Cross Country Skiing, Take 2

The rolling landscape, Lapham Peak Unit - Kettle Moraine State Forest, WI

Susan & Frank on skis at Lapham Peak Unit - Kettle Moraine State Forest, WI

Winter scene, Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit, WI

This past weekend, we picked a cross country ski destination a little closer to Chicago. At right around 2 hours away, it was FABULOUS.

While most of our friends and family were buried under 2-3 feet of snow in the Mid-Atlantic region, in Wisconsin/Illinois, our 1-5 inches didn't really materialize.

Despite pretty icy conditions on the trails, we had a great time skiing at the Lapham Peak Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest and Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit.

Cross Country Skiing

Minocqua Winter Park Lodge, Minocqua, WI

Susan on her new skis at Minocqua Winter Park

January 16-18, 2010, Frank and I trekked over 300 miles north to Minocqua, WI. The draw: cross country skiing at Minocqua Winter Park.

Frank has had cross country skis for many years, but I only tried my hand at cross country skiing a few years ago. (Growing up in Tennessee is not very conducive to winter sports!) Though the first attempt at cross country skiing in western Maryland was not very successful, tries 2-4 in West Virginia went pretty well.

So, what was the perfect Christmas present now that we're wintering in Chicago? Cross country skis for me, and the three-day weekend was a perfect time to take them out for a spin.

Minocqua was a serious cold weather culture! People were snow mobiling and ice fishing all over the place. SUVs parked ON the lake and night snow mobiling ACROSS the lakes!

Ice fishing shelter

The skiing and town were fantastic. In fact, the town has a pretty good brewery, the Minocqua Brewing Company. We highly recommend a visit!