Walking on the trails in the winter

[Debbie Hack]

Hi neighbors,

     The "executive summary" is, if you walk on the snowy trails, please avoid walking on the ski tracks if the trail is wide enough to allow parallel walking and ski tracks.

     Thanks!

-- Peter Hack (and the other Crosswinds cross-country skiers)

Optional details:

You may have seen me over the years with my bow saw or lopping shears clearing the trails of fallen trees, overhanging branches, those nasty briars, etc.  I do this so we can all enjoy our little corner of creation year round.  If you don't ski, you can't be expected to know that boots will quickly render a ski track unusable (the quickest way to get escorted off a cross-country ski resort is to walk on the groomed trails).  Boot tread can become "speed bumps" and when boots break through the surface, skiing becomes like driving on a road with potholes every 3 feet.  After the last storm, I blazed a few miles of ski tracks (which requires a lot of effort).  It was dispiriting to find the tracks were on their way to being ruined in less than 24 hours (a thaw/freeze cycle typically makes walked-on tracks unusable for skiing).  If a trail is wide enough to drive a truck down (or a train, in our case!), it's wide enough for a dedicated ski track and one (or more) parallel walking tracks.  Those of us who ski greatly appreciate your consideration!