Good nordic skiing in Vermont if you reach high

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 04:35 PM

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The Spruce Run trail at Bolton Valley nordic center.

Broadway.

Upper portion of Maple Loop.

Tracks in the snow.

This winter has been rough for most Vermont cross-country ski centers. Unreliable temperatures in the lower elevations and a lack of snowstorms have made nordic skiing tough in many places. However, there is some good nordic skiing if you look in higher-altitude spots. 

This would include Bolton Valley nordic center, which sits above 1,500 feet. It's been catching some snow and the melt-downs have not been as drastic as they've been in the valleys. I did a classic ski tour today and found the coverage to be really good.

I skied Broadway to Maple Loop, then picked up Spruce Run to zip and turn my way back over to Broadway. Up I went on this long hill climb, but I took a detour onto Maple Loop again, and then onto a section of the ungroomed Bryant trail so I could cut up to World Cup. I did a loop on World Cup before heading back to the nordic center.

Surprisingly the sun was out (it wasn't at my house) and the temperatures were comfortable in the 20s. Temps are falling now and tonight.

It was good to look over to the alpine side of the resort and see the Timberline area open for the first time this season. They were blowing snow there today.

Other higher-altitude nordic centers in Vermont that seem to have good snow coverage now include Stowe Mountain Resort, Trapp Family Lodge and Craftsbury.

Direct links to Vermont cross-country center ski conditions are found here on our site.

Filed in: Bolton Valley, Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Stowe, Trapp Family Lodge