Sad day. End of my XC skiing expeditions

[skuthorp]

For over 50 years I indulged in a multi night XC skiing trip, sometimes up to 10 days. Well covid stopped that and 2 years on I am unpacking my gear to give away or throw out most of it. Three sets of skis, snow shoes, stove and kit, clothing, gloves, thermals, socks…… I'll keep my excellent sleepig bag and navigation stuff.
But I cannot complain, 55 years in a country with very little of the white stuff at the best of times and before the place was smothered in regulations and money.

C'est la vie!

But I'm still sailing and paddling……….

[Hugh MacD]

Re: Sad day. End of my XC skiing expeditions

I did the same a few years ago. Also my downhill skis. Always a sad day, but I figure I got my money's worth out of all of them over the many years I played with them Sounds like you did even more. Congratulations! I've kept my stove and camping gear, however. We still like to sneak out for an overnighter (short walks these days) when the weather's fine

[David G]

Re: Sad day. End of my XC skiing expeditions

Mein Beileid

[wizbang 13]

Re: Sad day. End of my XC skiing expeditions

I ain’t laced up my roller skates for a few years . (I skated differently than most in an atypical way ).
The mention of rules and regs have much to do with this decision or is it the march of time and fear of getting hurt?

[skuthorp]

Re: Sad day. End of my XC skiing expeditions

Well an old friend said that I'd escaped without serious injury in both alpine and xc disciplines and he always reckoned my cousin and I were crazy in insisting on telemarking down treed gullies and steep slopes on skinny skis with rat trap bindings, so probably restarting at nearly 80 was pushing the odds. Likely he was right. That and I'm sure I'd be disappointed at the drop off in my own performance now.

(I am fed up to the back teeth with predictive text!!!!!!!!!)

[Todd Bradshaw]

Re: Sad day. End of my XC skiing expeditions

I still have a closet in my attic packed with probably eight pairs of cross-country skis and several pairs of downhill skis. Having been a dealer, I always had a direct line to the really good stuff. Somehow though, it got used less and less as I got older.

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[CWSmith]

Re: Sad day. End of my XC skiing expeditions

I had to move to Delaware in 1987 and gave up cross-country skiing. I moved back to New Hampshire in 2003, but never picked it up again. It's a great winter activity, but I never had the ability to stay out for nights. That must be great!

[Todd D]

Re: Sad day. End of my XC skiing expeditions

Right now we have the best snow in years for cross country skiing, but I had knee replacement surgery last week so all I can do is look at the fluffy white stuff. Maybe next year, although being on the wrong side of 70 makes that less likely every year.

[George Jung]

Re: Sad day. End of my XC skiing expeditions

Over the years, I've 'given up' downhill skiing, and riding my motorcycle. But I still have the gear, and the bike - they're not worth much, and I like seeing them. Until they're gone, it's all still 'an option', right?

[Dan McCosh]

Re: Sad day. End of my XC skiing expeditions

Hasn't been good snow for about a decade now. Used to love the sport in the winter--there are several great areas nearby.

[David G]

Re: Sad day. End of my XC skiing expeditions

Used to love Nordic, and had a mob who was always game. And the route back to town went right by a hot spring where we could soak it out over a bottle of wine. When I moved from Eugene to Portland, in my 30's, I lost my mob. Tried some to recreate it... but it wasn't the same. Sold my gear a few years later. Some mighty fine memories, though <see my tagline>

[skuthorp]

Re: Sad day. End of my XC skiing expeditions

I became bored with alpine skiing, speed beong it's only hook. And at that time I had a Norwegian former women's junior XC champion as my instructor…………………
Beautiful wooden Madchus skis, I was not good enough at that time to do them justice. Pine tar and waxes. For many years my touring ski of choice was a French army model……Dynamic. Tough and for me unbreakable.

[The Ranger]

Re: Sad day. End of my XC skiing expeditions

Sorry to hear that. I've been cross country skiing for about 53 years. I've never been a fan of camping in the winter but really enjoy cross country skiing day trips. I've been out once this winter as our snow falls have alternated with rain so the snow is real icy and I'm not a fan of klister waxes. I used to live for ice skating, too, but tried a few years ago and looked like a deer on ice. We also love kayaking day trips but since a couple of minor heart attacks of my partner I may have to get use to solo trips. She said that there are the go-go years, the go-slow years, and then the no-go years.

[David G]

Re: Sad day. End of my XC skiing expeditions

I became bored with alpine skiing, speed beong it's only hook. And at that time I had a Norwegian former women's junior XC champion as my instructor…………………
Beautiful wooden Madchus skis, I was not good enough at that time to do them justice. Pine tar and waxes. For many years my touring ski of choice was a French army model……Dynamic. Tough and for me unbreakable.

Conditions here being SO changeable... I was ecstatic when plastic bottoms got good enough that I could toss the pine tar, klister, and such. There were days I had to stop and change things every 100 yards. Aggravating.

[Nicholas Carey]

Re: Sad day. End of my XC skiing expeditions

Conditions here being SO changeable... I was ecstatic when plastic bottoms got good enough that I could toss the pine tar, klister, and such. There were days I had to stop and change things every 100 yards. Aggravating.

I love my Asnes Tur-Langrenns, but I stopped using them when I moved out to Seattle. The snow in the Cascades is just too crappy. All klister, all the time. And I hate klister. I should take them and my kids over to the Methow Valley some time, though I'd need to get new boots. My feet have gotten wider. And since the bindings are Solomon SNS, I'd probably need to put new bindings on (does anybody still make boots for SNS bindings?)