Good morning beloved reader,
While growing up in Australia I was able to spend time outside in nature all year long, but when I moved to this country in my twenties, for a while I suffered with the winters here and not being able to go outside and connect with our beautiful Mother Earth. That is, until I discovered cross country skiing, and the right gear: Patagonia Capilene long underwear, Polartec fleece, Smartwool sweaters and LOTS of layers.
Over the past several weeks, Jamie and I have been planning — along with two other good friends — a winter adventure.
Maybe a year or two ago I heard about this trip offered through the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) of 3 days cross-country skiing, and two nights in small wood cabins close to a lodge where they feed you, there’s a sauna, and showers etc. It’s called Lodge-to-Lodge Skiing in the Maine Woods.
The Friday before last, we began our 3-day and 2-night advencha😁 Following is a photo of where you leave your bags in a shed in the Winter parking lot. AMC staff on snowmobiles pick up your bags and transport them to the lodge where you stay that night, so you only have to ski during the day with a backpack with water and food and extra layers (like a light down jacket) in case of emergency.
It was VERY cold — 12°F (or -11°C for my Aussie friends) — but we had all the right gear, and went for full coverage on that first day (the photo is of me looking like something out of Star Wars😁)
Happily the sky was a vast, clear bright blue, and the sunshine warmed our dark outer layers of clothing.
Chuckle, do you like Jamie’s balaclava?😁
We didn’t see any of the wild animals we knew were there from their tracks — like moose!
I loved the wide open spaces and groomed ski-tracks, but I also loved the parts where the trees surrounded us with snow layered on the branches. It felt cozy.
We had planned to take the 7.3-mile trail North of Long Pond to get to Gorman lodge, however it wasn’t open that day. So the first day we ended up skiing 10 miles, and during the last couple of miles I said to my friend, “I’m so exhausted I just want to stop and rest, but I know I can’t as I’ll freeze, so I’m just taking baby steps.” Our bodies were completely spent by the time we arrived at the first lodge.
Cross country skiing through this area was exquisitely beautiful, but also extremely cold, and we were grateful to have all the right gear, and the energy to keep moving to have our bodies generate the warmth we needed.
Pooped out by the fire in Gorman lodge on the first afternoon:
A cup of tea was just what was needed:
Inside the dining hall at Gorman lodge:
A sunset view out over the lake:
The following photo doesn’t do it justice, but the whole area is designated an International Dark Sky Park because there is absolutely no light pollution — it’s out the back of nowhere! Tilting my head back, my eyes widened as I looked up. It was as though the stars nourished my soul. The vast expanse of inky dark sky dotted by pinpricks of light inspired wonder and awe in my being.
Our cabin was the first on the left, and the building on the far right is the lodge:
A panorama shot of inside Gorman lodge:
Gotta love this sign:
Outside Gorman lodge before we took off on Day 2 to ski to Little Lyford lodge 6.5 miles away:
Skiing the lodge-to-lodge trail on Day 2, the skies were overcast and gray. I missed the vast bright blue expanse of sunshine. But I paused every now and then to sense into the stillness and serenity. I enjoyed the tinkle of water under ice as I skied over a small bridge, ice patterns forming around the gentle water currents. I stood under snow-laden pine tree branches, pausing and sensing into the tree’s energy, sending out love into the tree and down through its roots reaching deep into Mother Earth.
How have so many human beings become so alienated from the beauty, magic, and wonder that can be experienced in nature? How have people become so disconnected? How is it possible to re-connect with Mother Earth and nourish ourselves and our environment as we recognize the spiritual aspect of our ecological crisis?
I have so much gratitude for the human beings who had the foresight and vision to create organizations like the Appalachian Mountain Club and all the other many fine alliances that collaborate in protecting our exquisite planet. May they be supported and fortified.
Skiing out on the last day from Little Lyford lodge back to the Winter Car Park.
~
It feels nice to be home in front of our Jotul fireplace now too ✨🦌✨🧚♀️🤸♀️🌼🌷🌈🌺🪷💕☀️😎❄️🌨️✨🌗🌟💫🌙☃️🧣🧤🧦🛷💃🕺☯️🥰♥️🙏🕊
The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the outdoors. Since 1876 we've made it our mission to protect the mountains, forests, waters, and trails you love in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
May this post inspire you to get out into nature, connect with Mother Earth, and make choices that support our natural world by spending your dollars with organizations that help to preserve and protect our human species’ most important and valuable asset: Planet Earth!
And who knows, you might even have some fun while you’re at it😁
OMG! This is fabulous!! It just went on my bucket list. I can’t imagine anything more wonderful. Lucky you!
WOW what an amazing adventure! Yes the right clothes and gear make all the difference. I love the sign in the lodge about there is no wifi! Perfect.