Ski Middlebury trails

#Middlebury #Skiing

Steve Amira of Massachusetts enjoys cross country skiing on a trail in that state. Skiers can find trails like the one in the picture on several Middlebury Land Trust and nearby properties. (Victor Lerish photo)

By JANINE SULLIVAN-WILEY

This year has been extraordinary for so many reasons: the pandemic, the busiest hurricane season on record, amazingly warm weather early in November and much more. The last several winters here have had very little snow, but if the run of extraordinary continues, maybe there will be lots of snow this winter. That would make it perfect for cross-country skiing right here in Middlebury.

Middlebury resident and cross-country skier Derrick Dumoulin said his interest in the sport began when he was a child in Colorado, struggling on foot through the snow while others got around easily on skis. He said, “One of the great pleasures of cross-country skiing is that it allows you to break trails in fresh snow. If it’s fresh snow, it’s like no one has ever been on it. Everything is so very quiet; you only hear your skis moving, with the cold and snowflakes on your face.”

Dumoulin said it’s a great sport for families because kids can search for tracks in the snow. “You can make up stories about them, imagining what was going on,” he said.

During his early years in Colorado, Dumoulin learned about skiing etiquette. (Who knew there was such a thing?) You “share the trail,” with skiers staying to one side of the trail and hikers to the other side.

Beginners should seek out gentle terrain such as open fields, golf-courses where such activity is allowed, or wide, unobstructed trails when there is about six inches of snow. Dumoulin said snow deeper than that makes more rugged trails usable as well.

Most of the Middlebury Land Trust (MLT) trails are designed for hiking, but some are more readily suited to cross-country skiing. These include the main trails through the Sperry (Juniper Hill) preserve. The old Water Company property, described in last month’s Bee-Intelligencer, has a long, wide, straight trail that goes from Shadduck Road to Nichols Road in Naugatuck. The smaller, more rugged trail that links the main trail to the Larkin Bridle Trail is not good for cross-country skiing unless there is a lot of snow on the ground.

The Larkin Pond property also is suitable for cross country skiing. The entrance is on Long Meadow Road west of South Street. This property would be a bit of challenge as it would include skiing over the wooden bridge and side-stepping up to the dam. Go east along the dam and around the pond to fields that are farmed in summer but can be skied in winter. For more experienced skiers with back-country skis (quite different, wider, with metal edges) almost any trail with enough snow is an option.

In addition to our local options, cross-country skiing is allowed on multi-use trails and roads in all Connecticut state parks and forests including Hamden’s Sleeping Giant State Park. Other options are Hop Brook Lake Recreation Area, Flanders’ Whittemore Sanctuary and White Memorial Conservation Center. The privately owned Winding Trails Cross Country Ski Center in Farmington has equipment for rent in case you just want to try it out before investing in your own. One good online resource for suggestions for proper clothes and safety tips is www.ctvisit.com/articles/along-glide-cross-country-skiing-spots-connecticut.

You can contact this writer at jswspotlight@gmail.com. Visit the MLT on Facebook or the website at middleburylandtrust.org.