New Nordic Nation of the Catoctins

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New Nordic Nation of the Catoctins

New Nordic Nation of the Catoctins Changing our world thru the idea that once you've freed your heels, your mind will follow...

24/01/2025

I had the great fortune to spend most of today ( Friday) on snow in the Nation…
The high temperature was 28 and snow showers were off and on, resulting in another 1/2 “ in places…
The snow is really fast ( until you hit a rock)
Most of the main trails have experienced “solar compression” which is very different from melting, and a significant amount of boot packing due to so many people hiking right in the ski tracks…
The resulting conditions on the main trails are very fast skiing, and an increasing number of rocks reaching out to grab your skis.
Breaking new trail thru the woods is not a bad option.
Personally, I would recommend rock skis for this weekend if you have them.
Temperatures may approach 32, and that, combined with the increasingly high sun angle will start seriously exposing rocks.
Regardless, we have a pretty good base, now we just need more snow…!

( after the past few years of relative snow drought, it feels weird to be critical of any conditions!)

Salamander, below, is especially sweet ( mostly) but don’t tell the hikers!

21/01/2025

So many miles to ski… only 24 hours in a day

21/01/2025

Skiing yesterday in Sand Flat - Gambrill Park Rd at Tower Rd and on Fishing Creek Rd intersection with Hamburg Rd. Should be excellent thru next weekend.

17/01/2025

Yesterday near Delauter Road.

11/01/2025

Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow. Photos from today’s frozen landscape with all the skiing conditions anyone could need. Good forecast with nighttime temperatures already well below freezing and hope for blowing snow.

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.

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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!