During the month of January, when temperatures rose well into the 60's, outdoor enthusiasts were golfing instead of skiing at the local country clubs. This cycle continued through March, When finally, everyone called it quits and wrote the season off as a total disaster. Most directors of Vermont's cross-country centers prefer to not even think about last year, yet with surprising optimism they are looking forward to the upcoming season. It's business as usual, with improvements, renovations and expansion projects taking place at many of the areas. A new trend emerging throughout the state is the inclusion of snowshoeing as part of the cross-country experience.
Many centers now offer snowshoe rentals and have opened trails specifically for snowshoers.
New Fischer demo centers will open at the Woodstock and Trapps Cross-Country Centers, while Rossignol will be present at the Catamount Family Center. Many industry leaders believe that snowmaking will be the saving grace for cross-country centers in the East, just as it was with eastern Alpine resorts, and it is expected that more Nordic centers in Vermont will install snowmaking in the near future. Mike Miller, director of operations, recently acquired from a private landowner the property surrounding Mountain Meadows Lodge, former site of the cross-country center. No one is doing anything for the Nordic skiers. If they want to ski on Thanksgiving, we'll be open for them.