I love visiting Carleton’s Arb in any season, but have a particular fondness for the snowy months when I can ski to my heart’s content on the Arb’s many miles of beautiful, gently rolling trails. I’ve been cross country skiing in the Arb since about 1969, and never tire of the ever-changing mosaic of fields, restored prairie and oak savanna, and woods. (Click the photo at right for a slideshow of photos shot this Tuesday.)
Good ski conditions have been hard to find in recent winters, unfortunately. For the past decade or so, our winters have generally given us skiable snow for a few days or weeks, only to be followed by major thaws. Last winter was an exception, with decent snow pretty much all winter, beginning in early December. I wasn’t able to enjoy it much, though, as I broke my ankle in a freak accident while on my second ski outing of the year a few days after the first major snowfall. Bummer!!!
This year, I’ve vowed to avoid broken bones. I’ve now made it through my first full week of skiing with nary a fall, let alone a broken bone. I had two wonderful outings in Scott County’s Cleary Lake Regional Park Friday and Sunday of last week, and was able to hit the Arb trails three days this week. The conditions are pretty good, given the modest amount of snow we’ve had so far.
Kudos to Dennis Easley’s grounds crew for grooming the trails, even though Carleton students are on break until early January! The Arb is a gem, having been managed with loving care for many years under Director Myles Bakke (retired this past year), and now under Director Nancy Braker. The Arb is a genuine gift to the community, open to use by all.