carla
Member
Anybody xc-skiied the Lincoln Woods trail/loop this week? (right before Xmas) I'm wondering about snow cover and also whether the snow is at all "fluffy" rather than a sheet of ice. Thanks!
lincoln woods trail/wilderness trail--conditions?
- Thread starter carla
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cp2000
New member
carla said:
I went yesterday for 2+ hours and it was perfect. Track was buffed out. Lots of cover. Nice and fluffy
carla
Member
great. thanks!
one more question....what color wax, assuming you're a waxable ski person...
one more question....what color wax, assuming you're a waxable ski person...
cp2000
New member
I used blue. Dont know much about wax as I am a newbie to skiing. I just use whatever my friend gives me.
carla
Member
thanks for the tips
keep on XC skiing! the only thing that makes winters bearable, in my book. I'm sure you know the groomed areas in NH by now, but I particularly recommend Great Glen Trails, Waterville, and all-time best in NH: Jackson XC. Farther afield, Dixville Notch is fabulous, AND you have to go up to Stowe VT and try all the trails in and around the Von Trapp place, many trails interconnect from different areas--just gorgeous. Anyway, have fun!
keep on XC skiing! the only thing that makes winters bearable, in my book. I'm sure you know the groomed areas in NH by now, but I particularly recommend Great Glen Trails, Waterville, and all-time best in NH: Jackson XC. Farther afield, Dixville Notch is fabulous, AND you have to go up to Stowe VT and try all the trails in and around the Von Trapp place, many trails interconnect from different areas--just gorgeous. Anyway, have fun!
DougPaul
Well-known member
I skied Greely Ponds from the south (not far away) on Sunday. We used extra purple and special red. Temps were ~28F, snow conditions were good on the packed track, and the offtrack snow in the trees was soft.
Probably best to choose your own wax based upon the conditions that you encounter. If the snow gets too wet or granular, go waxless.
Doug
Probably best to choose your own wax based upon the conditions that you encounter. If the snow gets too wet or granular, go waxless.
Doug
carla
Member
yup, I'll bring my quiver
of waxes that is. Doug, when you say "go waxless" do you literally mean no wax on waxable skis?
I do consider getting a pair of waxless skis, but so far have not made the move...
of waxes that is. Doug, when you say "go waxless" do you literally mean no wax on waxable skis?
I do consider getting a pair of waxless skis, but so far have not made the move...
David Metsky
Well-known member
I think he means that right around 32 degrees, waxless skis are the way to go. It's really hard to get the right wax combo for those situations, and waxless skis excel in those. I'm a die hard wax skier, but in those conditions I use my one pair of waxless skis.carla said:
-dave-
hikerfast
Active member
when i bought xcskis in 1984, they were really pushing waxless. why do people use wax skis? is it worth the annoyance? i spose it must be for some people. i wondered if it was one of those, 'whichever you started with' things?
carla
Member
waxable
I think you're right, it's what you know. I grew up with waxable (starting in late 60s) and have stuck with them. I think you do have a bit more control when you wax, and can get really good gliding and grip if you choose the right wax. When skiing with friends with waxless, they often complain about sliding around on the snow, rather than getting traction...then again, they get to just strap on their skis, while I fuss with wax, or klister if it's really warm...(yuck, to be avoided)
anyway...
I think you're right, it's what you know. I grew up with waxable (starting in late 60s) and have stuck with them. I think you do have a bit more control when you wax, and can get really good gliding and grip if you choose the right wax. When skiing with friends with waxless, they often complain about sliding around on the snow, rather than getting traction...then again, they get to just strap on their skis, while I fuss with wax, or klister if it's really warm...(yuck, to be avoided)
anyway...
DougPaul
Well-known member
What dave said--when the snow gets warm and wet, waxing is difficult and waxless skis are much easier to use. I have sometimes taken both kinds to the trailhead and chosen based upon the snow conditions.carla said:
Learned on waxable wood skis--always a diehard waxer.
In decent waxing conditions (generally fresher, colder, and drier snow), a properly waxed (waxable) ski will out-kick and out-glide a waxless ski. For instance, on the downhill last weekend, I had to go ahead of my friend who was using waxless skis because I was having to brake to keep from running into him.hikerfast said:
Waxing in good snow conditions is easy to do. It may take a bit of trial and error, but that's what makes it easy. Start a bit on the hard (colder wax) side and apply successively softer waxes until you get enough grip without killing the glide. The first time you try it, it might be worth going with a wax-experienced friend to help, but beyond that you should be able to do it on your own with little difficulty. Waxing also allows one to tune a ski--sticky for hill climbing, slipperier (faster) for low angle terrain, etc.
For the more difficult (wet, slushy, refrozen, icy, or crusty) snow, there are waxes and klisters (obnoxious gooey stuff for very wet or icy conditions) which work well, but this kind of snow tends to be very changable (sun to shade etc). While you can wax for one spot, a spot 10 ft away can be very different and beyond the range of your current wax. Waxless skis provide a wide range solution and are therefore better in very changable conditions.
BTW, if you want the best performance out of waxless skis, you should glide wax the tips and tails (hot waxing is best). (Purists will also hot wax the pattern and then dig out the excess wax down to the Ptex.) There are also liquid preparations (wax or silicone lubricant) which can also be applied to waxless skis (or just the pattern if you have waxed the tips and tails). Doesn't last nearly as long as real wax.
Stores push waxless skis because rentals are waxless (easier for the rental shop) and many beginners are afraid of waxing and never learn. They just don't have much demand for waxable (non-racing) classic XC and BC skis. I have asked salesmen (who use waxable skis themselves), and this is what they have told me.
Doug
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Putting the thread back on track
I skiied LW trail to Franconia Falls tent sites yesterday too. So far there is no snow bridge over the Pemi to make a little loop. And it's a little too "bony" to do the big loop via the upper suspension bridge and I don't know if the Cedar Brook crossing is frozen up yet. Lots of water in the Pemi for this time of year. I usually do either the East side road or LW trail once a week, hoping to do the loops soon. Last Saturday the little groomer was out around 2 PM.
I skiied LW trail to Franconia Falls tent sites yesterday too. So far there is no snow bridge over the Pemi to make a little loop. And it's a little too "bony" to do the big loop via the upper suspension bridge and I don't know if the Cedar Brook crossing is frozen up yet. Lots of water in the Pemi for this time of year. I usually do either the East side road or LW trail once a week, hoping to do the loops soon. Last Saturday the little groomer was out around 2 PM.
Lovetohike
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Hikerfast: As a long time waxer I agree with those who have said that you can get a much better kick and grip for climbing with the right wax on a waxable ski. I finally broke down a couple years ago and bought a nice light pair of Fischer waxless skis for those 32 degree changeable, mixed type conditions that it's really hard to wax for. But whenevere I take out the waxless skis on packed powder at 20 degrees, I just don't feel I get the grip that I get with a good blue or green wax on my waxables.
David Metsky
Well-known member
There's also the noise that waxless skis make on downhills, it's very annoying. 
And it slows you down (not the noise, but the fishscales making the noise). Waxless has it's place, and for many folks it's the right choice all the time. I enjoy waxing and am willing to do so for the extra performance in many situations.
-dave-
And it slows you down (not the noise, but the fishscales making the noise). Waxless has it's place, and for many folks it's the right choice all the time. I enjoy waxing and am willing to do so for the extra performance in many situations.-dave-
AMF
New member
Yep - nothing beats a properly waxed ski for speed & silence... plus, there is the bonus of the added warmth you get from wax stops on the trail! 'Course, there is nothing more frustrating than a poorly waxed ski...
carla
Member
Large loop was doable on Friday 11/23
Not sure if there was snow over the weekend or a lot of melting (as there was here in Cambridge MA), but I was very much able to do the whole large loop (12 miles) on Friday. Needed to take off skis a few times for little brook crossings, but there was plenty of snow coverage to do the whole loop.
Not sure if there was snow over the weekend or a lot of melting (as there was here in Cambridge MA), but I was very much able to do the whole large loop (12 miles) on Friday. Needed to take off skis a few times for little brook crossings, but there was plenty of snow coverage to do the whole loop.
