Update from ORN boardmember Geoff Beyer:
The attached map is a rough update, it is a guide and may be missing key info….
there is a fair amount of news from over the weekend, besides all the great new snow and trail conditions…
- Yesterday morning the local snowmobile club finished creating their final connection (at least for this year) through Sherwood Forest. Part of the connection includes a new loop just north of Sherwood forest, which may be a bonus for some skiers. It is my hope they will create a different connection next year that will separate us and them, to avoid sharing the steep hill heading south into Sherwood Forest from the Staudt property), we shall see. For safety reason, a new alternative route for skiers (was created with help from Norwich Student and Nancy Chickering) on one of the steep hills (It also means some of us won’t have to do as much goose stepping up that hill….) The northerly steep hill will be shared, for now, so for safety reasons people be alert and ski in control. Signage to direct snowmobile traffic is minimal now. Signs are on order and hopefully will be up late this week… ski with extra care
- Someone got hurt skiing yesterday. Reportedly many ambulances were on Cummings Road and a rescue crew went out to pull out a woman who hurt her ankle. From my (tracking) investigation it appears she may have gotten hurt going down the steep hill that VAST had made going out of the north end of Sherwood Forest . The snowmobile club had made that connection to try to avoid us sharing the other steepish hill we use but it turned out too steep for them to even use. So… there is alot of traffic that used it, including safety vehicles. For now especially, please know that just because there is traffic on a trail it doesn’t mean the trail is safe. Sticks were put in the middle of the trail to warn people not to go down it. As a volunteer organization we can’t keep the trails just right, or post all the signs needed, or close areas just when needed… so please use your judgement about what you can safely navigate… I know it is tempting to leave skis on but can save a fair amount of pain to walk for a short bit..
Grooming plus…
- We still don’t have a southern connection to our trail systems. This makes it harder for skiers but even harder for grooming. So trails are not getting quite as much attention. Additionally, the Park snowmobile, which has been the key equipment to groom our North Street Ridge trails, is still having mechanical problems and so we may not be able to groom this week…
However conditions are still great overall. With temperatures supposed get above freezing several days this week…. today and tomorrow morning may be the best of this week. - There are a couple of new loops rolled now. One loop is connected by a road crossing from the western side of the West wind meadow to across the road on Marjorie Merena’s property. The other loop goes even farther north, a little past The power line. Trail location may be confusing there (until we have it signed) since a young couple also have permission to ride a snowmobile and ATV in the same field… and have permission to ride more places then we have permission. But I skied it today so if u follow skier trail tracks you may find it… Rule of thumb, if in doubt stay on trails you are clear about. (that are groomed)
Thanks – Enjoy and Happy trails!