Cross-country cure for cabin fever

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Story by Sara Rae Lancaster

Photographs by Brian Passino

How does Larry Stevens survive Wisconsin winters? He gets outside and enjoys it.

“You can’t complain about cabin fever if you don’t stay indoors,” he said.

Larry, 69, and his wife Ruth, 66, have been cross-country skiing for more than 35 years, long before some of their favorite skiing locations had designated trails.

Ruth said she remembers having to make their own tracks on makeshift trails at Richard Bong State Recreation Area, located near the couple’s Kansasville home.

“When we first started going out to Bong, before it was a state park, we would use the fire lanes as trails,” she recalled.

Generally, making tracks in the snow is left to more experienced skiers, but for the Stevens, who take turns blazing the trail, it comes naturally, having started skiing on nothing more than a frozen, snow-covered pond behind their friends’ home.

Now, when snow and weather conditions are right, the Stevens will ski in the fields behind their home. But when they do decide to load their gear into the car, they find no shortage of nearby cross-county skiing winter wonderlands.

Kenosha County

In western Kenosha County, Richard Bong State Recreation Area offers nearly 15 miles of ungroomed trails.

“The trails are great at Bong because you can do any combination of things,” Ruth said. “You can ski on flat surfaces, you can cover a lot of miles ... there are a lot of options.”

(Note: A state parks vehicle sticker is required at Bong.)

Slightly southwest of Bong, skiers have two choices: Silver Lake County Park and Fox River Park. What Silver Lake Park’s ungroomed trails lack in distance (just 2.5 miles) is made up for with a few challenging hills. At Fox River Park, skiers can create additional distance by using the park’s open spaces to connect the multiple ungroomed trail loops.

Bristol Woods County Park boasts four miles of winding, wooded trails. The trails are ungroomed, but color-coded with maps at each trail intersection for easy navigation. Winter hikers and dog owners are allowed on the trails, so skiers should expect uneven terrain.

For groomed trails off limits to hikers, pets and even snowshoes, Parkside Cross-Country Ski Trails, located on the University of Wisconsin-Parkside cross-country running course, can’t be beat.

Racine resident Barbara Paton, 56, who started skiing last year, enjoys Parkside’s trails because of the wooded scenery and opportunity to meet skiers of all ability levels. During one excursion, she met a family taking their 8-year-old daughter skiing for the first time.

“She and I were both new at the sport,” Paton said. “We hit it off, skied the whole morning together and became friends.”

Jim Jake, owner of Ski & Sports Chalet in Kenosha, suggests the Petrifying Springs golf course, just slightly north of the Parkside Cross-Country Ski Trails.

“Starting from the clubhouse, you can do the front nine, or you can do the back nine,” Jake said. “If you like to break your own trail and want a few rolling hills, that’s a nice place to go.”

Racine County

In Racine County, the River Bend Nature Center offers four miles of ungroomed trails. For $5 per person, per hour, visitors can also rent their cross-country ski equipment.

Saller Woods in Rochester and W.R. Wadewitz Nature Camp in Waterford might be considered the hidden gems of Racine County cross-country skiing. Wadewitz, a former Boy Scout Camp, is home to some of the most impressive glacial topography, while Saller Woods offers quiet ungroomed trails that run alongside the Fox River.

Walworth County

Skiers up for a challenge might try Kettle Moraine State Forest’s southern unit, home to three trails: the Nordic Trail, McMiller Trail and Scuppernong. A $4 trail pass is required for all three trails, as well as a $10 daily auto sticker.

The Nordic Trail system winds through hardwood forests, pine plantations, meadows and, of course, over the rolling kettles. It encompasses six marked trails of varying length and degrees of difficulty.

For those who prefer skate skiing (a freestyle form of cross-country skiing that involves longer poles and shorter skis), the McMiller Trail system is the place to go. Here, skate and classical skiers can choose one of five groomed trails that cover miles of hardwood and pine terrain.

Although skate skiing is not allowed on the Scuppernong Trail system, the color-coded loops offering gentle, rolling hills prove popular with beginners and those who want a more relaxed skiing experience. The loops range in distance from two to five miles.

“Some of the hills at Kettle Moraine can be a little too much,” Larry cautioned.

“But the trails are very well tracked,” Ruth interjected.

Tracked, or groomed trails, the Stevens said, provide a more enjoyable skating experience for those who are just beginning or prefer not to make their own tracks.

Just down the road, the LaGrange store rents skis, boots and poles. If skiers are ready to invest in equipment, the knowledgeable staff is happy to sell that, too.

Ruth said she sometimes wishes she had taken lessons when she first started skiing. At the Grand Geneva Inn in Lake Geneva, new skiers can rent their equipment and take lessons. Group and private lessons are available and range from $20- $50 per one-hour lesson. An all-day trail pass costs $6, and rental equipment another $12.

With something for every skill level, style and budget, cross-country skiing just might bring an end to the doldrums of Wisconsin winters.

Equipment, clothing options

Rent or buy? That’s the question new skiers struggle with each season.

Most experienced skiers, including Larry and Ruth Stevens and Jim Jake, advise renting gear before making the costly investment, which can range anywhere from $250 and up.

Also, because of the many styles of cross-country skiing, including in-track, out-of-track and skate, renting equipment allows people to experiment with the style that will best fit their skiing goals.

“You want to ask yourself, are you someone who wants to ski for speed, or are you someone who wants to take your time skiing through the woods and exploring the outdoors,” said Jake.

Barb Patton, however, said she never thought about renting.

“I bought my skis because I wanted to get a feel for the sport rather than rent and maybe lose interest,” she said. “With a great looking pair of cross country skis sitting in my house, I am motivated to go often.

Rent or buy, there are still a few things to keep in mind when finding equipment that works for you.

Gear

Perhaps the greatest change to occur in cross-country skiing equipment over the past 20 years is the phasing out of waxable skis for the recreational skier. In fact, waxless skis have become so popular, Jake no longer sells waxable skis at his store (though he does sell a few waxes).

“Waxless skis are just more convenient for the recreational skier,” he said. “There’s no maintenance.”

For in-track skiing, look for a pair of “touring,” also called “diagonal,” skis. These skis are longer (though new technology has made them shorter than their predecessors), lighter and have a narrow width that fits inside premade tracks for smooth, efficient strides on groomed trails.

If you want speed, skate skis are the way to go. Skate skis are narrower (41mm to 45mm) and shorter (about 10cm shorter than touring skis) and come with longer poles. Together, this allows the skier to glide quickly and efficiently over hard-packed, groomed snow. The skis also tend to have a stiff flex compared to touring skis.

The most popular ski sold at Ski & Sports Chalet, though, is a hybrid ski known as the in-track/out-of-track ski. It has slightly wider width than a normal in-track ski, Jake said, and offers skiers more stability and versatility to enjoy both groomed and ungroomed trails.

When it comes to ski boots and bindings, make sure whatever you choose works well together, is made for your style of ski and fits well. A retail professional can help ensure proper selection and fit.

Clothing

Dressing in light, nonbinding and moisture-wicking layers is best for skiing.

“It’s surprising how warm you get even when the temperature is only 20 degrees,” said Larry Stevens.

Too many layers can create excess perspiration, which can lead to chills and even hypothermia. That’s why it’s best to start with underlayer of moisture-wicking long underwear and build on from there, depending on the weather. Choose thin, close-fitting lightweight clothing made from Lycra, wool or synthetic fleece for your insulation layers and a wind- and water-resistant shell for your outer layer. If it’s really cold, a waterproof, breathable jacket can replace the shell, and don’t forget extra pairs of waterproof or water-resistant gloves and hats.

Finally, even though it’s cold, stay hydrated. Carrying a bottle of water, and perhaps a light, salty snack in a small backpack or waistpack is a good idea.