It’s a fast-paced world out there. Only in recent history have we developed the ability to travel enormous distances in a short amount of time. Homo sapiens emerged on earth about 300,000 years ago, but planes, trains, and automobiles are all newcomers to the scene. Cars for example, were invented about 130 years ago, representing just .04% of human history.
Modern transportation is truly amazing; anyone with a middle class budget can be virtually anywhere in the world within a day or two. I really value the experiences I’ve had traveling all over the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia. Sometimes though, it’s worthwhile to slow things down and see the world at a slower pace.
For the vast majority of history, humans had basically one way to get around: their feet. On foot, the world slows down and you notice the details. Nothing is whizzing by. You may see less things, but you’ll see (or hear, or smell) more of each thing. The texture of the tree bark, the woodpecker tapping, the smell of mud. I will get a lot of that while hiking the Appalachian Trail this year.
Hiking isn’t the only way to experience nature on foot. Last week I had the opportunity to do some cross country skiing in New Hampshire and Vermont. In the grand scheme of things, skis are a new-ish invention too. Historians believe they’ve been around for about 8,000 years. Since cross country skiing is a mode of transportation that is self-propelled using only human power, I still consider it “on foot.” (Well, on foot with ski attached).
Though I’m not [yet] very good at it, I’m obsessed with cross country skiing. Unlike downhill skiing, it’s not expensive and it’s not crowded. It’s hard work and serious exercise. My college professor wife would give you some PhD-level mumbo jumbo about the neurophysiology of bilateral integration, vestibular input, and full-field visual scanning coupled with deep breathing and being in nature as a scientific recipe for mental health. I would just say I love it.
New England has both great skiing and great hiking. It just so happens that I was skiing close by to where I’ll be hiking this summer on the Appalachian Trail and where I hiked last summer on the Long Trail of Vermont.
The map below shows the Long Trail (last summer’s hike), the Appalachian Trail (this summer’s hike), and the places I explored on skis last week.
1. New London, NH
My parents have a cabin in New London, NH, which made the perfect homebase for my week of skiing. Just a few minutes away there is a small volunteer-run cross county ski area. It was the perfect way to reacquaint myself with my skis on the first day, after a 4-year hiatus.
2. Waterville Valley, NH
About 100 miles of the AT go through New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest. The White Mountains, or “Whites,” are notorious on the AT for being exceptionally difficult. From the Waterville Valley Nordic Center, I was able to ski some gorgeous secluded tails in the forest.
3. Bretton Woods, NH
The crown jewel of New England is the fierce Mount Washington at 6,288 feet. The AT crosses the summit of this behemoth, and if everything goes right, I should be up there sometime this summer. Though it’s not the highest point on the AT (it’s the second), Mount Washington is by far the tallest peak in the Northeast and is famously known for the world’s worst weather. Just 2 weeks ago, a new record was recorded on Mount Washington for the coldest ever recorded wind chill in U.S. history, at -108° F.
Despite Mount Washington’s famously bad weather, I managed to hit Bretton Woods Nordic Center on an amazingly clear sunny day. Accompanied by some good friends, I skied just below Mount Washington, catching some amazing blue sky views of the mountain.
4. Trapp Family Lodge, VT
In Stowe, VT I skied at the Trapp Family Lodge, run by the famous von Trapp family immortalized by the musical the Sound of Music. The Trapp Family Singers was a real performing group, and after the war they toured the U.S. before settling in Vermont. Their lodge in Stowe has been open since the 1950 and claims to be the first cross-country ski center in the country!
The lodge property has stunning mountain views in all directions. Last summer on the Long Trail, I summited several of these mountains, including Mount Mansfield, the highest peak in Vermont. It was fun waving to these old friends.
Mini-retirement has officially begun! I separated from the Army on February 1st and this New England trip was the my first adventure. In addition to the skiing I got to visit family and friends and it was the perfect kick-off for the next 2 years.
I absolutely loved exploring New Hampshire and Vermont on skis. In only 24 days I’ll begin to slowly make my way back up there via the AT. Trading my skis for hiking shoes, and the snow for the heat of the summer, I’m sure it will be a brand new and exciting experience!