Reminder: No walking on trails without skis or snowshoes

We're noticing a recent trend: folks are walking on trails groomed for skiing without skis or snowshoes. Any Outdoor Center groomed trails are intended for use for skiing, snowshoeing and fatbiking only. (Fatbikes at specific locations and times/conditions only).

But what's the big deal really?

• Hours of work and expense go into preparing trails for skiing - all year long - which makes for good skiing and brings economic benefits to the community.

• Walking without snowshoes postholes the trail, making it somewhere between challenging and outright dangerous for skiers.

• Walking without snowshoes shows disregard for your skiing and snowshoeing friends and neighbors. Leave No Trace has a good short video talking about this. 

Nicely groomed trails are fleeting enough, before adding postholes.

Where should I walk then?

• Check out the Craftsbury Academy Woodlot trails. A nicely marked set of trails in a great section of woods on Wylie Hill. An excellent public resource!

• Once they are open, Big or Little Hosmer Ponds. Public bodies of water, frozen nicely and flat all winter long.

Better still: grab a pair of snowshoes and check out our snowshoe trails!

Lots of snowshoe options exist, including small, lightweight ones that are easy to take on and off. All of them give you better purchase on tricky wintry terrain, as even a little bit of snow can be challenging to walk in. Armed with your snowshoes, you can go anywhere during the winter, on trail or off with your footing secured. 

Our rental shop offers a selection to try, and lots of outfitters offer many models to match your needs if you elect to purchase.

Thanks much - hope to see you out soon!