Featured ski - Nine Mile 10k loop

Nine Mile County Forest has trails for all ability levels. Other trails include the Cookie Trail for children, 6k loop, and Leo’s Loop. The 6k, 10k, and 20k loops all finish the last 3.5k on the same trails. You can get a few more details by reading the post on the 6k loop.

Feeling fast

I couldn’t help but pause to take in the beautiful sunshine on the fresh corduroy.

Heading out on “Main Street” from the chalet, I was blessed with great classic tracks: hard and glazed over. The sun was peaking out, which is especially treasured on the short days during winter. I felt compelled to snap a few pictures of the awesome fresh groomed corduroy.

I always like departing from the chalet feeling fast with the slight downhill. Today, I am all alone on the 30 m wide trail which is a stark contrast to the scramble at race starts that taken place here over the years. I round the first corner stopping for another picture, then continue on with the trail (still!) to myself. I hit the downhill on Main Street and just smile as I get in a tuck. My skis accelerate so quickly that I almost lose my balance, a nice problem to have!

The 10k loop starts out on the Cookie Trail.

The 10k begins on one of the two lit loops (the 6k begins on the other lit loop) which also serves as the Cookie Trail for children. I glide up and down a few opening hills and hit my first hard corner 2.5k in, immediately after splitting from the Cookie Trail. I usually step out of the track going into the corner, but today I remember far too late. I’m committed to staying in the tracks and lean as hard as I can to the inside ready with nimble feet in case my foot flies out. I manage to stay in and give a sign of relief.

Double pole conundrum

Unfortunately, I didn’t nail the wax (although conditions were great). On the first significant uphill, I accept that this ski won’t be as good as it could be unless I stop to apply a different kick wax. Then I remember I ought to do some double poling only anyway. I typically try to double pole for 20-30 minutes to work on my strength (something I have been skipping more often than not over the past few years). So everything was lined up that I may as well do double poling. Only one problem: that would require me to double up both B1 and B2, something I hadn’t even done when I was in race shape. I think about this scenario it as I glide down a fun downhill. I especially like this downhill because although it has close to a 90 degree turn, its radius is wide enough that I rarely need to step out. After the last turn, this one is a piece of cake today. I start my stopwatch and start doubling poling.

I made it to the top of B2 double poling - a first!

You won’t see the names of B1 and B2 hills on any maps, this is just the name skiers have notoriously given the long uphills (ask any local for the true names). Back in my race days, I used to do repeats up the back-to-back hills which would take 4-5 minutes depending on snow conditions. Today it would take much longer (and not due to the snow conditions!).

As I climbed, I noted the conditions were great, but not exceptionally fast, which would prove to test my strength. My quads were the first to feel the burn. On the plus side, that means I’m not doing arms only (which is a tendency of many skiers that don’t double pole correctly). Skiers are instructed to engage our whole core. Although I don’t consider my quads my core, I do recall reading a journal article in college about skiers using a lot of quads while double poling. However, this is not a good sign for my running races I have on the calendar for this year, including a Texas 100k with 16,500 feet of downhill (and uphill) in just a couple of weeks!

With all these thoughts preoccupying me, I’m to the top of B1 seemingly quick. I gasp for air and attempt to rest on the slight downhill by slouching over my skis rather than bending my legs into a tuck. Despite my lack of aerodynamic form, I only have a few precious seconds to recover until doing it all over again up B2. I pace myself up B2 since I know the worst is about 2/3 of the way up. At this point, I’m no longer gliding between pole plants, but at least I’m not sliding backwards. B2 eases up and I am motivated to keep going all the way to the top by the shelter before I stop to snap some pictures. (I want to make sure I can say I double poled all the way up without stopping!) I get a couple pictures of the shelter at the top complete with a fire pit and firewood, where my high school friends had end-of-the-year ski season parties. One year, we left the buns in the parking lot. Needless to say, the burgers were pretty well done before our fastest skier (a state champ) was able to go all the way back to the trailhead and back to retrieve them.

Now time for the downhill!

I am really excited for the downhill today. Not only is it a good break, but this is another one of my favorite hills at Nine Mile. With today’s solid tracks I should be able to get in a solid tuck and enjoy the ride all the way down. I fly down, catching a glimpse of the 5k to go mark. Halfway done! I take a video of the downhill and when I rewatch it. Everything is flying by so fast it looks like it’s in fast forward…and that’s how fast I just went! I’m able to glide into the following hill, which is especially welcomed since I’m still double poling. (I don’t realize how big this hill really is until a day when conditions are especially slow and I have to ski almost all the way from the bottom to the top…or if you fall!)

The snow was flying as I double poled and started accumulating on my boots.

The next downhill has a sharp right turn that I still question why it’s ever tracked. I step out and smoothly step turn around the corner. Next, I have a long gradual uphill section that is great to stride on but brutal to double. I entertain cutting the loop short, but make the realization that the alternative uphill is much steeper and I probably won’t make it double poling up.

I hit 4k to go at the trail split where another shelter stands. I’m committed to the 10k loop, but now the reality that I have almost a whole kilometer of gradual uphill sets in. I reassure myself that I will be rewarded with an equally long downhill. I see the top and count down the number of pole strokes before I can go downhill 10, 9, 8… and I’m already feeling each pole stroke get easier. My form is getting sloppy as I’m bending so deep that snow is hitting my face as I pole plant, apparently I need to do more double poling.

Merging with the 6k and 20k loops

I crest and pass the T intersection where the 10k, 6k, and 20k loops all join together. I’m not even tempted by the next cutoff since this is my favorite stretch of the loop. I zoom on and continue around a little bend a friend used to always freak out at. I never even noticed the bend before skiing with her. I suppose there’s a tree near the trail that makes the bend look worse than it is?? Anyhow, I can never go around this tree anymore without thinking of her freaking out.

I hit a little uphill and look at my watch hoping I’ve hit my target of 30 minutes of double poling. Shoot, I’m only at 21 minutes. I will have to double pole the rest of the loop. I grind up the next hill. Then it hits me that the next one is worse. But I repeat. I survive but stop to snap a photo at the 2k to go sign…I think it’ll be a little amusing with my lobster mitts on to show two fingers. It’s the little things in life that make us smile, isn’t it!?!

The tracks were perfect - allowing me to stay in the tracks even around turns.

I keep on trucking and as I hit the 1k to go mark, I let out a little “whoopie”. On the subsequent Déjà Vu hills, I consciously opted to stay in the tracks on some sharper corners I usually opt to step out of (to avoid slingshotting out of unintentionally). I hear the edges of my skis grinding the edge of the tracks. A vision from a movie when a train car rattles until is unhooks from another car flashes in my head. I manage to stay in the tracks thanks to the deep solid tracks today.

I speed down effortlessly on the last slight downhill through the pines on my way into the finish line. I bust out a smile. This is why I love classic-ing so much. (On the flip side I always feel like I’m on the brink of losing control while skating this same stretch). I see the home stretch and hesitate on picking my lane. I have three tracks to choose from, similar to how racers have to choose as they prepare to make a final pass before the finish line. I get a surge of adrenaline and get up on my toes sprinting to the finish. Then I back off, gathering my thoughts on another great ski in the books.

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