| X Country Ski Areas in Southern Vermont
There is no better sport than cross country skiing for aerobic exercise, being able to enjoy the winter, and having fun in the cold. Locals start the sport at 3 years of age and continue with it up until 93. Stratton Mountain has cross country skiing at the Sunbowl.
There are other major areas in middle Southern Vermont that now provide excellent cross country skiing, and concentrate on the sport.
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Wild Wings
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Viking
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Hildene
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Grafton Ponds
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Landgrove Inn.
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X Country Skiing is for all ages
I took these pictures one weekday afternoon in February. At the Wild Wings Cross Country Center in Peru I met kids who were starting the sport at 3 years of age. Right behind them were locals who went out every day into their eighties.
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Cross Country Skiing at the Stratton Sun Bowl
Distance: 10 minutes from Bondville, the base of Stratton Access road, 5 minutes past the Stratton Village.
Cross country skiing is now only at the Sunbowl at Stratton. Stratton's cross country skiing has about 15 km of trails in the forest trails. There are Rentals.
A few years ago, Stratton eliminated the Country Club Nordic Center with it's gently rolling terrain. I loved it, because as a beginner, it was an excellent place to go in the bitter cold and one circuit was not too difficult. My older daughter, who became addicted to xc skiing after a season working out in Copper, now prefers to drive the distance to the other well groomed and traditional Vermont x country ski areas.
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Viking Ski Touring Center
Distance: 15 minutes from Stratton. Just South of Londonderry with 35 km of machine groomed and tracked trails, for both Skate and classic skiing. Gently rolling woodlands and open fields. Instruction, rentals, repairs. Full day ticket $16.
Contact at info@vikingnordic.com. Visit Viking's website at www.vikingnordic.com.
Directions: Take a right from the Stratton access road on to Rt. 30 South. In Rawsonville turn up Rt. 100 north. Continue north through South Londonderry and follow the Rt. 100 winding path to Rt. 11, just south of Londonderry. Right on Rt. 11, through the blinking light, take your second left on to Little Pond Road. Viking is at the top of the hill.
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| Photo by Viking and View of their Trail |
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Wild Wings Ski Touring Center
Distance from Stratton, Bondville: 20 minutes, in Peru Vermont.
Wild wings has over 24 km of one way trails. Snowcat grooming.
Website: www.wildwingsski.com.
Contact: wwxcski@sover.net.
Rentals: $14 to $18 per half day or day.
Directions: turn left on base of access road to RT. 30 north towards Manchester. At the junction of RT. 11 turn right, go 2.5 miles past Bromley bear left into the village of Peru. Take Hapgood Pond Rd. out of the village exactly one mile. Turn left onto North Rd. WWXC is 1.5 miles out on North Road.
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| Click on image for larger view of |
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Other Cross Country Ski Areas in Southern Vermont
Landgrove Inn (25 minutes from Stratton). In the heart of Landgrove village, 15 km of groomed trails through the National Forest. Rentals and lessons.
Hildene (25 minutes to Manchester). 15 km of groomed trails through the grounds of Robert Todd Lincoln's summer home. Contact Hildene at xcski@hildene.org. Rentals and lessons. Visit Hildene at www.hildene.org Directions: Take Route 30 North and West to Manchester. Make a careful left at the Malfunction Junction (the intersection in Manchester at top of the hill) and go approximately 3 miles.
Grafton Ponds (30 minutes). With 30 km of groomed trails and some back-country, enjoy this wonderfully restored New England village. Contact Grafton Ponds at tavern@sover.net. Rentals, lessons and showshoes. Visit Grafton Ponds at www.old-tavern.com/recreation
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