My favourite winter activity before getting paralyzed was cross-country skiing. And here in Grey County we have several great skiing locations. My favourite was always the Glenelg trails, just south-west of Markdale. Here, anchored by a 400 acre parcel of public forest, but expanding onto several private properties, were miles and miles of groomed trails.
On the east side of Hamilton Lane is an interesting network of trails on private land that made an easy hour-long ski, with few significant hills. It always felt safe coming here by myself.
The trail led around the edge of a pond and into the woods. It wasn't long before I was skiing along the edge of a large field marked by a line of big old Sugar Maples.
Then I cut across a snowmobile trail and came to my favourite trail, the Long Piney Woods Trail, a completely straight trail through planted pines.
It was an easy run as you can see, going gently downhill.
You had to rise up a short hill where you lost sight of the continuing trail for a minute, and then crested the rise to build up speed on the other side..
But then you went downhill fast to the end. The only problem was the abrupt ending, where you had to stop and then turn right or left. More than once I crashed at the end, once with people standing there watching me! But it was fun.
After that you simply had to ski a flat trail back out past a row of beehives, and around the other side of the pond to the car. A really enjoyable short ski.
What grand ski trails, and bee hives at the end.I wonder why they left them out in the snow, I had a friend who wintered hers over with insulated boards, and left air vents. That's a great lot of snow.
ReplyDeleteNow you (and I) enjoy the pictures and memories.
ReplyDeleteI've never been skiing but those ski trails look wonderful ...
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Looks like a lovely place to ski. I never learned to manage skis but I can appreciate the beauty of the natural world.
ReplyDeleteSkiing is a treat through such beautiful countryside!
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to do that but never have. I've done plenty of down hill skiing in my youth!
ReplyDeleteI used to cross-country ski and loved it. But gave it up a decade or so ago because I thought I was getting old. But I'm still healthy as I was back then. Ok, tomorrow I'm pulling my skis out. I also used to snowshoe and loved that too. Thanks FG, we all need to keep on keeping on in whatever way we can. You're an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThat long run through the pines looks like a dandy, I'm afraid my days of skiing are over -- bad leg, bad back, traumatic brain injury, but most of all not enough good snow anymore.
ReplyDeleteI used to have to much fun Cross Country! Those days are gone for me, as well. Bad knees, and the wetland isn't much good for that. I do like snowshoeing. My kids do skiing. Much fun for them.
ReplyDeleteI've never been skiing. I'm too much of a klutz to trust myself on skis. The trails look really nice though.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. I have never skiied, but the quiet of cross-country skiing would be so appealing. Love these photos.
ReplyDeleteI just chucked my old cross country skis out this past Spring.
ReplyDeleteAh, the good old days! I remember snowshoeing on the lake, and a snowmobile coming straight at me!
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