New Nordic Nation of the Catoctins

18/02/2024

The Weather report, prediction of low nighttime temperatures below freezing, plenty of broken trail, and the very good conditions in some locations and excellent kick and glide today, portend for good skiing tomorrow from Sand Flat Parking lot. This photo from yesterday was still what you were looking at today.

17/02/2024

Considering the fair-good conditions at Sand Flat today and the predicted low temperatures in the mid twenties tonight, you will find a good ski there tomorrow. Follow trails to the right off the main drag out of the parking lot.

22/01/2024

High temperature was 30 in the Nation today… making the snow just a touch sticky and just a touch fast… ( it keeps you on your toes)
Consider some F4, and, don’t limit yourself to Sand Flats… the nation is big!
The re- freeze tonight ( Monday) should be unbelievably fast!

21/01/2024

Again today… the trail conditions just keep getting better ( now if we can just convince the lone biker, the French guy from DC, that there are lots of other trails …. And that just because 95% of the cars in the parking lot have bike racks… they are not riding today, they are skiing….. whatever..)

The only trail that isn’t too much fun is the middle of Skink, out past the pond, the rocks are just brutal… everything else is just plain old fun!

If you miss it… you miss it!

20/01/2024

NNNC, the Sand Flats region down thru Gambrill State Park were ground zero for this week’s snow (outside of Garrett County/ the Allegheny Front).
A nice accumulation… Lots of trail being broken this morning. By noon, Saturday, the parking lot was 3/4 full… the dinner bell is ringing! come and Get it!

3 notes…
- if you have never visited the Nation, you should know that temperatures and conditions are significantly colder than the surrounding lowlands, Dress and prepare accordingly!
-if you have them, rock skis are still recommended… and,
-unless you are driving a Subaru, bring a shovel!

17/01/2024

A lot of wind consolidation has left Sand Flats kind of thin, rock skis recommended…. But, it’s skiing! And it’s close…
Friday, Friday night and the weekend could be the best conditions in several years! ( all dependent on what precip we receive Friday..)

16/01/2024

Tuesday afternoon.

16/01/2024

6” powder, no base, windchill dipping below 0, wind howling!
Come and get it!
Bring your rock skis!
( don’t dismiss the mountaintop cold!)
(It’s seriously cold)

11/01/2024

Near New Germany State Park today. The difference 7 miles makes when you cross the eastern continental divide.

11/01/2024

New Germany State Park on 1-10-24 Wednesday. It should be there for awhile, certainly as long as the SHA traffic cameras are showing snow.

07/01/2024

Snow and fair skiing on Catoctin this morning. Get while you can

28/01/2023

New Germany State Park should have snow tomorrow, and Whitgrass in Canaan Valley appears to be rocking. Check out their daily report.

02/11/2022

TRAIL WORK DAY!!

November 12th - Meet at Sandflats parking lot (12422 Gambrill Park Rd, Frederick, MD 21702) at 9 AM. We will be trimming back vegetation to open up the cross country ski trails around the Sand Flats area. You will want to bring warm clothing, sturdy shoes, water and a snack. Work gloves and long pants recommended, loppers would be great if you can bring a pair. We will finish around 1 PM.

17/03/2022

We still have a couple spots left for our Wilderness First Aid Class April 9th and 10th! The class is $195 and will be held over the two days. Be prepared on your next outdoor adventure and sign up for this class! You can give us a call at the store to pay or stop by in person! We are open 10am-6pm today!
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09/03/2022

Every Nordic and back country skier should know this…

02/02/2022

Uoffisiell VM-låt. Til programmet "Helt Ramm - Lahtikrampe" fra ski-VM i Lahti 2017.Alle rettigheter tilhører NRK.Musikk: Nicolay Ramm / Sigve BullRegi: Nils...

30/01/2022

Very good conditions today.

28/01/2022

28/01/2022

Purple powder alert. It started snowing and accumulating at about 11:00 am and that is going to mean miles of skiable road and trail on the mountain top. Just starting out on the unplowed sections of Gambrill Park, and Fishing Creek Rd at Hamburg. It looks to be a fast base with plenty of powder on top. Metal edges weren’t necessary this morning with 195s.

28/01/2022

Catoctin trail at Hamburg Rd. On the
fast and hard side on trails. Not bad. Edges might be best but can go without.

22/01/2022

A bit chilly!

It was colder than just about anywhere in Alaska.

21/01/2022

A variety of scrunchy icy crust on a frozen base, all beneath 1/8 inch of powdery icy snow on top. Recommending sand flat as some of the level slopes are safest on the very fast track. It is not without plenty of kick to go with it. Metal edges if you’ve got ‘em.

21/01/2022

“…think we’re gliding down the ski trail, when in fact, we’re slip slidin’ away.”

21/01/2022

Top of the Hamburg to you!

17/01/2022

Sublime and delicious today at Sand Flat.

13/01/2022

Last Saturday.

12/01/2022

No words needed…

View ECMWF Hi-Res weather model forecast map image for Total Accumulated Snowfall (10:1) in Mid-Atlantic on pivotalweather.com.

12/11/2021

Old sports are great sports!

Fate of the owner still unknown