Gliding On The Trails – Jackson XC & Bear Notch Ski Touring

PHOTO: Yours truly skating on Jackson XC’s Quail Trail in a winter wonderland, my first cross country ski of the season. Events coming up December 29th-XC Ski & Snacks Tour, on the 31st the Jackson Jaunt 10k & 5k Classic citizen’s race and on January 21st The White Mountain Classic 22k. Learn to Classic or Skate Ski Super Saver Packages are available. Check out more that Jackson XC’s has to offer online at JacksonXC.org.

by Amy Patenaude
Outdoor/Ski Writer

The ground was brown around my home but there are many places in New Hampshire where the trails are white. Snow fell and blanketed the ground on and near the White Mountain Notches. While other places had a little snow or a lot of rain the good news is that it has been really cold and the snow makers have been out there performing their magic.
It really pays not to assume anything about snow conditions. Checking the snow report at your favorite Nordic center or Alpine resort before you go is the best bet. I was scrolling the SkiNH.com conditions page and the Jackson XC snow report revealed they were open. Bear Notch Ski Touring was open too.
My husband Charlie and I packed up our cross country ski gear and drove straight to Jackson. We were super excited to ski cross country for the first time this season. We arrived mid-afternoon.
The Jackson XC Touring Center is right on the Main Street in Jackson on the Wentworth Resort Loop. In the summer the Center and the ski loop double as a golf course and pro shop.

We went inside and we purchased our trail passes, checked out the grooming report and put on our ski clothes and ski boots.
If you don’t have your own ski gear in the Jackson XC Touring Center they have a complete rental shop and Ski School. They even rent Pulk Sleds–a special sled skiers use to pull their small children behind them while they ski. They also rent snowshoes and backpacks.
Jackson makes snow on the Resort Loop. I noticed two fan snow guns set-up and ready to make snow later that night. They’re giving Mother Nature a hand.

We know the trails at Jackson well and we decided the best skiing for us would be up at the end of Carter Notch Road at the Prospect Farm Trail network. From Carter Notch the Quail and Boggy Trails were groomed and tracked.
These trails were busy and someone had just left as we arrived. We were really lucky to be able to park in the only available parking space at the trailhead.
Here at the higher elevation the forest and the trails looked like a winter wonderland. We were ecstatic that there was so much snow here. The grooming put us over the moon! It felt so wonderful to be skate skiing again. It filled us with joy to be gliding on our skis.

We passed by people that were out classic skiing–kicking and gliding. A few of the people had their well behaved dogs out with them. These trails are “pet friendly” trails.
On the Quail Trail I especially liked the view through the bare hardwood trees of the nearby White Mountains. The sun was beginning to sink behind Stairs Mountain and near the end of the trail we could see the white tip of the top of Mount Washington.
On the way back the uphills we worked to get up now would be fun fast downhills. Instead of going back to the car we turned left up the Boggy Brook Trail. For the first skate ski of the year this was more than I thought I would be able to do but with Charlie’s encouragement and the wonderful snow conditions I couldn’t resist.
The views from the Boggy Brook Trail up Carter Notch to the Wildcats and Carter Dome mountains were grand. Dusted white with a tad of alpine glow beginning to appear were eye and heart-filling.
On our way back we passed a few other skiers making their way back to the parking lot too. But there were a few skiers just heading out and I noticed two of them were wearing headlamps. I gathered they knew what time it gets dark out.
The next day Charlie and I decided to head to Bear Notch Ski Touring and we arrived mid-day. It was pretty quiet and we easily found a parking space behind their 222-year old farmhouse. Bear Notch is located on Route 302 in Bartlett. Charlie paid the trail fee at the house’s porch. They have the cutest trail pass, it has a picture of a cross country skiing bear onit. They have rental equipment available and their report said to call ahead to arrange lessons.
We decided to classic ski. Since the temperature was warmer we used our no wax skis. This was a good choice because they had a good strong kick. More skiing joy!

I followed Charlie across the meadow and up the Waterfall Trail. The cascading waters next to the trail were lovely, decorated with a little ice. Along the Experimental Forest Trail the Bartlett Haystack ridgeline was right above us. Along the way I noticed areas where trees had been harvested it really opened the view, especially up Crawford Notch to Hart’s Ledge.
The snow was nice and the tracks were good. We only passed by a couple of other skiers and one had a nice big dog. Dogs are allowed on their entire trail network and Bear Notch is recognized as one of the best places to stay and play with your dog.
It was fun gliding down the Waterfall Trail back to the park lot.
We enjoyed wonderful early season cross country skiing and we are looking forward to more.
Charlie and I are snow dancing and I hope you are too.
Have Fun and Merry Christmas.