I think that the elevation gain alone makes either of those loops much more difficult and longer timewise than our Pemi point-to-point; even a few hundred feet difference in elevation gain can be huge on skis, I think.
Yeah, but once you figure in the time to do the car spot...
IIRC, the SPT--TFT junction is a steady gentle grade (all logging RR and road) with the exception of the stream crossings. Easy kick and glide either direction.
No question that the upper Thoreau Falls route is harder up or down, especially with light-weight x-c skis.
Agreed--I used skins plus vegetation grabbing for the climb by the falls. The 1.5 mi section leading up to the final climb also has a bunch of steepish up-and-overs (over headlands)--I walked the downs because I didn't want to risk a fall or a slide out onto the ice. I also had some route-finding difficulty in the 1.5 mi section and some difficulty finding the beginning of the final steep climb. (There were only occasional ski marks in these sections--just enough to confirm that I was on the trail, but not enough to follow.)
But, some years we have found the upper part of the Wilderness Trail between Stillwater and the Thoreau Falls Trail Jct on the Shoal Pond route to be so onerous that we have taken to the bed of the East Branch when it is frozen, coming out right at the lower bridge on the Thoreau Falls Trail about 0.2 mile up from the WT.
Bad snow conditions?
I carefully waited for perfect conditions: rain a week before followed by a cold snap and 6 inches of fresh snow. (Heat and rain were predicted for the next day, so it was a use it now or lose it situation.)
There is also an old logging road north of the river that we have used as an alternative for this section.
I crossed the river and skied a bit of this to make sure that it wasn't the trail. (This was my side trip.) There is a blaze at the crossing, the USGS topo showed a trail crossing, the treadway suggested a crossing, and the markings (on the current trail) to the N were very poor. A snowshoer had also come across here. (His tracks suggested that he had bushwacked down from the vicinity of Mt Bond.)
The lowermost 2-3 miles of the Thoreau Falls Trail north of the lower bridge is wonderful x-c skiing, even when breaking trail.
Yep--very easy. An old RR bed alongside the river.
Love it!
We always carry wax kits, but seems that no matter the temperature in the parking lot on Rt. 302 we usually throw on special blue with a blue kicker that wears off on the first hill on the Zealand Road, then rarely rewax or scrape the rest of the day.
I, of course, had to rewax too keep up with the warming temps. Maintained a good kick and a good glide the entire time.
Whoops, I meant Stillwater Junction, which I believe is around 7.5 miles. But, the nice part of our point-to-point traverse is that after we take our last rest at the 5.4-mile suspension bridge, it is a cruise usually in tracks the rest of the way out to the Kanc; some participants have made it out to Lincoln Woods in less than 35 minutes from here (two of the women participants in 1988, who were accused of being plants from the East German Nordic Ski Team!
). The East Side Trail with its ups and downs will definitely be slower in future winters.
I figured that once I crossed Crystal Brook on the return I was safe--just easy kick and glide on old RR beds remaining. But I took more than 35 min.
I may not be fast, but I have good endurance if I can pick my own pace. And I have a good headlamp and a spare or two. (Did 12 mi in the dark.)
The East Side Tr has one up and down at the entry and IIRC wanders through the woods at one point. A bit harder than the LWT, but not by much. (I will admit that I rather like the easy kick-and-glide of the WT/LWT after a long day...)
But traverse or lollipop loop, they are all nice ski routes. Sounds like both of us have done all of the trails, just in different combinations.
Doug
