Old-School Snow Sports Push Through ‘Winter Whiplash’ of Climate Change
Cross-country skiers take advantage of great conditions – which have been the minority this winter – at Windblown ski area in New Ipswich in late February. Photo by Annie Ropeik for NHPR
The melty weather in New Hampshire this winter has been a big problem for some kinds of seasonal recreation — and it’s all part of a long-term warming trend.
As this season comes to an end, some of the region’s favorite pastimes are preparing for an uncertain future.
Windblown Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing is tucked into the hills of New Ipswich, New Hampshire, not far from the Massachusetts border.
On a bright, brisk Friday in late February, the parking lot is thawing into mud – but the snowy trails that lead into the woods are crisp and freshly groomed.
Swooping in off one of them is Al Jenks, who’s owned Windblown for almost 50 years.