Experience Cortland Takes on Cross-Country Skiing at Lime Hollow

If you’re anything like me, the idea of cross-country skiing might bring up visions of graceful gliding through snowy landscapes, the wind gently ruffling your hair as you effortlessly zoom down pristine trails. Reality, however, was a little less graceful and a whole lot more… exciting. But hey, that’s what makes it fun, right?

Learning to Cross-Country Ski at Lime Hollow: My Hilarious (and Humbling) Adventure

The team at Experience Cortland recently had the opportunity to learn the art of cross-country skiing at Lime Hollow Nature Center. The executive director, Michelle, already had some downhill skiing experience. As for me? Well, the closest I’ve come to skiing was that one time I tried on ski boots in a store and nearly fell over just standing still. So when I got the chance to learn from Simon, a certified Nordic Ski Patrol expert, I was both excited and nervous in equal measure.

The adventure started with Lime Hollow Nature Center Naturalist, Simon, helping us pick out the correct equipment, which was both an educational and humbling experience. You might think selecting ski gear would be a breeze, but I soon learned there was more to it than just picking a pair of skis and poles. Turns out, skis come in different lengths, laces need to be tightened just so, and and there is a unique technique to connecting ones boots to the skis that involves a fair amount of coordination.

Once we had our gear, Simon led us to the small practice course at Lime Hollow, which was like a tiny taste of the real deal. Michelle was eager to hit the trails, but I was just hoping I didn’t face-plant into the snow within the first five minutes. As a first-timer, my equipment list didn’t just include skis and poles; it also required a pillow for my bottom because I was going down... a lot. Seriously, I fell so many times, I think I left my own personal snow angel on that practice course. But each time I fell, I laughed—after all, isn’t that what skiing is all about?

Simon was great at teaching us how to safely fall (which, let's be honest, I was already an expert at), stop, slow down, and even make "flowers" in the snow (that’s fancy ski talk for making snow angles with your skis). And then there was the “turtle technique” for getting back up—basically, it’s a mix of flailing, rolling, and hoping you don’t hurt yourself too badly in the process. The whole experience was filled with laughter, falls, and a sense of accomplishment every time I got back up (even if it was after five attempts).

Now that we've mastered (or managed in my case) the basics, it was time to hit the trails. Lime Hollow has 2.25 miles of cross-country trails, plus a more than 10 miles of ungroomed paths for those feeling adventurous. We stuck to the groomed cross-county trails, and honestly, it felt incredible to finally glide along. I wasn’t exactly gliding gracefully like a Nordic pro, but I was moving, and that’s a win in my book. So, I took my skis off and followed Michelle and Simon into the woods (someone has got to take photos, after all). Michelle and our instructor made it look easy, sailing down hills, marching back up and whizzing along the creek.

Simon wisely instructed us, "Look where you want to go. This is the only time at the Nature Center I tell people not to hug trees, because if you look at them, you'll probably end up wrapped around them." Sage advice, regardless of your level of expertise. Fortunately for us, we left the woods without incident and made our way back to the center to warm up.

If skiing’s not your thing, don’t worry—Lime Hollow also rents snowshoes. Snowshoeing and cross-country ski equipment are available for both kids and adults, and you’re always welcome to bring your own gear. You can rent equipment from 10am to 4pm daily, and if you're really serious about learning, you can schedule a private lesson or join a group workshop on weekends throughout the season.

In the end, I can confidently say that cross-country skiing is a lot more fun than I expected—though it’s definitely a workout for your legs (and your sense of humor). Michelle caught on quickly and made it look easy, but for me? Well, I’ll just say I got plenty of practice falling, and I had an absolute blast doing it.

Moral of the story; if you’re in the Cortland area and looking for an adventure, head over to Lime Hollow Nature Center, and don’t forget the pillow for your bum. You might just find that, like me, you’re laughing all the way to the finish line

For more information about Lime Hollows Nordic Center, and a schedule of their upcoming cross-country ski workshops visit limehollow.org or call (607) 662-4632.

Share your Cortland County adventures with us for a chance to be featured! Tag @experiencecortland607 and use hashtag #experiencecortland.