Nordic Skiing in Park City

Ed and I took a day off from alpine skiing. Not a day off totally. To us a day off means more activity - this time Nordic, or Cross Country Skiing!

There are lots of tracks all around Park City. This day we chose a spot down near the ski area called The Canyons. Actually the trailhead park is just across from the iconic "barn" so often photographed. We also brought along Ed's border collie Turbo! I've known Turbo since he was a pup. Such a good boy. Today his work involves herding us!

I could see Nordic skiers on both sides of the valley. It seems people take their Nordic skiing seriously around here. I saw guys across the valley on some kind of track. They were going all out, skate skiing, using both poles to push even faster! I'm not even close to that level - heck I don't even have a cross country outfit. I just had my alpine ski pants. Even worse - when we left the house it was snowing hard so I brought my alpine parka and goggles! Ridiculous.

Because down where the trailhead was, it was spotty clouds and some sun. My outfit was totally unnecessary. In fact there were a couple of people jogging on the trail in shorts! We skied for three and a half hours and I cannot say how many miles. There are trails winding all around the subdivisions that have popped up near The Canyons.

During the day we stopped and threw a chew toy for Turbo, who was happy to oblige. He'd chase the toy and try to catch it in the air. If it landed off track, where the snow was not packed, he got a bit of a surprise, going waist deep in the snow.

I was not able to keep up with Ed. My forced down time because of my shoulder dislocation robbed me of valuable XC practice! And more, the snow in Oregon's Cascade Mountains has been real low this year. I was sweating bullets. But it's very good exercise. Not the same as downhill, but very good!

Now, there was recently a debate I overheard about whether you use your poles when Nordic skiing. The answer is an emphatic yes!