XC Ski Outing at Great Brook in Carlisle - March 4, 2015

Snowshoe Group There were 3 snowshoers today, Clyde, Jack Mxkcwrsky and Sander Nydick.  After a short warmup walk across the cornfields, we crossed to the south side of Curve St into the wetland where Clyde fell into a hole up to his waist.  After Jack helped extricate him, the group crossed over the frozen wetland and brook into the southwest portion of the park where we saw numberless deer tracks, some small unidentified animal tracks, a deer feeding station and millions of snow fleas http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_flea.  After that, we recrossed the brook and Clyde’s leach field (no one fell in, thankfully) and finally Curve St.  From there, we went over Cranberry Hill and finally back to the ski barn.  Along the way, we encountered hard packed trails which were walkable with boots, virgin snow where we made our own trail (in this heavy snow, you don’t sink much but it is still hard work) and everything in between. It was really great to see Helen at lunch!  Welcome back Helen, if only for a little while. Can spring be far off? ​

Spring Ski Outing Following a light overnight snowstorm, ten Wednesday Wheelers enjoyed a spring ski outing at Great Brook Farm.  The Group included Ilkka Suvanto, Robin Maitland, Dave Slade, Barbara Martin, Pat Ward, Janet Miller, Sandy (Gardner) Gray, Everett Briggs and Marie Keutmann.  Our 11 K of skiing covered a majority of the trail system.  We stayed together for the most part during our ski.  Skiers were courteous on the downhills allowing ample spacing for safety.   The snow was fast at the beginning due to a light frozen topcoat from Tuesday night's storm.  As the morning progressed and some sun showed through jackets were unzipped for a long awaited warm springtime outing. Thanks to Janet Miller for sweeping.We drove to Omega Pizza in Chelmsford for lunch.  There we were joined by Edie Baxter, Jacque Smith,  Mike Hanauer and Clyde's snowshoe group.Thanks to Clyde for suggesting Omega and for co-leading. RidewithGPS file for today's ski: http://ridewithgps.com/trips/4174905