7 posts shown.
Chloe Perez said:Wait, were you actually out at Kupjak? I'm just trying to figure out where they'll have the trail set up next weekend—is it going to be over by the sledding hill in Kupjak, or are we talking the main area in Ravna Gora?
Chloe Perez said:That whole situation with Rogl felt a bit off to me. Back in January 2010, the four of us paid $74 a night for an apartment, and honestly, it was absolutely flawless.
Now we were looking at that exact same spot, but they were quoting $114 a night from the hotel side. We actually asked them why there was such a huge price jump—especially since last year they bumped us into a 4+2 unit but charged us the rate for a 2+2, probably because they didn't have the 2+2 available despite our reservation back in September. I also thought it was a little weird having to sleep on a couch in the kitchen just to squeeze two extra people in there. 🙂 At least they didn't overcharge us! Regardless, we decided against the 2+2 this year because nobody wanted to end up sleeping in the kitchen.
In the end, we headed out to the mountains near Blue Ridge, staying in a fantastic apartment located literally two meters from last year's cross-country trail. For the first half of the week, there wasn't a snowflake in sight, but once the second half hit, it just wouldn't stop snowing. We kept hoping a snowcat might show up to groom things, but no luck there. Some local kids were out cross-country skiing on the side roads, though.
When we were leaving, we checked in with the hosts about the trail situation, and here's the scoop: the snowcat is privately owned by the guy who just built that new lodge and ski hill over in Kupjak—that little town nearby. So, that machine is constantly over there, and he might eventually come over to Blue Ridge to groom a trail if the neighbors stop complaining about people crossing their fields. So, even though the location looks promising, we aren't counting on Blue Ridge until the local club, the city, or some other organization steps up and gets their own snowcat.
Based on what’s being said about Zagmajna, they did manage to clear at least one trail, but overall, it doesn't look great.
If anyone else spots a good trail, please let the rest of the group know! 🙂
Oh, and looking at the shops over the last few years, I saw the most gear just last month at the Intersport over in Westgate. I wasn't with an expert, so I can't really vouch for the quality level. They had brands like Fischer and Technopro—here are some photos.
Michael Patel6 said:Hey there,
I stumbled upon this thread while browsing, and man, this is probably the biggest discussion EVER on any American forum regarding cross-country skiing!
The arguing doesn't really surprise me—actually, even though I'm not an insider, I’d say it’s pretty symptomatic of how sports culture works here in the States.
I’ve been a recreational ski racer for a solid 25 years now, and I fully expect to be doing this for another 25. I actually ended up without my skis during a recent outing—which was a bit of a mess—but hey, things work themselves out eventually.
I’ve never felt the need to join a formal club (I dabble in two other sports recreationally too, but just to be clear—it’s not that I have anything against organized clubs). You can just teach yourself, gear up, find a little group of friends, and enjoy the ride without all the headaches—though even that isn't easy if you're trying to find decent trails while living in a big city like Chicago.
Credit where credit is due to the clubs, though; I hope they thrive and bring more people together. But it’s not just on them: the sporting landscape in this country is a bit of a circus, no matter how you look at it (again, not complaining—not complaining at all, I'm just an active participant here). As a hobbyist, I’ve run into plenty of hurdles across various sports... many of those local recreational hubs for smaller sports were basically wiped out back in the 80s. But honestly, even much bigger, more essential things in this country have been dismantled over the last 20 years, so who’s going to cry over cross-country skiing? Or about the local parks where we used to race on rental gear when I was a kid—back when, as Dadek mentioned, two full buses would haul kids from the city to competitions? And goodness, there isn't even enough snow like there used to be... :,(
I suggest we keep this thread moving: let us know where there’s still snow (since it’s hard to find lately), if any gear is on sale somewhere, or generally any useful info that matters right now...
A quick question for folks out near the Rockies:
Are there any good trails for recreational enthusiasts or general public use? If you know of any, please recommend them! Even a contact number for someone who knows the trail conditions would be great... (probably the local clubs?)
@Frank Green2:
How many of you ended up staying overnight near the mountains last year?
@Brenda Williams6:
I see you're putting a lot of effort into the website and trying to bring in new members, so here are a few suggestions: maybe list specifically what you offer—what kind of training the kids get, and what you provide for recreational skiers and the general public (since you mentioned having programs for them). People generally like to see all the details before they feel comfortable picking up the phone...
Taylor Reyes3 said:Have you ever considered planting walnut trees for the timber industry? High-end furniture makers are always looking for quality walnut. It's true that you won't see a return for about 10 to 12 years, but you can always plant secondary crops in the rows between the trees while they grow.