Trail Wise Guides - Cross Country Skiing


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The Joy of Cross-Country Skiing

My views on cross-country skiing are that it's a combination of hiking and sliding. If you're not into sliding, go snowshoeing. The beauty of cross-country skiing is that it is grace in motion... or at least that's the goal. You hike uphill using a variety a techniques that you pull from your bag of tricks. Having a full quiver of tricks, from which to choose, is one reason you'd want to go out with us. We can teach you a whole lot about the art of getting uphill, expending the least amount of energy. That's my definition of touring... getting from point A to point B using the least amount of effort, maximizing grace, fluidity and enjoyment.

Now of course at some point we turn around, and what you've climbed up you must ski down. A whole new bag of tricks from the uphill, but none the less, still aiming for grace and fluidity. We do cross-country skiing at a lot of different levels. For beginners, we start out in a gentle glacial valley, where solitude, scenery, and gentle terrain are maximized. When it's just you, the guide, the ravens, and the elk, you don't have to worry about looking dumb. If you fall, no loss of face. So we start out on what are called no-wax skis. They are generally less slippery, are stable, have better grip and are naturally slower on the downhill because the 'fish scales' on the bottom create drag.

Once you get past the beginner phase where you are comfortable on skis, you can go uphill without slipping, and you can go down gentle hills without falling, you are ready for the world of wax skis. Now wax skis and skiers tend to be a rare breed, but you are invited to join the club... Why do you want wax skis? After all, wax skis have the long standing reputation of being either too slippery where you can't get enough grip, or too sticky where you get a snowpack on the bottom of your skis and feel like your walking with Frankenstein feet. The reason you want to use wax skis goes back to the simple principal of touring, getting from point A to point B with the minimal amount of energy expended. Wax skis are about 25% faster than no-wax skis allowing you to glide on uphills as well as downhills. On the downhill there is no comparison... wax skis are fast, require far less pushing, and are totally enjoyable as you effortlessly whisk down the trail, eyes filled with scenic vistas, fresh air blowing in your face, the trees and shrubs flow by as if you were on a magic carpet ride. Of course this can all turn into a high-speed hell if you are in a tight forest with a narrow trail, and a very fast pair of skis, so your knowledgeable guide will help you choose an appropriate trail for your ability level, and your desired level of action.

Waxing takes knack, a little hard knowledge, and some experience. But if you are out skiing with a friend on no wax skis, and you need to stop and adjust your wax, your friend keeps on going, you will soon catch up to your friend and ski beyond, because it takes less energy on wax skis. We're willing to teach you. It's worth learning if you plan on cross-country skiing throughout your life.

So why do you want to go cross-country skiing? Because you can simply go further than if you were snowshoeing, and you introduce the wonderful element of sliding. There's something magical about being on the ground, yet breaking free from the grip of the earth. There's magic with whisking silently though the forest on a gentle downhill , little effort expended, very relaxing and exhilarating all at the same time.

Trail Wise Guides invites you to go cross-country skiing. If you like to be out in the forest, and you like to exercise and picnic, if you like big powerful views, then you'll like cross-country skiing with us a lot.

We provide: Wax or no-wax skis with metal edges, over the ankle leather boots, poles, gaiters, lunch, water, fanny pack or day pack.

Guides carry: extra hats, gloves, water filter, first aid kit, cell phone, picnic blanket, binoculars, sunscreen, duct tape, wax kit, and more!

You Should Bring: A windbreaker or Gore-Tex shell, a hat for shade, sunglasses, and your camera. It is ideal to dress in layers (ex. Poly-pro long underwear, thin fleece top, Gore-Tex shell, nylon pants). Put your jacket in your daypack for the uphill; put it on at lunch etc.

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TrailWise Guides Inc. is under a special use permit by the White River and San Isabel National Forests. All or part of TrailWise Guides, Inc.'s operation is conducted on Public Lands under special use permit from U.S. Bureau of Land Management. TrailWise Guides, Inc. is an equal opportunity service provider.