Hi all,

I just got back from skiing at the Crest.  I only brought my skate skis and think I would have had a better outing if I had brought my BC Classics.  I skied a portion of the service road but found it too hard-packed and icy for the steeper descents so I turned around about a third of the way in.  From there I skied down the groomed portion of the Challenge trail but had to remove my skies down Bunny Hill.  That is a fun hill when conditions allow, but I found it too risky today.  I turned around once I reached the upper 10K meadow.  Although Sandia Nordic groomed today, as a beginner skate skier I found the conditions extremely challenging especially on descents.  What can you do when there is constant freeze/thaw on our mountain?  Off of the groomed trails there is about 1/8 to 1/4 inch of crust and below that is soft snow.  I did not check out Switchbacks as I only had my skates but I am assuming it is likely hard-packed and icy at this point.  Time to drive up to Sante Fe or Jemez.  Sigh.

Amy