Cross-Country Ski Touring in Pennsylvania
Ski touring is the number one way Pennsylvanians enjoy cross-country skiing. With only a handful of cross-country ski centers in the state, most skiers put on their skis and make their own tracks. Ski touring is defined as skiing off track. However, at a popular ski spot there will be some tracks made by several skiers. Many times that track is quite good. More precisely, ski touring is skiing on unprepared groomed tracks. In Pennsylvania there are numerous places to do this type of skiing. Some enjoy state parks, forests, and game lands. Others enjoy their own properties, town parks, public school grounds, and public golf courses. This page will focus on ski touring and how to enhance the experience.- Skis
- Poles
- Clothing
- Safety
- Destinations
- To report ski touring conditions email Howard@crosscountryskipa.com
- State Park Winter Reports
February 2, 2012 Plenty of leaf cover in Pennsylvania forests. Enjoy a great hike. Watch out for groundhog holes.
January 31, 2012 Highest elevations and northwestern PA may have some snow to ski on. Looks very warm the next two days.
January 27, 2012 Most Trails are riverlets.
January 22, 2012 State Park Winter reports have lit up. Many areas have great skiing, however the powdery snow is not covering rocky trails. Seek smoother trails.
January 21, 2012 Fresh snow improves the skiing. First widespread skiing for Pennsylvania in 2012.
January, 15, 2012 SB Elliott State Park No one (no snowmobiles, no people) there and 4-6 inches of powder in the fields. Explored part of Rattlesnake Trail and it was quite good. Put tracks in around the orchard and enjoyed powder conditions, no rocks, and no wind in the fields. A perfect winter afternoon for xc skiing. Finished the day with some ski drills on the baseball field.
January 14, 2012 SB Elliott State Park Moshannon State Forest About four-five inches of powdery snow and it was still snowing at 3:00 PM. The grassy areas are very good to ski and some of the trails are fine. However, rocks are a problem on trails like Old Horse Trail from the campground-not recommended. Other parts of the Old Horse Trail near baseball field are fine. Baseball field and other fields are good. Rock skis are recommended and watch for snowmobiles, frackmobiles, and other heavy equipment. Hey there is snow so go ski it.
SB Elliott State Park Moshannon Stat Forest (near Penfield Exit I-80) 1/14/2012
January 5, 2012 Check the State Park Winter Reports Several western PA state parks have snow.
December 11, 2011 Rock Run Trail System Moshannon State Forest 1-3 inches of powdery snow in spots. Lots of Rocks poking through on the trail would prevent skiing the actual trail. However, a die hard skier could find some snow in the Entrance area of Rock Run. Patches of great snow, pick your spots and leave the good skis at home.
Ski Touring in Moshannon State Forest Rock Run Trail System
Skis
Pennsylvanian skiers use a wide range of skis. Close observation at a popular ski touring destination will reveal skiers on just about every type of cross-country ski. There will be three pin bindings on wooden skis, skis of nearly every decade, 80's, 90's to the present, as well as the very latest technology in boots, bindings and skis. Citizen racers tend to be more current with equipment but the ski touring group tends to be an eclectic and frugal bunch. The lesson to be learned is that just about any ski can be used for ski touring. The snow conditions will sometimes be a perfect match to a specific ski type. However, skis specifically designed for ski touring will perform better than skis that are not. Ski touring skis will perform better over a wider range of snow conditions. Finally, ski touring skis can be used on and off track.
Note: Cross-country ski touring centers provide groomed trails. Racing skis (both classical and skating), light touring (fitness skis), and ski touring skis, can be used on groomed trails. The ski touring ski can be used at the ski touring center and off track. In general, back-country, telemark, and mountaineering skis are too wide for groomed set tracks but are forms of ski touring. Telemark skis are often used at alpine ski resorts.
What are the features of a ski touring ski?
Width and weight are key features. The ski needs to have enough width to provide flotation in trackless snow and be rugged enough to handle off-track terrain. The side cut (a width measurement in mm taken near the tip, waist (middle), and tail of the ski) will be around 60-52-57 or 59-51-55. This would be an average size. Some ski touring skis are wider some are narrower. Note that the numbers are not 60-60-60 or 58-58-58. The curved shape of the ski is needed for turning. In track skis need less curve since the track provides a channel for the ski to run in, but out of track skis need a more curve for turning. The range of ski touring width is around 67-57-62 mm for a wider ski that would still work in tracks down to 52-47-50 mm that would be nearer to the side cut limit for an out of track ski. The weight of the ski has an influence on how rugged the ski might be. A really light ski for racing might weigh 1250 g and have a side cut of 44-42-44. The ski touring ski 67-52-62 with a metal edge might weigh 2300g. An average ski touring ski weighs in at around 1650g-1850 g depending on the ski length. The materials are strong and durable in a ski touring ski and add more weight to the ski.
Ski Length and Stiffness
In general the ski length needs to match the skier's weight and skill level. The heavier the skier is the longer the ski length will need to be. However, there are exceptions to this rule as the stiffness and design of the ski are important size factors. Also, newer technology has provided shorter skis than traditional length. Some skiers really like the shorter skis for stability and certain types of terrain. However, traditional length skis are better performers overall for Pennsylvania ski touring. They tend to be faster and perform well in a wide range of snow conditions. When purchasing skis talk to the ski tech and be honest about your weight. Equipment providers have improved the ways they match skis to skiers. It is also better to shop for skis in person if possible. Extra care can be taken to match the skis to your specific needs.
Metal Edges
Metal edges are useful but not essential for ski touring in Pennsylvania. There are really great ski touring skis without metal edges. The metal adds weight. Ideally, one would have a pair of skis without metal edges and a pair with metal edges. Metal edges are useful for rugged trails and help protect the ski bottom from nasty nicks and gouges on the edges. More importantly they allow the skier to turn more effectively and are very useful in icy conditions. Some ski touring skis have full length metal edges and others have two-thirds length metal edges. Opt for metal edges if you ski deep into the woods on icy, rocky, terrain or if you like the really steep hills. If you stay away from icy conditions or stick to the fields and well maintained trails then metal edges are probably not needed and you'll have a lighter ski.
Waxless or Waxable
If waxing skis would take all the joy out of skiing and prevent one from going skiing, then choose waxless. However, for performance ski touring and the ability to ski in the widest range of conditions, waxable skis are the choice to make. Waxless skis are convenient but limited. Waxless ski can be treated with a liquid to improve glide and reduce sticking. They work well in some snow conditions but not all, and sometimes waxless skis are slow and noisy. Use them on really warm days when the snow is soft, wet, and dirty. There are numerous models of waxless ski touring skis to choose from and the higher priced skis generally perform better. Waxless skis are useful for introducing beginners to the sport and for taking groups out cross-country skiing.
Waxless base top and waxable base bottom.
Waxable skis can handle the widest range of snow conditions and waxing is easy to learn for ski touring. Racing has given waxing a mystical aura that has negatively influenced recreational skiers. For ski touring, waxing is not that difficult or time consuming. An iron, plastic scraper, glide wax for tips and tails, and grip waxes (including klister) for the middle third of the skis (kick zone) are all that is needed. Handy types can construct their own ski forms to hold the ski for waxing or these items can be purchased. Here is a video on basic waxing to give you an idea of what waxing is about. Waxable touring skis are getting harder to find and choices are more limited than what they used to be. However, there are great waxable touring skis out there and they perform incredibly well in Pennsylvania's variable snow conditions.
Boots and Bindings
Ski touring boots and bindings need to be durable enough to withstand off track skiing. Ski touring boots and bindings are easy to find. Some lighter back-country boots and bindings will work as well. The boots, binding, and ski width need to match. Boots that are warm, tough, and comfortable make the most sense for ski touring. Skis can be upgraded by replacing bindings, allowing the skier to upgrade the boots as well. A ski shop can replace the bindings easily if one is not up to the task. When the bindings break or the boots get old, upgrade those favorite skis instead of purchasing new ones . The staff at good ski shops will assist with the selection of boots and bindings. Be careful not to overdo the boots and bindings as this can negatively impact your technique. Sometimes skiers install a heavier boot and binding system than they actually need (for PA skiing) and this will be out of place on the ski. Using the same boot and binding system on all of the pairs of touring skis you own saves money.
Poles
Pole length is important. In order to have proper technique the poles need to be long enough to provide propulsion. Many PA ski tourists use poles that are too short, they look more like balance sticks instead of a means of providing thrust. A starting point is to get a pole that would fit firmly into the armpit while standing barefoot. Some prefer to get a pole armpit length while standing on the ski. Others prefer poles that come close to the top of the shoulder. If skiing mostly off track, a pole that reaches to the top of the shoulder makes sense as the pole will sink into the snow. Experiment with poles around this length and adjust up or down until it feels comfortable and allows for strong thrust and proper diagonal stride technique. Adjustable poles are heavier and are not really necessary for PA ski touring. Larger baskets are a good idea for ski touring. A high quality aluminum or composite pole will have the proper stiffness and lightness for efficient skiing. Aluminum poles will take more nicks and scrapes but composite poles will be stiffer and lighter. In general, poles with higher price tags are indicators of higher quality poles.
Clothing
Think layering and freedom of movement. Overdressing causes excessive perspiration and inhibits movement. Underdressing is uncomfortably cold. Finding the combination of clothing that works might take a few adjustments and some experimentation.
Cross-country skiing generates body warmth and perspiration. The clothing needs to pull moisture away from the skin to evaporate in the air, while allowing freedom of movement. This is best accomplished through layers of non-cotton fabrics. The clothing goal is breathability (moisture wicking), warmth (temperature control), water/wind resistance, and range of motion.
Base Layer: (long underwear next to skin) Use fabrics like polypropylene, silk, Coolmax, Thermax, Thermastat, the base layer needs to be able to transport moisture away from the body. Wind briefs with a windproof panel offer a good measure of comfort. Outside temperature and wind speed will dictate the thickness of the base layer. Sometimes a base layer, especially bottoms, is not needed and a heavier ski tight will suffice. How the base layer is worn depends on how vigorous the skier skis and the weather conditions.
Insulation Layer: (one or more layers for warmth) These can be layers of polyester, thin wool blends, acrylic, polartek fleece, lycra, spandex etc. The layers need to allow freedom of movement and should have some stretch to them. They should be easy to remove to allow for temperature adjustment. Vests allow arm movement and keep the core of the body warm.
Outer Layer: (moisture and wind resistance) This layer needs to keep moisture from getting in and should be windproof. Use fabrics like water-resistant, nylon and polyester, Goretex. The amount of waterproofing needed is dictated by the weather conditions. It needs to be thin and light enough to allow full range of motion. Outer layer pants should be easily removable for temperature control. The outer layer should be able to pass moisture from the body to the outside air.
Feet: Socks (not cotton) that are moisture wicking and insulating are best. For cross-country skiing a thin liner non-cotton sock with a heavier sock over top is ideal. The inner sock should pass moisture out to the outer sock. A thin polypropylene liner sock with a wool-blend outer sock is a good combination. There are many synthetic blends of socks. Generally, the higher priced socks are better and worth the money.
Ears and Head: A good hat is needed for sub-freezing weather. The hat should be able cover the ears when needed. Use a hat that is functional, light , warm, and water resistant. Sometimes all that is needed is an ear band. The ear band keeps the ears warm but allows the heat to escape from the top of the head. When the temperature is well below freezing and the wind is howling, a warm hat can provide maximum comfort. An outer layer garment with a hood can come in handy when the temperatures are brutal as the hat and hood can provide two layers of protection. A balaclava completely covering the head and protecting the face can also be worn for those rare sub-zero F ski days.
Hands: Cross-country ski gloves need to be thin enough to work with the poles and warm enough for the outdoor temperature. Gloves that are too bulky will not work well and interfere with poling. Again, materials that wick moisture away from the skin work best. Having an extra pair of gloves along is a good idea. Some ski tourists prefer mittens or a combination of gloves and mittens.
Safety Measure: An extra lightweight jacket, gloves, socks, or hot hands in your gear bag can come in handy if you become stranded on a ski tour. Having a way to make a fire in an emergency can save your life. When heading out on a tour think, could I survive the night if I had to stay outdoors. Moisture is probably the biggest problem because controlling how wet one gets from sweating is difficult. When the body suddenly stops moving and stops generating heat the moisture created enhances cooling. This can become a dangerous situation for a skier as the body suddenly cools.
Remember: Moisture and cold temperatures are not a good combination. Clothing made from cotton will hold moisture and will make the person wearing it feel cold. Avoid cotton and use a layering system to be able to control warmth. Uphill skiing will generate body heat. Downhill skiing will take away heat. The right kind of clothing will allow a skier to compensate for temperature changes.
End of the Day: For added comfort have dry clothing to change into in the car. The ability to shed the wet clothes for dry ones will make the car ride home pleasurable. Simply having a thick sweater and a change of socks works wonders. Drink something warm and have something to eat. These measures will enhance the experience of ski touring.
Safety
Ski touring can be dangerous and an injury or incident like getting lost in winter can be deadly. A sobering thought and if one is caught in a situation with nothing in hand to assist with the emergency fear, panic, and despair can paralyze the unprepared. There are safety considerations for ski touring and these are suggested starting points. It is a good idea to take some first aid and survival training, prepare a survival and first aid kit, and have a plan for emergencies.
Some Questions to Consider
Ten Essentials for Ski Touring Safety Here is a website that suggests two different sets of essential elements to be prepared for an emergency. Some of the items make sense for Pennsylvania skiers, others may not. The important point is that skiers need to inventory the items that make sense for their particular ski touring outing. Gather the items and carry them in a comfortable pack suitable for cross-country skiing, practice using each item, and have an emergency plan for each trip. Once one is in the habit of doing this it will not take much time and will provide a margin of prevention and preparedness when something goes wrong.
Destinations
Allegheny National Forest
Bruce Lake Natural Area
Laurel Mountain
Quehanna Wild Area and Wykoff Natural Area
Rock Run Trail System
Trails Page