Track 2: Cross Country Touring

What is cross country touring? Cross country touring refers to backcountry skiing in rolling terrain. The trails are not groomed and can vary in steepness, width, and number of obstacles (trees, rocks, stream crossings). This means that the trails can be almost as easy as going out on the golf course or that they can be more like hitting the bunny hill at your local ski resort armed only with cross country skis! Think of cross country touring as the next step into the wilderness off the groomed trails at XC facilities, a great way to get away from the crowds!

What gear do I need? Cross country skis with scales (or wax) and partial or full metal edges. Skis may be shaped or straight. Bindings and boots with Nordic/backcountry bindings (single, thick bar at the toe like NNN BC or one of the other proprietary options), or a three-pin (for a duck bill boot) connection, leaving the heel free. For steeper tours, skins may be needed (not required unless specifically listed in the trip info).

What ski experience should I have? Some experience at groomed cross country ski facilities is helpful, for more advanced trips, some downmountain ski resort experience (green circle, blue square) may also be helpful. But really, a sense of adventure is all that’s really needed for the intro trips!

How do I get started? The intro to cross country touring track consists of multiple individual trips. Each trip is a self-contained one-day event, so no need to sign up for the entire series, pick and choose the classes that you are interested in and that will benefit you the most. If you are interested in the entire series, kudos to you! You can also spread it over multiple ski seasons. The series is intended to gradually build your skiing skills from easy tours that will allow you test out your equipment, learn basic technique, and get used to being in the backcountry through to longer tours with steeper hills and more obstacles. Sign up for each trip individually through the trip leader.

Level	AMC Ski Trip
Intro - test out the equipment, learn basic ski technique, get used to being on ungroomed trails	New Hampshire Winter School - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED register for Ski touring 101 (intro) or intermediate backcountry ski touring http://amc-nh.org/committee/excursions/index-winterworkshop.php Weeknight Intro to Backcountry, Scales (5 weeks) Weds Starting 17 Jan, Lebanon, NH Valerio Viti valerio.viti@gmail.com http://activities.outdoors.org/search/index.cfm/action/details/id/101287&act=18 Stoddard Hill 01/28/18, Stoddard, NH Emilie Phillips emilie@j3.org
Intermediate - try out steeper terrain, build endurance	Kancamagus Brook to Livermore Rd 03 Feb, Tripoli Rd, Waterville Valley Steeper ascent, longer trail Jillian Willard jillian.willard@gmail.com Connie’s Way 12 Feb, Pinkham Notch Al Grimstad http://activities.outdoors.org/search/index.cfm/action/details/id/101311 Smarts Brook 14 Jan, Waterville Valley Joel Sadler jsadler242@comcast.net http://activities.outdoors.org/search/index.cfm/action/details/id/101358&act=18 Greely Pond 11 Feb, Waterville Valley Sean Mulligan spamulligan@comcast.net
Advanced -	Bolton Trapp Traverse 01/28/18, Bolton VT Joel Sadler jsadler242@comcast.net Avalanche Brook 03/18/18, Pinkham Notch Alfred Grimstad http://activities.outdoors.org/search/index.cfm/action/details/id/101310&act=18 Cedar Brook 02/04/18, Lincoln NH Joel Sadler jsadler242@comcast.net