Great Glen to Bretton Woods x-c

[king tut]

Has anyone ever done this nordic ski race/tour?

http://www.greatglentobrettonwoods.com/

My friend is trying to convince me to do some x-c marathons, and this one looks kind of cool. Anyone have any opinions, it seems like this could be real nice and scenic.

 

[teleskier]

Well...

I haven't done it but I'm already signed up for this year, so if you decide to do it, I'll look for you there. The route sounds fantastic, and what a spectacular area to do a 50k in. I've only done one other - the Lake Placid Loppet last year. I'm not a ski racer, really, but I like to ski and run long distances. I had a ball at the Loppet last year, although my time sucked. (Over 5 hrs). It was a day that started at 10 degrees and eventually went to 50, and I was in the 50k classic, depending on wax. Actually the wax held nicely through about 30k but then it was just too warm, and I had to re-wax with klister a few times just to get enough grip. So, I knew my time would suffer, but I just wanted to make the cut-offs so I was in the results, and enjoyed the rest of the tour.

Anyway, that was my only 50k experience, but if you like long cross country ski tours, they're pretty fun, was my conclusion.

 

[spencer]

I'm tempted! It sounds like fun. I don't ever do long tours without stopping, but I've done plenty of 20+ mile days in the woods. I tend to stop and look around a lot, though. I wonder how different it would be to just ski 25km (~16 miles) non-stop.

spencer

 

[Amicus]

I did this last year with five friends - but the 25K wimp option. I'm not much of a ski racer and none of us had done a race even as long as 25K, so we decided to do the 25K for starters and think about later moving up to the 50K.

We had done the Stowe Derby the year before - that's shorter but having to ski down Stowe from the summit on my edgeless, waxless Karhus was one of those harrowing experiences I felt fortunate to survive and not eager to repeat. In balance, the GG 25K was a lot friendlier and we all had more fun doing it. That stretch ends on the Jefferson Notch Road about half-way between Rte 16 and BW after varied terrain including many ups and downs, but nothing really steep. The trails through the Dolly Copp area were especially nice. There was a warming tent at the finish with hot stuff (chili or soup) and beverages. That was welcome because the last couple of miles on the windswept Road, after I'd worked up a sweat in the woods, made me really cold. The two intermediate rest stops were also welcome respites - lots of encouraging volunteers holding cups of Gatorade so you didn't have to stop.

While we all had a little gas left at the end, none of us were confident that we would enjoy the 50K, so we've signed up to repeat the 25K this year. The party afterwards in the magnificent Grand Ballroom of the Mt. Washington Hotel was a great plus. All the pasta and junk food you can eat plus unlimited Harpoon Lager on tap.

I would encourage you to do this - we were by no means the only non-expert racers. Hope to see you there if you do.

Mike

 

[Snowflea]

I did it the first year it was held. Unfortunately, much of the snow melted the week before the event, so the entire race was held at Bretton Woods. Still, it was a lot of fun. I believe we did two 20-25k loops--don't think it was quite a 50k.

I keep meaning to go back, but it seems I usually have a running event that same weekend...


.

 

[king tut]

Thanks for the replies. I have never done a ski marathon, but i used to do 5k sprint races in high school(8 years ago). I was a good nordic racer in high school, but since then i have turned into a mellow recreational skiier. I plan to start by doing the 25k race, maybe if i am overly ambitious i will work up to 50. not likely though. I skiied twice during x-mas vacation, 15-20 k each time, felt good. That was up at sugarloaf, the trails are pretty good right now. This seems like it would be fun, i have no desire to go fast, just get a workout and check out the scenery.

 

[Hillwalker]

I'm in too

I just registered for the 25K non-timed event. This will motivate me to work out all winter. Now those weekend XC trips into Zooland da Hutt for lunch will have more purpose

Come on all you VFTTers lets build a group activity.

 

[LarryD]

I have done the non-timed 50K three of the last four years, and have signed up to do it again. It is great fun. While the first 25K is good enough, the real fun is after that, when the route goes up and over Jefferson Notch. Then there is a long downhill into Bretton Woods. I am by no means a real strong skier, and have done the whole thing in waxless touring skis. It took me about 6 and one-half hours each time.

The organizers do a good job and there are enough rest stops/refreshment stands. If you want further info, feel free to e-mail me.

 

[spencer]

Save for the obvious, what is the difference between the timed and untimed events?

thanks,
spencer

 

[Amicus]

Timed v. untimed

The timed racers (more numerous) start first, then the untimed racers about ten minutes after them. One friend and I did the "timed" last year and the other four the "untimed". Since we have stopwatches, we are all doing the "untimed" this year. The extra $15 or so doesn't seem worth it unless you are a regular XC racer working on qualifiying for other races, building your competitive record, etc.

 

[LarryD]

I agree with Amicus. Unless you are a competitive skier, there is no need to enter the timed event. Besides, not all "untimed" skiers have to start at the same time so you don't risk getting run over. All finishers--timed and untimed--get a GG/BW pin at the finish line. There is also a time clock at the finish line, which runs from the beginning of the timed event. Therefore, as Amicus said, wear a stopwatch if you want an accurate reading of your time.

 

[Peaks]

I also did the Bretton Woods to Bretton Woods the first year it was offered. I've also done Craftsbury a couple of times. Always as a tourer. I'm not a racer. Always a great event, and a good challenge for me. I go for the full 50 k

But, with the entry fees going up and up, I'll spend my money elsewhere.

After Dolly Copp, the route is on snow mobile trails until you cross the Cog Access Road. The racers don't think much of that type of skiing.

If people are interested in ski touring, I recommend the Catamount Trail. Their group tours are point to point, and it's great to have someone to spot cars so you don't need to back track. I've joined the week long tour the past two years, and plan to join them again this year. Great bunch of people. Good time.

 

[Danielle]

GG to BW

My husband and I have done the GG to BW from the beginning. The first year when there was not enough snow to do the whole route, we did the 25km untimed. Then we graduated up to the 50km and have been doing it ever since... We wouldn't miss it, although as Ryan (jokingly!) says, I wouldn't recommend it, but somehow we keep doing it every year! It's really the climb up Jefferson Notch Road (9km) that is the toughest... the first 29km are a mix of terrain, and the last 12km are mostly downhill, but the slog uphill tends to tax me a bit... My finish has never been under 5 hours, but Ryan tends to finish around 4 hours.

For us, it's a great motivator to make us get out as often as we can through the winter and ski, and keep in shape in general. Plus, although there are times while I'm out there that I wonder what the heck I'm doing, I am always very satisfied with myself when we're done. I mean, hey, how many people ski in a 50km ski race with a huge 2000ft climb in the middle?! As for the timed vs. untimed thing... the first year we did the 50km option I did the untimed thing, but I found myself really wanting to know where I came in in the crowds, and decided that part of the accomplishment for me was knowing how much I could improve from year to year and seeing where I compared to others. I say I'm not competitive, but I guess I am

All in all, I would say it's a great event, very well-run and well-manned at the food stations with a great awards ceremony, and there is a great range of people who ski it, from the super fast people (how do they do it?!) to complete families (I think the best is the family that ranges from young kids up to their grandfather in his 80s who has skiied the 25km for the past few years). It can be competitive if you want it to be, but otherwise it can just be a great excuse to get out and challenge yourself!

Hope to see you out there!
-Sparkplug

 

[trailbiscuit]

Every year at about 35k in the middle of Jefferson Notch Road, I wonder what I'm doing out there. Skiing up that road is just flat out hard.

Can't wait until this year!

Super event. Great people. Well organized. A good time...if you're into that sort of thing.

 

[Amicus]

Last thoughts on the "timed v. untimed" - It may be worth repeating that as long as your watch has a Timer function you can still determine your time even if you decide to save the $15. You can check that against your past times if you're a repeater, those of friends also doing the Untimed (if you trust them) and everybody doing the Timed, since those results are posted on the website shortly after the Race. Of course, if you want to brag about your time to somebody who wasn't there, they'll have to take your word for it!

On touring vs. racing, I think most of us harbor at least a spark of the competitive fire, and people like me who have no illusions about challenging the people in the front ranks in their spandex GS suits nonetheless get charged up. The six of us who did the 25K last year and will do it again this time had a friendly but competitive race-within-a-race - we're all moderately fit XC intermediates so our race was exciting for us. If I were doing it solo this time I'd be busting to top my time for last year. It did motivate me to put extra effort into cardiovascular fitness last winter and that carried over past the race.

On the $50 entry fee (Untimed), considering the food, drink and other goodies they dispense, before, during (at those rest stops) and after (in the Grand Ballroom), I think it is reasonable. Some people I know could get their money's-worth just in Harpoon Lager. The website, which King Tut linked in his intitial post, has lots of useful info.

Mike

 

[SAR-EMT40]

I'm supposed to help out with this race and I was wondering does anyone have first hand knowledge of the conditions on this route at this time?

I have some friends who are planning on doing it and are asking me if I know what the conditions are like. I don't right now but maybe I will after this weekend. I'm trying to get up there this weekend. If anyone knows now, I would appreciate a response. I know that what it is like now doesn't guarantee what it will be like on race day but any help would be appreciated.

I'll post where I am supposed to be when I know for sure. A shout hello as you rocket past would be appreciated. Right now I believe I'll be at the Base Rd/Jefferson Notch Rd junction but that may change.

Thanks,
Keith

 

[--M.]

Current Conditions

I went up there this weekend hoping to ski. I ended up hiking instead.

There were lukewarm responses (at best) from staff at BW, GG, Jackson and Waterville Valley. In driving by Routes 16 & 302, there was no snow to be seen. So those with snow-making could account for those trails only, while the woods in general are pretty much empty.

Strange winter, when there's no snow in Pinkham Notch in February.

 

[LarryD]

I hiked today and had a chance to hear the xc ski area reports on the radio from Conway. As I recall BW had only 8 km open, and GG about 17. This does not bode well for the race, unless they get a lot of snow. The route from GG to the Dolly Copp trails requires crossing a branch of the Peabody River on a snow bridge. I would guess that bridge is non-existent.

 

[king tut]

Not too much snow anywhere right now. I skiied about 35k yesterday afternoon at the sugarloaf x-c center. It was a lot better than expected considering there is only a 3-5 inch base of ice in the area right now. There was quite a bit of debris on the trails from the powerful wind storm a few nights back. The skiing was probably the quickest i have skiied in a long time. One other event that is happening that weekend is the rangeley Lakes Loppet. A 25 or 50 k skating race in rangeley maine.
http://www.rangeleyxcski.com/events.htm
My friend is trying to convince me to do this one. We'll have to wait and see if it snows again this year.

 

[Amicus]

I e-mailed the GG-to-BW X-C staff Sat., since I'm signed up and have others scheduled to join me. They responded yesterday (my paraphrase):
-Plan A: It snows for real; they stick to the course;
-Plan B: It snows a little (and doesn't rain); they do a modified version of the course (I have no idea how modified);
-Plan C: No real snow; they do circuits on a course at BW (as once before) or GG (maybe more likely, as it has snow-making and more Ks open at present).

The forecast is pretty good, at least for cold. They won't cancel, I think. I have mixed feelings; if everyone else drops out I might medal, but that would probably eliminate future runnings of this Race.

I got in two good hours at Jackson yesterday - not much open but about 15K of decent trails.