The outdoors look very different at night. To capitalize on that distinctive view, cross country skiers are invited to strap on their skis for a moonlit ski experience at Maple Corner Farm in Granville on Feb. 4. The moonlit ski, also offered on March 9, will be illuminated not just by the nearly-full moon, but by luminary bags along...
The outdoors look very different at night. To capitalize on that distinctive view, cross country skiers are invited to strap on their skis for a moonlit ski experience at Maple Corner Farm in Granville on Feb. 4.
The moonlit ski, also offered on March 9, will be illuminated not just by the nearly-full moon, but by luminary bags along the trails.
“It’s a little different, and to be able to get out into the woods at night has always been appealing to people in the Naturalists’ Club,” said Nancy Condon, vice president of the Springfield Naturalists’ Club, which is organizing the event. “You can see the stars so brilliantly. If you bundle up enough, it can be very pleasant.”
Maple Corner Farm, which is a working maple sugaring farm, has miles and miles of trails, so skiers of varying abilities can enjoy the terrain.
“They have several miles of trails in and out of the woods, spider-webbing with each other, so you can choose some easy ones or some of the more difficult ones,” Condon said. “Depending on the people’s abilities, it would be nice to stay together, but we have in the past taken separate routes and then rendezvoused at a certain time, so we’ll see what the group is like.”
Maple Corner Farms has skis available for rent for those who need them. Skiers can sit down and enjoy some hot chocolate and snacks by the fire inside the barn, while listening to live musical entertainment.
Condon said cross country skiing holds a certain appeal for many active people who enjoy the outdoors.
“What’s appealing more so than downhill skiing is that you can just strap skis on and you can go out your back door,” Condon said. “You don’t need a lift ticket or someone to take you up to the top of the mountain or anything like that.”
And Condon said cross country skiing is more of a challenge than many people expect.
“It’s excellent exercise,” she said. “It’s a very good workout. At night, it’s commonly much colder than it is during the day, so you have a tendency to want to bundle up in layers. As you get going, some layers may need to come off because you do generate heat doing this.”
While the trails are suitable for beginners, Condon said there’s a bit of a slope that leads skiers down to the trails, which can be a challenge for beginners.
“Once you pass that, there’s a lot of very level ground and beginners can ski quite happily there,” she said.
The moonlit cross country ski program begins at 7:30 p.m. at Maple Corner Farm, 794 Beech Hill Rd., Granville. The cost is $25 per person, or $30 per person with ski rental. To register, call Condon in advance at (413) 564-0895.