Jan 12, 2012
Dear Ski Friends,
We’re getting snow this morning. Bring it on. 6 – 10+” predicted. We will commence grooming on the lower elevation trails as soon as the snow accumulates and continue grooming throughout the day. We have had 7.7 km open in Prospect Farm all week, the most of all the areas in NH and Maine. Today we expect to open up at least 25 groomed km and will likely have many more trails open tomorrow. Additional snow is predicted tomorrow as another storm approaches. Snowshoeing will be good this weekend as well. Our website has pictures and videos of the recent skiing and we will be posting more pics and videos as often as we can.
Upcoming Events:
Friday Gliders starts tomorrow at 1 pm;
Snowshoe tours at 10 am and 1 pm on Saturday;
Saturday night we have our monthly Potluck Dinner starting at 6 pm;
Sunday Fischer will be having their Demo Day here. Try out all the latest and greatest for all types of skiers – waxless and waxable for recreational and racing;
Thom’s Amazing Wax Demo on Monday at 9:30 am
There is a nice article on Jackson XC (and my music btw) in this month’s New Hampshire Magazine.
We’ll be in full swing this weekend!
Drive safe on your way,
Thom
Dec 14, 2011
Dear Ski Friends,
Gorham Bike and Ski is hosting a Team/Club night tomorrow Dec 15th from 4:00 – 8:00 pm. Free Admission, Refreshments, Special Deals for Team or Club Members. All ages welcome. Factory Reps will be here from Fischer, Swix and Salomon. Come learn stuff and get a bargain.
Congrats to U.S. Ski Team member Kikkan Randall for her second World Cup win in a row. I remember when she was a teenager racing here in the Jackson 2000 Junior Olympics. She won those races as well. I also watched her race at the Whistler Olympics two years ago. She’s doing great!
Our next Potluck Dinner featuring our Annual Silent Sign Auction is scheduled this weekend Dec 17th. The socializing begins at 6:00 pm. If you can’t make it but want to bid on a sign, please call the office by 5 pm on Saturday at 603-383-9355 or email tompizor@jacksonxc.org. There are 10 experienced trail signs up for bid. These are signs that have either become obsolete or have been redone. More importantly, they know the way to where you were going :). I pictures of them are on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/JacksonXC
If you are looking for other perfect holidays gift, we have Gift Certificates available for lessons, trail passes and season passes. You can find them online at our e-store or again you can call the office.
We’ve been getting a bit of snow this morning and the 15 day weather forecast has the word “snow” in it. Bring it on.
Drive safe on your way,
Thom
Dec 8, 2011
Dear Ski Friends,
Not much to report about skiing at the moment except that while last night’s storm didn’t provide the snow as predicted, we still have snow in the forecast in the near future. So we have our fingers crossed and our hopes up high that we will be providing skiing for you in the very near future.
If you are looking for that perfect present for the holidays, we have Gift Certificates available for lessons, trail passes and season passes. You can find them online at our e-store .
The grooming crew has a new trick up its sleeve. We have acquired a second ATV to increase our early season grooming capability. They have also improved the grooming implements for both of the ATV’s so that the grooming will be even better.
Over the Thanksgiving weekend, skiers had a chance to preview the new section of the Ellis River Trail. We have some positive feedback about the terrain. It has made the Ellis River Trail both longer and the mid section harder. But those who get that far should be able to ski it.
Our next Potluck Dinner with the Annual Silent Sign Auction is scheduled for Dec 17. My weekly wax clinic on Monday the 12th will focus on getting your skis prepped for the coming season.
Martha Davis will be conducting a Yoga Series on Friday mornings for a warm-up to skiing. These start on Jan 6th.
I posted on our Facebook page that I am not shaving until we are grooming with Pisten Bullys. I’m posting a picture a day. Someone said that I’m starting to look like Sean Connery.
Drive safely on you way,
Thom
Nov 22, 2011
Dear Ski Friends,
National Weather Service has a Winter Storm Warning out for our area tonight through tomorrow. If there is anything left on Friday we will be grooming. Our office will be open for season passes. The skiing will be available on a free basis on Friday - our gift to everyone.
At this time we are not sure where the grooming will be. I will update the website with the latest info on Friday morning.
Season passes are still available at the preseason price until next Wednesday. Be sure to get your membership in to take advantage of the offer. After Wednesday the price goes up to $135 - still a bargain.
The trails are completely ready for snow and the grooming crew is anxious to get going.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Drive safely on your way,
Thom
Nov 10, 2011
Dear Ski Friends,
SPECIAL DEAL -- This Saturday only at the Ski Swap -- Purchase two ticket vouchers for the coming season for only $35 (regularly $42). Available from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Good any day during the winter.
The Ski Swap starts at 9 a.m. Bring your gear to sell between now and then. Then Saturday the doors open for both the sale and the Gorham Bike and Ski Fischer/Swix Concept Shop at 9.
Our site is in maintenance mode so some of the pages are not available at the moment. The conditions on the homepage are reporting fully open...a bit premature. But we will be up and running in the near future. In the mean time, sign up for your season passes
Drive safely on your way,
Thom
Nov 3, 2011
Dear Ski Friends,
Each morning as I get out of the house before dawn, I can truly sense the change of seasons with the arctic air mass shifting down over New England. I have also seen Orion in the early morning sky. Both are sure signs of the coming winter.
I skied Monday - someone had to do it, it might as well have been me. I grabbed some Fischer skis out of the rental area and went up to the Woodchuck Fields. What fun to be on snow again!
Monday Oct 31
We could use your help on the trails on Saturday. If you plan to join us for the Trail Volunteer Day, please let me know by email. We will gather at the Touring Center at 8:30 a.m. and head out to the trail projects for the morning.
Next Monday we move back into our normal winter mode. We will start accepting gear for the 9th Annual Nordic Ski Swap and Sale which will happen on that Saturday Nov 12th from 9am - 2 pm. Get in line early for the best selection of gear. The Gorham Bike and Ski Swix/Fischer Concept Shop will be having their season's grand opening also. They tell me that they will be some good bargains as well. Look for our new billboard on the way.
Denise reports brisk season pass sales. Don't miss out, call her at 800-937-6697 or go online to order yours today!
Check out and then "Like" our Facebook page Jackson Ski Touring Center for more information.
Drive safely on your way,
Thom
Oct 28, 2011
Dear Ski Friends,
It snowed last night and as you probably have heard, it is likely to have substantial snow tomorrow night as well. A bit early to open but it sure makes it seem like winter is coming on soon. One year we opened Nov 17 so who knows?
I have worked out a special deal for our season pass holders with Bretton Woods and Great Glen Trails. If you want to take your skis to either other fine area for the day early in the season - any day before January 1, you can can show your pass and pick up their nordic day ticket for only $5. And you can visit multiple times if you wish.
Sign up for our season pass now and get not only this special deal, but a preseason rate of only $115 per adult.
The trailwork to get ready for the winter is going great. We have a volunteer trail day scheduled for Nov 5th. We'll meet at the Touring Center at 8:30 a.m. and have several project lined up.
I have posted a series of photos on our Facebook Page of the newly completed section of the Ellis River Trail. I took them going from the north to the south. This new section of trail is about 2 km long.
The 9th Annual Ski Swap is coming on the 12th and our monthly potluck dinners are the following Saturday, the 19th.
Drive safely on your way,
Thom
Dec 21, 2010
Christmas week is fast approaching and although Jackson has yet to see a snowfall significant enough to open our trails, we expect snow in the coming days and are ready for it. There is a new dusting of snow on the ground, and it's steadily snowing lightly. The trail crew is inspecting the trail system right now, and we have almost enough snow to open some of the upper routes for you. We're expecting more snow in the next 24 hours, and as soon as the snow base is solid enough, we will open. When we do open our trails, we will update our information on the Conditions Page of our website, so be sure to check in often.
In other news, I have added two new snowshoe trail maps for the Holcombe Property Snowshoe Trail and the Mirror Lake Snowshoe Path to our website. These maps can be viewed by following the links or visiting the Trail Network section of our website.
The Gorham Bike and Ski Shop is open for business with extremely competitive prices, so if you're looking to get last-minute stocking stuffers or Christmas gifts, feel free to drop by. The SWIX and Fischer concept shop looks great, and the Touring Center now features the history of SWIX around the base lodge - not something you see every day.
We look forward to seeing you on the trails this winter.
Drive safely on your way,
Thom
It’s fun to observe. This is the time of year everyone starts panicking about snow. After so many years of watching the winters approach and the way the seasons change, I find the recent weather encouraging and peoples worrying so typical. Snow is in the upper elevations and on the western sides of the mountains. The ground is freezing nicely and the rivers have ice starting to form. All goods signs of the fun that’s about to start.
This Saturday is our December Potluck Dinner here at the Center. It is also our annual Sign Silent Auction. Come and bid on a sign. This year we have 8 signs up for sale. It starts at 6:00 with app dishes and then 6:30 dinner.
As soon as the snow is on the ground, we will have our ski school up and running. If you are a season member, you can take advantage of the Free Tune-Up Lessons.
People are signing up for the weekly Friday Gliders (classic skiing)- which starts on Jan 7th - and Tuesday Trekkers (snowshoeing) - which starts on Jan 4th. These programs are fun way of getting out with friends new and old and are very social. 2 hrs of recreation followed by an hour of chat, refreshments and beverages in the Center.
The Gorham Bike and Ski Concept Shop really looks good. There are lots of toys to come and touch. Also, consider a Jackson Ski Touring Foundation gift certificate for a holiday gift.
Skiing will be here soon. Get out and get some exercise so you can enjoy the winter in the forest here at Jackson.
My broken leg feels strong and hopefully the cast comes off tomorrow....then let the fun begin!
Drive safely on your way,
Thom
I’m envisioning a 23 f degree day with blue skies and Andy’s perfectly packed powder grooming on the decent off the north slope of Popple Mtn. I’m taking it easy and only doing about Warp 3 because I want to look around at the scenery. My skis are fast and the wind on my face is brisk. I put a dry hat on at the summit so I’m feeling warm enough……
Enough daydreaming…..the fall colors are just about gone and the weather today is really nice. The trail crew has been hard at work getting the trails in top shape for the coming winter. The Pisten Bully machines are being tuned up and will be ready for the excellent conditions that the weather pundits are predicting for the winter. NOAA – “If enough cold air and moisture are in place, areas north of the Ohio Valley and into the Northeast could see above-average snow…”
Coming up, we have the Annual Ski Swap and Sale on Nov 13th.
You can bring in good used equipment that you wish to sell anytime during regular business hours (8:00 – 4:00 p.m.) starting Nov 8th through the 12th. You can also bring in gear on the 13th between 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. The sale starts at 9:00 a.m. sharp on the 13th. Gear is already starting to show up. You will find other useful information on that webpage as well.
Nov 6th is our volunteer trailwork day. We will gather at the Touring Center at 8:30 a.m. Bring a pack with lunch and fluids and wear sturdy footwear and appropriate clothing. The work will concentrate on clearing the snowshoe trails with our trail crew leading groups. Let me know if you can help so that we can plan the day. Please email me at thom@jacksonxc.org.
The Gorham Bike and Ski’s Nordic Concept Shop is scheduled to officially open on Nov 13th. Look for this billboard on your way up Route 16 in Ossipee.
We have the Jackson's Swenor Fall Classic Rollerski Race of Truth that day (Nov 20) which starts with registration at 8:30 and first racer off at 10a.m. We are looking for a few volunteers to help with traffic control for that morning. Let me know if you can help.
Reminder: The discount deadline for season passes is fast approaching.
Real Snow Skiing will be here soon. Get out and get some exercise and enjoy the forest in winter here in Jackson.
Drive safely on your way,
Thom
p.s. The annual Jackson Ski Touring Club newsletter is now available online.
Aug 18, 2010
Hi Ski Friends,
Deep Summer is winding down and thoughts of fall trail work are starting to creep in. Today I spent the morning in the woods with U S Forest Service Ranger Joe Gill finalizing the route for a future trail called The Keeney Trail. Two new easements have been signed. Our thanks to Bruce and Vicky Hill and to Steve and Anne Frost for easements to preserve the trails on their properties.
Annual memberships will be on sale starting September 1.
We were truly saddened to hear of the passing of two of our long time annual members and friends. Both Rose Ann Yap and Jan Kuhn passed away this summer. Both were way too young and their passing was way too soon. We will miss them.
Hope to see you soon,
Thom
Feb 4, 2010
Dear Ski Friends,
It’s another glorious day for skiing. Sunny and not too cold. The Ellis is looking spiffy and the South hall Trail received ½” new snow which was groomed in. Maple Mtn has that same bit of snow on top of the grooming. Get yourself out here and enjoy! This weekend we will be skiing on the Ellis, South Hall/Maple Mtn, North Hall, Prospect Farm, East Pasture Loop, Wentworth, Woodchuck Fields and the International Race Course at Eagle.
Jan 22, 2010
Dear Ski Friends,
It looks like another great weekend for skiing. Don’t worry about Monday’s weather…that’s well after the skiing on Sunday.
- Weather
- Directions
- Photos
- Videos
- About Us
- Thom's Blog
- Contact Us
- Jackson Ski Touring Foundation Community
- Public Programs
Base Lodge open 7 days a week, 8 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
