Cross Country Skiing

[sacredloon]

Hi folks!

I want to get back into X-C skiing, been 15 years away from it!
Any good tips on where to buy all the gear I'll need, and any ideas on some beginner terrain/trails etc. ? I'm in Lake George, will travel to ski!!!
Anybody selling skis? Anyplace local selling skis, bindings and shoes for a fair price?

Thanks!

[rdl]

Try renting at a cross-country ski center first. Someplace such as Garnet Hill: http://www.garnet-hill.com/winter.asp in North River, or Cascade: http://www.cascadeski.com/ in the High Peaks. Most ski centers will sell of some of their rental stock as well towards the end of the season.

Lots of different types of skis for different styles of x-c skiing. Get some hands on experience before you make an investment in new equipment.

[nutmeg creeker]

Living in Lake George makes Garnet Hill a very convenient place for you to try out. RDL is right on the money--check out various types of equipment before you consider buying anything. Remember also that what works well on groomed trails may not be adequate for even some of the well-travelled back country trips. The staff at Garnet Hill are helpful and the shop stocks classic touring as well as back country equipment. In addition, its location, next to Siamese Ponds, makes easy and quick access to ungroomed trails. Cascade is further away from you, but it also offers on site trails as well as being adjacent to the Jackrabbit Trail. Equipment there is, likewise, geared to both groomed and backcountry conditions. Ski skating, on the other hand, is a significantly different technique and generally limited only to ski centers.

[alombard]

Hey, check out Inside Edge. They have some good deals going on....and they are close by.

[jan]

Inside Edge in Glens Falls used to rent snowshoes, and may rent skiis. The Cole's Woods trails are right behind their store. There are also trails at the Lake George Rec Area.

[MikeinMaryland]

I just went X-Country skiing for the first time with a group of 5 other beginners. We rented gear from Cascade ski rental and skied from the ADK Loj to Avalanche Lake. It was a beautiful day and everyone made it to the lake. If making it to the lake seems a bit challenging it might be a good idea to stop at Marcy Dam.

[sacredloon]

Thanks so much for the tips everyone.
I will have to check out Garnet Hill, and try some skis out.
I'll checkout Inside Edge too, I didn't know there were trails back there and it's so close! Crandall park? Is that what you mean as to where the trails are?
Sounds great

[law_adk]

Lapland Lake is a great spot for all levels of experience.

http://www.laplandlake.com/

[jan]

Yes, the Crandall Park trails. They're also lit for night skiing. Ask at Inside Edge for a map of the trails (free, last time I was there).

[sacredloon]

WOW! I had no idea there were trails this close! Thanks so much you wonderful people for letting me know!

[hudson hiker]

Close by free X/C trails

Trails at the Lake George Rec. Area off Rt 9N go up a valley along a pretty brook on the back side of Prospect Mt. Trails at the Queensbury Rec. Area off Gurney Lane off exit 20. Trails from the River Road north of Warrensburg at the DEC parking lot go along the Hudson and around Cronins Golf course. These are all free and usually pretty good tracks when winter comes back. Have Fun.

[Roland]

You can rent cross country skis at Alpine ski by Skydmore college Saratoga, for starting out again I would recomend the Wilton wildlife refuge on rt 50, 20 minutes south of lake G. check it out on the net, the trails are great for beginners, lots of trails, beautifull scenery, not too hard.

[jan]

You could also check out what used to be the Scout Reservation (I think it's a Wilton Town Park now) on Scout Road in Wilton. The easier trails are on the side of the road with the parking lot. Trails on the other side are a bit harder.

[Roland]

Scout rd is all part of the Wildlife refuge, it can be accessed from Rt50 ski to it, cross it and go on to Camp Saratoga and all its trails.

[sacredloon]

Thanks so much for the tips and places to go..I have only been living here for a short while, so it's great to learn about local places.