Maine
I was skeptical about these central Maine ski trails. I was wrong.
When our mates, John and Diane Stokinger, invited my spouse, Nancy, and me to hitch them for Nordic snowboarding and snowshoeing at Quarry Street Trails in Waterville, I used to be skeptical. Though vaguely conscious of the existence of ski trails in that central Maine neighborhood, I didn’t know something about them. The Stokingers’ information was additionally restricted as it could be their first go to too.
I search for two principal options when selecting a Nordic ski path system: high-quality grooming and the chance to expertise prolonged longer distance treks versus shorter circuitous routes. Since having fun with outside adventures with our mates is extra essential than path concerns, we deferred to their judgment relating to the Quarry Street Trails.
The paths are situated on the finish of Quarry Street on the northern outskirts of town. Following Quarry Street underneath I-95, Nancy and I quickly noticed what seemed to be well-groomed trails on the left. Glimpses of extra groomed trails had been discerned as we proceeded farther alongside. Shortly after, a downhill ski slope was handed on the correct the place grooming was in progress. By the point we arrived on the Out of doors Heart — the place there’s spacious parking surrounded on three sides by Nordic ski trails — we had been optimistic. Quickly after, our mates joined us.
Quarry Street Trails is a powerful winter outside complicated that gives downhill snowboarding, snowshoeing, fats tire biking and Nordic snowboarding. Passes are bought at a hut the place ski leases and a few loaner snowshoes can be found.
Nancy determined to snowshoe whereas I opted to hitch Diane and John for Nordic snowboarding. Traditional skiers, we initially negotiated the straightforward Charlie’s Interior Loop, Davis and Far Meadow Loop Trails, the place the grooming was excellent. Accidentally, we stumbled onto the “tougher” Hawthorn Path that travels alongside the Messalonskee River. The huge, painstakingly groomed route facilitated efficient snowplows on the downhills and environment friendly herringboning on the climbs.
Success on Hawthorne prompted a choice to check our abilities on the prolonged “tougher” River Loop. The roughly 3-kilometer one-way trek was an exhilarating continuum of demanding climbs and thrilling twisting descents, the second half was adjoining to the river.
On return, we stopped on the hut for a break. Nancy quickly joined us and reported invigorating snowshoeing. The genial attendant associated that the path system is frequently used for aggressive ski racing and different group actions. He additionally disclosed that the ski space makes snow for the Nordic trails closest to the hut and restricted snowboarding had been obtainable since late November. That revelation nearly blew my socks off. I’d spent hours in December and January futilely trying to find high quality Nordic snowboarding and all of the whereas it was conveniently accessible in close by Waterville.
The 4 of us had totally different agendas for the afternoon. I made a decision to discover the distant North Koons and Wally’s Means Loop Trails. A few 5-kilometer outing together with connector trails, each are rated “tougher.”
After snowboarding Charlie’s Interior Loop, Meadowlark Path and Far Meadow Loop, I related left onto North Koons. Whereas River Loop and the paths closest to the hut had been busy, I discovered myself alone in a pleasant wilderness setting on rolling North Koons. The grooming continued to be distinctive on the one-way community. Though there was some downhill, I usually skied steadily uphill for the primary half of North Koons earlier than becoming a member of and repeating the identical on the preliminary phase of Wally’s Means. A lot of the rest of the ski on the east sides of the 2 loops was steadily downhill and really entertaining. I met two skiers simply earlier than finishing the completely fulfilling double loop who echoed my favorable observations in regards to the trails.
Everybody in our group was impressed with their Quarry Street Trails expertise. I’ll undoubtedly return. Assuming the paths are well-groomed, which appears seemingly, I plan to ski the “most tough” Higher Colby Dash and South Koons Trails throughout my subsequent go to. And, when nobody else has snow, I’ll name to see if Quarry Street is making their very own.
My e-book, “Maine Al Fresco: The Fifty Best Out of doors Adventures in Maine,” contains three chapters that relate thrilling Nordic ski escapades in Maine. Had I been conscious of Quarry Street Trails after I wrote the e-book, it could have been the fourth.