Looking for Free places to take kids to use sleds, tubes etc

hilltopper · 01-20-2010, 10:05 AM

It would not be in the best interest of XC skier's wallets to have separate trails. As FFL said, Waterville charges money to XC ski the majority of available terrain. That's because it takes equipment and costs money to groom/maintain XC trails.

Snowmobilers pay for these trails via registration and club memberships fees. XC skiiers use them for free. XC skiiers could join together to create a club and cut and maintain their own trails but it wouldn't be free. It would cost money and your cross country skis would be full of stickers!

I believe Shedwannabe IS opposed to snowmobiling judging from his/her past posts. And as I've stated, I do and enjoy both. And I don't understand your "can't we all just get along" statement. 99% of the time when I pass a XC skiier on snowmobile trails smiles and friendly waves are exchanged and we both continue on our way.

BroadHopper · 01-20-2010, 11:21 AM

If we can convince the resorts that have tubing parks to put in a sledding park then we will have a place to sled. Problem is, sleds are hard and can be dangerous projectiles. Hench the litigation. Tubes on the other hand are soft and is less of a threat. Or so the lawyers say.....................

fatlazyless · 01-22-2010, 10:27 AM

Yesterday at about 11-am, there was 22 different cars, I counted, at the Depot Camp-Waterville Valley-WMNF parking lot with local folks using the 'no-fee-zone' 2.8 mile Livermore Rd cross country ski trail. 22 cars on a Wednesday is like a big crowd for these here woods.

The first 3/10 mile on the Livermore Rd is almost flat and gets double-tracked by cross country skiers tracing over the previous skier's tracks. The last 2.5 miles goes up and along the Livermore Rd as it somewhat borders the Mad River and climbs through a mixed hardwood-softwood forest in the WMNF. The last 2.5 mile get professionally groomed and double tracked by a WV Piston-Bully $100,000(?) snow groomer.

The price to ski the 2.8 mile Livermore Rd is 'no fee' except for a WMNF parking sticker to park there.

It's like getting 2009 Mercedes xc-skiing at a 1999 Ford Escort price. (No offense to old reliable Ford cars.) There are no signs whatsoever to indicate it is a no fee zone. Surrounding the 2.8 mile no fee zone, all the contiguous WV ski trails are very clearly marked and noticed that a $16 pass is required. The cross country trail map posted next to the parking $3.00 fee tube on the Forest Service info board indicates the two "no fee zones'; Tripoli Rd & Livermore Rd if you you have any doubts.

Yesterday, there was 22 different cars, most all with New Hampshire plates and there was lots of people in their 40's-50's & 60's (& one 70-something lady) with some still using 'made in Norway', real wood xc skis made in the 1970's with those three-pin, wire hold-down bindings. It was a retro-1970's blue wax type of a snow day with 2010 corduroy, double-tracked grooming courtesy the WV PistenBully sno-groomer. ..

winni wanderer · 01-29-2010, 03:53 PM

I know alot of people who go to Inter-Lakes high school in Meredith and use the hill behind the school. Not a long hill but steep and short.

01-20-2010, 11:21 AM	#2
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,668 Thanks: 3,282 Thanked 1,132 Times in 814 Posts	Sledding and tubing If we can convince the resorts that have tubing parks to put in a sledding park then we will have a place to sled. Problem is, sleds are hard and can be dangerous projectiles. Hench the litigation. Tubes on the other hand are soft and is less of a threat. Or so the lawyers say..................... __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

01-22-2010, 10:27 AM	#3
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 9,174 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 310 Thanked 1,103 Times in 812 Posts	Yesterday at about 11-am, there was 22 different cars, I counted, at the Depot Camp-Waterville Valley-WMNF parking lot with local folks using the 'no-fee-zone' 2.8 mile Livermore Rd cross country ski trail. 22 cars on a Wednesday is like a big crowd for these here woods. The first 3/10 mile on the Livermore Rd is almost flat and gets double-tracked by cross country skiers tracing over the previous skier's tracks. The last 2.5 miles goes up and along the Livermore Rd as it somewhat borders the Mad River and climbs through a mixed hardwood-softwood forest in the WMNF. The last 2.5 mile get professionally groomed and double tracked by a WV Piston-Bully $100,000(?) snow groomer. The price to ski the 2.8 mile Livermore Rd is 'no fee' except for a WMNF parking sticker to park there. It's like getting 2009 Mercedes xc-skiing at a 1999 Ford Escort price. (No offense to old reliable Ford cars.) There are no signs whatsoever to indicate it is a no fee zone. Surrounding the 2.8 mile no fee zone, all the contiguous WV ski trails are very clearly marked and noticed that a $16 pass is required. The cross country trail map posted next to the parking $3.00 fee tube on the Forest Service info board indicates the two "no fee zones'; Tripoli Rd & Livermore Rd if you you have any doubts. Yesterday, there was 22 different cars, most all with New Hampshire plates and there was lots of people in their 40's-50's & 60's (& one 70-something lady) with some still using 'made in Norway', real wood xc skis made in the 1970's with those three-pin, wire hold-down bindings. It was a retro-1970's blue wax type of a snow day with 2010 corduroy, double-tracked grooming courtesy the WV PistenBully sno-groomer. .. __________________ .... Banned for life from local thrift store! Last edited by fatlazyless; 02-07-2010 at 11:53 AM.

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01-20-2010, 10:05 AM	#1
hilltopper Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Meredith Posts: 730 Thanks: 25 Thanked 109 Times in 70 Posts	It would not be in the best interest of XC skier's wallets to have separate trails. As FFL said, Waterville charges money to XC ski the majority of available terrain. That's because it takes equipment and costs money to groom/maintain XC trails. Snowmobilers pay for these trails via registration and club memberships fees. XC skiiers use them for free. XC skiiers could join together to create a club and cut and maintain their own trails but it wouldn't be free. It would cost money and your cross country skis would be full of stickers! I believe Shedwannabe IS opposed to snowmobiling judging from his/her past posts. And as I've stated, I do and enjoy both. And I don't understand your "can't we all just get along" statement. 99% of the time when I pass a XC skiier on snowmobile trails smiles and friendly waves are exchanged and we both continue on our way.

01-29-2010, 03:53 PM	#4
winni wanderer Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 24 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I know alot of people who go to Inter-Lakes high school in Meredith and use the hill behind the school. Not a long hill but steep and short.