Cross-Country Skiing in and around the Monadnock Region

When midseason rolls around and we get tired of the same old, same old, we take day-long trips to ski at Nordic centers within an hour and a half of Keene. We often make a yearly trip to Prospect Mountain in Woodford, Vt., Wild Wings in Peru, Vt., Marlboro Nordic in Marlboro, Vt., Pine Hill Nordic in New London and Eastman Cross Country in Grantham. New destinations in New Hampshire we have our eyes on for this year are Oak Hill Outdoor Center in Hanover and Wolfeboro Cross Country in Wolfeboro. A couple of weeks ago, heading back from northern Vermont, we stopped to ski at Woodstock Nordic in Woodstock, Vt. We can't all afford to stay at the luxurious Woodstock Inn, be we can take advantage of their extensive facilities. Woodstock Nordic manages two separate and differently wonderful areas for skiing. South of the village, there's skiing on the golf course and up the slopes to the summit of Mt. Peg. That outing offers a hard-earned, great view. Just north of the village, there's a maze of impeccably groomed trails on Mt. Tom which we opted to ski for this trip. This north section of trails is located on the lands of the only national park in Vermont — the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park. The park celebrates the history of the land conservation movement in the US and maintains the oldest, continuously managed scientific forest in the country. That means the landscapes you ski through are pretty darn beautiful. Park for skiing Mt. Tom in the parking lot of the Billings Farm Museum; the entrance at 69 Old River Rd, about one half mile north of the village center. Tromp across Rt. 12 and take your first right on Mountain Rd. towards the Forest Center where you can access the Nordic trails. If you don't mind starting your outing with a mile long climb (and ending with a mile long downhill), try this four-mile loop. Click into your skis and start up Mountain Rd. The tracks are sharp-edged and there's a wide skate lane. It's steepest for the first half mile (up to about a 12% grade) but then it gradually gets mellower. At about 0.9 miles, take a right on Summer Pasture trail and climb a bit more along the lower edge of a steeply sloping pasture. Bear right and then left on the North Ridge Loop; when you see a pond glinting through the trees take a left down to the shores of The Pogue. Take a right to circumnavigate this serene, high-elevation pond on an old carriage road. It rises and falls pleasantly. About two-thirds of the way around, when you enter a meadow, take a right climbing uphill through the Elm Lot. At the upper edge, take the Red Pine Loop into the woods. This trail is narrower, it feels more secret and you climb to a hilltop that you have all to yourself. (If you want a longer ski, consider the Ashes Ashes, Acer or King Farm loops that diverge along here). The Red Pine Loop takes you back to the Elm Lot and you enjoy a speedy swoop across wide open meadow down to a left on the Mt. Tom Rd. Soon you intersect with a section of Mountain Rd., near the outlet of The Pogue, that you haven't been on. Turn right and follow The Pogue stream as you start to gradually descend back down Mountain Rd. Slowly, you'll pick up speed, step out of the tracks and remember, it's steepest for the last half mile. You'll need to lean into your snowplow to shed speed. Après Nordic Two options: Head back up to Woodstock and head east towards I-91. After a couple of miles, on the right, stop at Worthy Kitchen. Worthy Kitchen is an outpost of Worthy Burger in South Royalton, Vt., which has, hands down, the best burger in Vermont. Worthy Kitchen also has great burgers, but has a more diverse menu. Their motto is "Expanding the Possibilities of Farm to Table Food," and they're right. The locally sourced chicken po boy is nicely spiced and the poke bowl is a great fusion of Asia and Vermont. They always have a wide selection of craft beers on tap. Try the Edward from Hill Farmstead Brewery. For a different vibe, and if you're willing to endure a half hour of frost-heaved Vermont highways, head south on Rt. 106 to Brownsville in West Windsor, Vt. Here you'll find the Brownsville Butcher and Pantry, a shining example of the rebirth of the New England country store. It is a full-service butchery, a remarkably well-stocked grocery and a fantastic cafe with limited but cozy seating, also with lots of craft beers on tap and an inventive menu. I love any place that serves chilaquiles for breakfast and the fried egg and pastrami bagel sandwich is sinful. Last time we were here we had a lamb shawarma, and they make a mean vegan falafel as well. Everything I've ever tried here has been uniquely delicious.