XC Skiing the Greeley Ponds Trail
| Date: | 12-8-2024 |
| Location: | Waterville Valley, NH |
| Distance: | 4.59 mi |
| Elevation Gain: | 435′ |
| Total Time: | 3 hr 34 min |
| Parking: | 20+ cars |
We have been blessed with snow and cold the last couple of weeks and many of the XC resorts have opened their XC courses. But today I choose to go to Waterville Valley and ski up Greeley Ponds Trail.
I have been on this trail a few times in the past couple of months and it seemed like a great trail to get some of the back country snow. We had gotten a few extra inches of snow last night and conditions seemed perfect.
When I got to the lot the sky was cloudy and temps were in the high 20’s. There were some flurries blowing around the parking lot. The lot was already getting full but I was able to find a spot with no issue. Lots of skiers here today.
Once I got my boots on, I grabbed my Fischer S-Bound 98 skis and headed for the trail. Snow was a bit sticky, but I was still ablet o glide a bit on the freshly groomed trail.
I made it to the junction and Greeley Pond Trail is just about a 100 yards from here. At the trail head there was another skier heading out there. I let him get a bit ahead before continuing.
Someone had broke a track at this point but I didn’t use it because my skis are much wider than the track. So I cruised through the fresh snow and made my own track. Snow was about 5-7 inches deep. Perfect for xc skiing.
Before long I made it the Goodrich Rock tail. I had passed one skier heading back. She said she only went to where the incline started. I continued and soon passed the other skier I saw heading back. He said he made it to the water bars on the first incline.
I skied on a bit. The snow was getting a little deeper and I did not think there was anyone else further out. When I got to the incline I realized I was right. After the second water bar the track I followed stopped. From here I was blazing trail up the hill.
The sky was getting dark like it was going to snow but temps seemed just over the freezing mark making the snow very sticky. I broke the trail out the Timber Camp Trail. At this point I took a break before heading back.
The forest was beautiful with all the snow-covered trees and branches. It was quiet and I couldn’t help but enjoy the moment. The trail levels out for a bit and snow was much deeper up here. Around a foot deep in some spots.
I figured going back would be a piece of cake and not take long going down. Boy, was I wrong. The snow kept sticking to my skies making it hard to glide. Or if I did glide, I would abruptly stop. So I made my way down as best I could.
Once I got to the flats again, I was able to move pretty good in the tracks for a while. On my way down I met a women pulling some camping gear in a sled. We chatted a bit, talking about film and enjoying the winter woods.
Soon after I was back at the trail head and Livermore Road. From here the snow on the groomed trail was really sticking to my skis. Almost no glide back to the car. It was a interesting walk/ski with some skiers I passed offering me some wax.
I was almost back but I will remember to put my glide wax back in my bag. This was a great first xc adventure on this trail. I’m looking forward to exploring some other White Mountain XC trails.
