Forget the $70 lift tickets, gas money for the two-hour trek to the slopes, airport-priced resort food, lessons and equipment. No doubt, there are things to be depressed about financially right now, but the exorbitant cost of winter sports does not have to be one of them. Alpine skiing and snowboarding are merely two options among a long list of winter sports that rival in adventure and win in affordability.

cross country skiing

Long before the days of gondolas, groomed trails and manmade snow, people in northern latitudes set out on skis as a mode of winter travel. Invented by the Nordic peoples of Norway and Sweden 1,000 years ago, cross country or Nordic skiing exists today as a sport of worldwide popularity.

Hillary Behr, a Dover resident and long-time skier, says she loves cross country because it can be done almost anywhere.

The variety of terrain on the Seacoast offers cross country skiers the opportunity to practice classic skiing on groomed trails and flat tracks, and backcountry glade skiing through the woods. Behr has already made a number of trips to her favorite local ski spot, Kingman Farm off Route 155 in Madbury, a property owned by the University of New Hampshire that is open for public recreation. UNH hosts a number of places to ski including College Woods, East and West Foss Farm and groomed fields behind the Field House Arena. Other free trail systems for cross country skiing can be found at state parks, conservation areas, old logging trails, snowmobile trails, frozen lakes and golf courses.

Behr says she gets outside to avoid the winter blues. “Every time it snows, I get excited. But if I didn’t ski, I would hate the winter because it is so cold and dark,” she says.

The link between physical activity and feelings of well being might be why so many New Englanders look to winter sports when the weather turns chilly. According to the Cross Country Ski Area Association, Nordic skiing burns an average of 650 calories per hour. That’s more than fitness cycling at 540 calories, power walking at 450 calories or downhill skiing 520 calories per hour.

Clipping the toe of her boots into cross country skis for the past 30 winters, Laurie Gullion describes the sport as “an intense full body fitness program.”

“It just feels so darn good when everything is clicking,” she says.

Cross country skiing is all about establishing fluid rhythm, which Gullion compares to paddling and road biking in its capacity for sustained intensity. Gullion used to participate in cross country races, but these days she just grabs a Saturday whenever she can and heads out her back door. The New England Nordic Ski Association has an enormous calendar of cross country ski races and events posted on its Web site at www.nensa.net.

Gullion teaches a Winter Adventure Programming Nordic ski class as part of the Outdoor Education curriculum at UNH. She says it is “very easy to get started cross country skiing because you can essentially walk on your skis,” though she strongly recommends that first-timers take a lesson to master the basic technique. Group lessons and rentals are offered at Wolfeboro X-C, in the town of Wolfeboro, and at Gunstock Mountain Resort in Gilford. Gunstock is also offering free beginner lessons for women on Wednesday, Jan. 14 and 21, from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Both ski areas are about 50 miles from Portsmouth and offer a network of groomed trails for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Daily trail passes at Wolfeboro X-C are $10 for adults and free for kids under 12. At Gunstock, mid-week passes are $12 for adults and $8 for kids, $2 extra on weekends. Neither ski area increased their pass price from the 2007-08 season. Paul McNeil, manager of cross country skiing and snowshoeing at Gunstock, says business has been strong so far this season. He attributes this to the high price of alpine lift tickets (typically five to eight times the cost of a cross country pass) and to snowmaking on cross country trails, which offers skiers more days with better conditions.

As for cross country gear to get started, the cost of a very basic setup is about $300. However, there are a few ways to purchase used ski gear. At the beginning of the season, ski swap sales are an excellent resource, and at the end of the season, most mountains sell off their rentals and demos for reduced prices. Mid-season is tough, but IME (International Mountain Equipment) in North Conway has a used bargain basement that’s worth perusing.

backcountry and telemark skiing

Many of the people dusting off their old cross country sticks this season may not be satisfied with leisurely flat terrain. Fortunately, there are plenty of heavily wooded areas in the region for backcountry and telemark skiing adventures.
Former alpine ski racer Celie Harris of Durham now spends most of her winter pioneering through the woods on cross country skis because she loves the adventure. Durham has extensive trail systems that are well maintained, according to Harris.

Area trail maps can be obtained at the Nature Conservancy off of Bay Road. Harris likes cross country because it can be done in pristine wilderness surrounded by wildlife, as opposed to the same half dozen crowded mountains that she used to visit during race season. Gullion agrees. “The best,” she says, “is skiing in remote places on unbroken snow, just you and your crew, where nobody else is around.”

Barton Gage of Kittery, Maine, purchased a pair of telemark skis earlier this season so that he can avoid slope traffic. “It’s like driving down the highway,” he says of resort congestion.

Telemark skiing is the original alpine sport and a backcountry enthusiast’s best friend. The equipment is similar to the alpine ski setup, except that the boot is slightly more flexible and the heel is completely free of the ski. The skis work well in backcountry conditions because they can handle hills and flats like cross country skis, and yet they soar down slopes like alpine skis.

Last week, Gage climbed up Mount Major in West Alton in snowshoes and tele-skied down it, enjoying a day of free winter activities. Perhaps telemark skiing is the solution to carving the slopes with a carved out budget. Eastern Mountain Sports in North Conway rents telemark skis for interested alpine converters who are up to the challenge of backcountry trail blazing.

local alpine skiing and snowboarding

For those diehard downhillers who simply cannot give up the thrill of gravity but cannot afford premium resort prices, the town-owned Powderhouse Hill ski area in South Berwick, Maine, offers day passes for $5. Possibly one of the oldest and cheapest ski areas in the country, Powderhouse Hill has two trails for skiers and snowboarders to ride. A rope tow ascent powered by an air-cooled motor attached to a 1938 Ford V8 truck carries riders to the peak. The mountain is open from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and on Wednesday and Friday evenings under the lights from 7 to 9 p.m.

Sean Condon, one of the volunteers who helps run the operation, reports that the hill has been busy since opening a few weeks ago. The snow is groomed and the slope is gradual, providing an excellent location for beginners or anyone wanting to throw in a few turns after work. Patrons are encouraged to visit www.powderhousehill.com or call 207-384-5858 before showing up if snow has been scarce. “It’s all natural, so we are at the mercy of Mother Nature,” says Condon.

Garrison Hill Park in Dover, located off Central Avenue near Wentworth Douglas Hospital, has two steep trails for local skiing and riding. One trail is a wide-open track for sledding and the other is a trail with jumps and rails for practicing tricks. The park is free and open to the public from dawn until dusk, seven days a week.

Another free local hill that snow riders frequent is at Nippo Lake Golf Club on Province Road in Barrington.

sledding

Sledding might just be the cheapest of all the winter sports, since the only piece of equipment required can be replaced by a pizza box and most public hills are free and sled-friendly. Nevertheless, knowing where to go to find the best sledding is worth the price of gold in the winter months.

One popular sledding spot is Wagon Hill off Route 4 in Durham. This hill is less steep than Garrison Hill Park, but grants a longer ride and is equipped with portable toilets. Exeter Country Club on Jady Hill Road in Exeter offers a mild run on one side and a steeper, longer slope on the other. Epping’s Brown’s Hill, located east of the intersection of Route 125 and Hedding Road, is another sledding hot spot. Mount Agamenticus in York, Maine, is a former ski area with plenty of steep terrain for sledding. Even Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth has a few minor slopes open to the public and especially suited for younger sledding enthusiasts.

skijoring

Cross country boasts about its family-friendly nature, but winter sports can even involve your pets. Paul McNeil says that skijoring—a combination of cross country skiing and dog mushing—is gaining popularity at Gunstock, drawing at least 10 people per month to the mountain for lessons, technique clinics and harness rentals. Skijoring involves one or more dogs wearing harnesses that attach by line to the skier’s wide waist belt. Since the dogs actually pull the skier, larger breeds and experienced skiers generally do best at this inter-species snow sport.

snowshoeing

Snowshoeing is an ideal winter pastime for individuals who enjoy scenic views, wildlife spotting, hiking and exploring remote wilderness. Snowshoes strap into regular winter boots and disperse body weight so that a person can walk on top of the snow. Hillary Behr says snowshoeing reminds her of being a kid—tromping around in the woods, getting lost and exploring new places. Mike Fenton of Somersworth says he tries to get out on snowshoes at least twice a month, frequenting Mount Major and Mount Morgan, just south of Plymouth. But he also hikes around on random trails just off of the Kancamagus Highway. He pays $25 for a year-long pass to park at any of the trailheads off the Kanc, a price that certainly beats a lift ticket, which he says he simply cannot afford.

Though snowshoeing can be taken at a leisurely pace, the Granite State Snowshoe Series offers six races this season, with the next race scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 31, at Gunstock. Registration is $20 in advance, $25 on the day of the race.

winter mountain biking

Not all summer sports cease to exist in winter wonderland. Mountain biking, a sport defined by rugged terrain and fearless riders, adapts well to areas of hard-packed snow with the simple addition of studded snow tires.

As gritty as it is in the summer, mountain biking is even more treacherous in the winter because of the inherent dangers of wheels on ice, says “Bicycle” Bob, owner of Bicycle Bob’s Bicycle Outlet in Portsmouth. He reports that recreational riding declines in the winter and only the heartiest souls carry on through the cold season.

Winter riders often hit the twisting trails on Mount Agamenticus, Fort Rock in Exeter or any other trails that are well maintained. Bicycle Bob says winter mountain biking offers several benefits.

“It gets you out in the woods in the cold crisp New England winters,” he says. “It’s like skiing—the wind in your face on beautiful terrain. You can see winter birds and animal life. It has its discomforts, but it certainly has its pleasures.”

winter triathlons

Put all these sports together and what do you get? Triathlons, of course. The New England Winter Multi-Sport Series kicks off its first of three events at Gunstock on Sunday, Jan. 25. The course includes a 5k-trail run, a 7.5k mountain bike ride and a 6k cross country ski trip. The cost for participation is $55.

ice-skating

Ice skating, though often indoors, is another inexpensive winter favorite offering variety. With arenas in Rochester, Dover, Durham and Exeter, the Seacoast is a happening spot for skate sports. All of the arenas offer public skate times, but the Rochester Ice Arena, located off Route 125 on Lowell Street, is the least costly with $4 admission. Durham’s Churchill Rink at Jackson’s Landing is located just off Route 4 on Old Piscataqua Road and charges $5, but will offer a free public Dad and Daughter skate on Saturday, Jan. 17 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. The Dover Arena is located on Portland Avenue and charges $6, as does The Rinks at Exeter, which is on Industrial Drive off Route 27. Dover, Rochester and Exeter also host hockey leagues, pickup games and stick and puck times. Lessons, clinics and rentals are available at all of the arenas except for Churchill Rink, which only has rentals on a first-come, first-served basis.

Ice skaters can also enjoy the winter outdoors on countless frozen ponds and lakes in the area, but without a Zamboni to smooth the ice, be sure to bring a shovel.

winter expeditions and other activities

For some, day trips are just not enough. In fact, they are more of a tease than a release. There are many guiding services in the White Mountains that offer winter outing packages, but be wary of the price tags.

For those willing to shell out some cash, Eastern Mountain Sports offers one and two-day snowshoeing trips starting from its store in North Conway. The business also offers outdoor clinics on ice climbing and winter camping. REI offers winter mountaineering trips up Mount Washington, hut-to-hut snowshoe trips from Crawford Notch to Zealand Valley and various ice climbing excursions. The most reasonably priced guiding service is the Appalachian Mountain Club, which offers excursions, explorations, walks, talks and more in destinations throughout New England.

Finally, although ice and extreme ocean temperatures thwart many winter water activities, consider ice fishing in the Lakes Region or winter surfing on New Hampshire’s coast, both of which are certainly specialized sports, but potentially less financially draining than a weekend ski trip in the White Mountains.

As much as she loves the heart-pumping rush of the backcountry slopes, Harris says the feeling of relaxing after a long day outdoors is equally satisfying. “Hot chocolate tastes better,” Harris says, “and I have an excuse to get cozy on the couch.”
With so many opportunities for reasonably priced local outdoor activities and an abundance of snow on the Seacoast, there’s no reason to let the winter blues darken your season. Instead of just shoveling all that fresh white powder, take advantage of it.