Full speed ahead

With northern New England's dearth of big snowstorms this winter, where's the deepest snow to play in?

So far, the best has been way up in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire. Yes, it's a long drive north. Yes, it's worth it.

We arrived at the Balsams Wilderness Resort in the middle of a mini-blizzard that dropped almost a foot of fresh powder overnight.

Still, even this far north, there wasn’t quite enough snow yet to allow backcountry skiing. The first morning I spent sharpening my Telemark turns in the powder at the resort's alpine ski area.

That afternoon, we took to the groomed network of cross-country ski trails. Marilyn skied on “classic” skis while I took a lesson in skate skiing. We both enjoyed the workout.

One thing to note: The Balsams is consistently one of the top-rated resorts in the nation for the quality of the food. If you stay there, plan on spending at least six hours a day outdoors skiing, skating or snowshoeing to burn off the calories you consume.

On our last morning, we awoke to find the wind howling and temperatures that could best be described as “brisk.” The National Weather Service had seen fit to issue a frostbite warning for the area. With the actual air temperature well below zero and that wind holding steady at around 40 mph, the wind chills were somewhere in the -37 degree range.

Perfect morning for snowshoeing!

Wind chill refers to the loss of heat from exposed skin. The trick on a morning like this is to dress in layers. Layers can be opened up or removed entirely while you are moving or are protected from the wind. And you can add or zip up layers when you are still or exposed.

We started with polyester long underwear tops and bottoms and added a layer or two of wind-blocking fleece insulation. Gore-Tex shells went on top of that. Mittens with light liner gloves protected our hands, while our heads got covered with various balaclavas, beanies and the hoods of our parkas.

It was definitely cold as we strapped on our snowshoes at the base of the Table Rock Trail. By the time we reached the top of the first pitch, we were unzipping and stuffing layers in our backpacks. These layers would go back on before we stepped out onto the exposed ridgeline at the top.

Climbing hills with snowshoes on was a great workout. The views were awesome, and the feeling of freedom-- not being a prisoner to the cold -- almost indescribable.

One note of caution, however. While taking pictures at the top, I forgot to pull my facemask. As a result, I’ve got peeling skin and a bright pink nose to remind me to be more careful next time. Fifteen minutes more exposure could have been serious. My hiking partner, who stayed covered, had no problems.

The lesson here is simple. Don’t let the cold keep you locked indoors. But, at the same time, don’t be foolish. When the temperatures start to drop, take extra precautions. Adjust your clothing and your itinerary to make sure you stay safe and still have fun.

Life isn’t a spectator sport. Get out and enjoy!

Good Gear

I tested the new Flight System snowshoes from Kahtoola. These have a pair of insulating neoprene booties with traction cleats that fit over your boots. “Flight Deck” snowshoes with a click-in binding mates with the cleats on the booties.

I’m not ready to recommend them for real wilderness travel, but for a recreational hike on a very cold day, they worked perfectly. The neoprene booties kept my toes toasty warm and the step-in bindings were so easy to use, I never had to take off my mittens. Just be sure you buy them big enough to go over hiking boots, not just sneakers.