The Passionate Hiker: On the Race Circuit

Sat. 7 March: On the Race Circuit: Murphys Point Ski Trails

On the Murphys Point Loppet race course

Just a few weeks ago, on a bitterly cold winter’s day, I stood beside this trail dressed in my warmest parka, as the skiers raced past. Now today it was my turn to try out the course, and I’m glad to report that it was a much more pleasant day.

In fact, this might have been the perfect weather for an enjoyable cross-country ski trip: a few degrees below freezing, light covering of new snow, tracks set the day before, and a welcome sun shining through the trees. I chose the blue wax, which worked as well as it had ever worked before, and it held for the whole trip. Usually I would have to stop at some point to apply more, or different, wax. There was no need today, as we glided through the forest on a ten kilometre circuit.

We were a team of six well-matched skiers. It was not a surprise to see several others enjoying the trails today. There were perhaps a dozen or more other people out there, and it seemed that our leader knew them all! Murphys Point is a popular place for the local community, so this wasn’t entirely surprising. At one point we were even greeting an invisible friend whose voice was heard from a nearby trail!

Our progress was steady, even swift at times, as we made a clockwise loop of the longest circuit in the park. We enjoyed the perfect mix of small hills and long glides through the trees. There were a few steeper sections, but nothing that gave us any problems, and we all returned in one piece!

Back at the Lally hut, we relaxed beside a warm stove. As we gathered beside our cars, we looked for, and saw, the local porcupine sitting up a tree beside the homestead. Earlier, a little further along the trail, we had seen animal tracks, where a porcupine had moved from its den in a culvert to a handy tree. Around the tree on the snow were scattered branches where the animal had climbed up for a meal.

Today the temperatures had started a steady rise, which would bring them above freezing next week. We had probably chosen one of the last perfect days this winter season to be out on our skis. What better place to be testing our racing prowess!

Note: single-click on the first picture above to scroll through the photos separately

Statistics:

Total Distance: 10.5 km (XC Ski)

Height Gain: Say 80 ft.

Time on Trail: 2 hrs. 14 mins.

Start Lally parking: 9.55 am

Gatehouse (#8): 10.34 am

Jn. #3: 10.54 am

Jn. #6: 11.37 am

McParlan Jn.: 11.50 am

Lally Homestead: 12.09 pm

Ret. to cars: 12.42 pm

Temp: Minus 5C rising to minus 3C