I just returned from a short cross
country ski trip on the Raquette Falls trail (see another blog post
for details on that trip) with my wife and a couple of friends. We
didn't ski all the way into the falls but the conditions were great
and the skiing was just the right amount of time for everyone.
(Well, admittedly, I would have skied all the way into the falls but,
hey, I can be social and make a sacrifice. Sometimes.) So I'm
sitting here all warm and toasty by the wood stove, enjoying a nice
mug of hot apple cider with rum and cinnamon with everyone and
thinking back a couple of days to an absolutely super little ski I
did on the St Regis Mt trail. In other words, I'm not being social
at all. But no one seems to mind.
Skiing the St Regis trail is not
for beginners. I guess I would rate it as an intermediate + trip for
whatever that is worth. Don't go if it is at all icy or crusty –
it won't be fun. But if there is plenty of light powder you'll have
more fun than you'd think is legally possible. That is if you don't
mind some climbing (it is St Regis MOUNTAIN after all) and are
comfortable skiing narrow trails with twists and turns around the
trees part of the time – albeit mostly not at great speed. Every
time I've gone the trail has been broken by snowshoers which is
really ideal. When you want to slow down it's easy to do a little
snow plow and push your ski tails into the deeper snow to the side of
the snowshoe track. Or put one ski into the deeper snow.
The really nice thing is that the
trail is a great variety of ups and downs of mild and moderate
steepness, some pretty straight, some twisty. (OK – there are 2
very steep but extremely short pitches. Only about 20-30 feet long.)
About 40 minutes from the beginning you start a long, steady,
mostly straight, gentle climb before a short mild drop to a bridge
over a small creek, On the return trip this makes for a nice mellow
glide. The bridge is a good turn around spot. It takes me a bit
over an hour to get there. A couple of days ago, however, I
continued past the bridge for about 20 minutes on a continuous
moderate climb which became steeper the further I went. I turned
around when I thought the descent was going to be as much of a
challenge as I was ready for. I've heard of people who ski all the
way to the summit. I'm sure it's doable but not for me and still
have fun. `
To get to the St Regis trail drive
north on route 30 to Paul Smiths College. Just past the college
entrance turn left onto Keese Mills Road. About 2 ½ miles in there
is a large parking lot on the left with a St Regis Mt sign. Ski
about 1/10th mile down the single lane road that starts
next to the parking lot to the actual trail and sign in register on
the right.
Have fun! And I'd definitely
recommend a hot apple cider and rum when you get back to accompany
your equally delicious ski reminiscences.
