Up and Out!
What to do, where to go and how to get there
By: Roger Fulton and Mike Carpenter
Too many of us overlook great outdoor activities because they are so close to home that we take them for granted. Or they are just far away enough that we don’t even know about them.
Well, we’re going to change that for you! In this regular column we will provide you with a fun and seasonal activity, a place to do it and we’ll even give you explicit directions on how to get there. Then it’s up to you to get your spouse, family or friends to get “up and out” and join you for a great morning, afternoon, or an all day adventure.
In this Winter 2009 edition we want to introduce you to:
The International Cross Country Ski Trails at
Coles Woods
Nearest Town: Glens Falls, NY
General description:
Nearly 5 miles of both groomed and un-groomed trails are available for
cross country skiing. That includes 7 kilometers of lighted trails for
night skiing.
Activities:
Trails are generally groomed
for both traditional track skiing and for skating style cross country
skiing. You can also snowshoe these trails, just stay off the groomed
portion of the trails.
Beth Kopp of Hallowell, Maine and Jen Kane of Glens Falls, NY
Difficulty:
Easy to moderate. Downhills are generally marked as to difficulty level.
Know your own limitations!
Surface:
Generally wide and open trails through wooded areas.
Rentals:
You can rent skis and snowshoes at Inside Edge, 634 Upper Glen St.,
Queensbury, NY 12804, 518-793-5676. (It’s on your way to the trails on
Route 9.)
What you may see:
The trail system crosses a
picturesque brook via wooden bridges. Wildlife is seen frequently along
the trails. The scenery, day or night, is great!
How to get there:
From I-87 take Exit 19 and travel east on Route 254 (Aviation Road) and
follow it about .5 miles to Route 9. Turn right onto Route 9 and follow
it .8 miles to the 4th traffic light and turn right onto Fire Road. Go
about .3 miles and pull into a parking on your right, just before Fire
Road makes a 90° turn to the left.
GPS reading:
Parking area:
N 43° 19.298′
W 073° 40.048′
Cautions:
Heed any warning signs on the hills. Know your own capabilities!
Dogs are not allowed on the trails from December through April.
Season-Hours-Fees-Parking:
The trails are open year round for hiking, biking and skiing depending
on the season and the weather. Weather permitting, the lighted cross
country trails are lit until 10:30 pm each evening. There are no fees.
There is limited parking at the parking lot, but additional parking is
available at the recreation center. (You passed it on Fire Road before
you got to the parking area. The trails also run behind that recreation
center.)
Facilities:
None
Related activities:
If the snow isn’t cooperating, you can hike or mountainbike these same trails.
What we found:
In the dead of winter when the days are shortest, it is very nice to
have this lighted trail system. This is a very nice place for novices
to hone their basic skiing techniques.
Special tale:
The first lighted cross country ski trails in North America opened here
in 1971. And those lights are STILL burning until 10:30 pm., in season.
Credit:
This
mini-adventure is excerpted from the recently released book, 25 Cross
Country Ski and Snowshoe Trails in the Lake George, NY Region by Roger
Fulton and Mike Carpenter. “Outdoor books for ordinary people” is their
theme for several regional outdoor books for this area, and more on the
way. You can access all of their titles at www.RogerFulton.com or
www.commonmanbooks.com or ask for them at your local bookstore or other
selected area retailers.