the middle of a work day.

But I also like the professionally maintained ski trails at the nordic ski centers such as those mentioned above, or trail systems like Great Glen, Waterville Valley, Hilltop in Vermont or any number of dozens of maintained, groomed trail systems in northern New England.

One of my own favorites is Jackson XC Foundation found in the postcard village just beyond the red-covered bridge off Route 16. I’ve often put in a day skiing at Jackson while on a downhill ski trip to nearby Wildcat Mountain in Pinkham Notch. These two are so intertwined as to be linked by trail for cross-country trekking off the downhill area.

The Northern Ellis River Trail, including Dana Place, is one of my favorite trails, and I have done everything form the old diagonal stride to taking skating lessons along this flattish stretch.

But the offerings are many, and in lean snow times, owner/manager Thom Perkins has even installed snowmaking equipment to cover enough kilometers to make skiing possible in most snow conditions.

Unlike most alpine skiing, which is costly enough so that skiers and riders stay all day, nordic skiers and snowshoers usually end up with a good portion of the day for other stuff. The town of Jackson is fun to explore, but it’s also near enough alpine’s historic hub, North Conway, so that there’s plenty to do.
And for those who like to combine styles, one of the great historic downhill areas, Black Mountain, is found in Jackson as well.

While there’s plenty of lodging available, when I’m in Jackson one of my favorite places to stay is the lavish Christmas Tree Inn and Spa. It may not be minimalist, but this is also a time of year to treat yourself.

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