We are afraid that we would gouge the ski. Another way to deal with ski bottoms is to have them ground flat on a stone grinder. But we do not know any grinders who are experienced with cross country skis. So my new skis had not been flattened. I hoped the people who made them did a good enough job.
Swift River is nowhere.
It is tucked away in the northeastern part of the Berkshires far from anything except the tiny town of Cummington and the equally populous village of Plainfield. The nearest city is Pittsfield. We have to drive through Pittsfield, but have found a back way shortcut. The back way leads by a Burger King, at which we kids always plead for a stop if we are remotely near a meal time. Usually we can claim it is time for an early Saturday lunch by the time we get there.