When you cross country ski, do you stick only to well known trails? Or do you prefer to just do your own thing and explore-how safe do you think this is?
I haven't been cross country skiing other than on a trail but I seriously debated it this year when we had decent snow fall.
Unless it was land I owned and knew every inch I don't think I could do that. I have always stuck with the trails at Wisp for that very reason. While I do know some other ones, I know I'm not a pro and in the next year or two I might try a new one, but I don't think I could just go on my own and luck it, I know I'm not that good yet.
When we go backcountry skiing we usually follow existing skin tracks until we get to where we need to go find "the goods" - then we head off into the wild.
When we go backcountry skiing we usually follow existing skin tracks until we get to where we need to go find "the goods" - then we head off into the wild.
too lazy/old to get up early and be the ones who set the skin track?
Getting to work at 2am I just beat the first track setters onto the mountain.
when I XC skied as a kid we just made our own routes. As long as it is not dumping snow you always have your tracks to follow out. It is a ton of work blazing your own trail.
That's a good point, I hadn't considered the fact you would have a trail to follow back. I had taken similar as a comfort when snow shoeing for exercise in the local area, but I always stuck close to home as my legs tire too much in the shoes! Skis are a different matter and I know I will need to be more adventurous.
I definitely go all over the place but I live in the middle of nowhere and have the advantage of knowing the trails from snow shoeing, skiing, hiking, 4wheeling, etc. Then again XC skiing is the best way to get to school some days so I've learned to make my own trail and do it quickly. We also have some nice established trails but its nice to not follow the pack so to speak.
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