An Outdoor Recreation Paradise
By
John Morton
Posted August 28th, 2010
Last month, I read Bill McKibben’s new book, Eaarth. It impressed me enough to devote my August column to thoughts stimulated by the book. Under normal circumstances that would have been enough, but recent newspaper headlines and NPR commentaries have kept the book on my mind.
In Russia, daytime temperatures reaching 104 degrees Fahrenheit have contributed to conditions that have spawned more than 250 wildfires consuming more than 500,000 acres and blanketed much of the country in toxic smoke.
Unusually heavy rains in northwest Pakistan have created the worst flooding in that nation’s history. About 1,300 people have died and as many as 13 million have been affected by the rising waters. Bridges, roads, schools, homes, and entire villages have been destroyed in the path of the flood.
Closer to home (relatively speaking) the Petermann Glacier in northwest Greenland recently calved off an iceberg four times the size of Manhattan. This iceberg, as it melts over the next four years, will release the amount of water that flows down the Hudson River in four years! In other words, for those who doubt McKibben’s appraisal of the world we currently inhabit, just read the newspaper.
There is a silver lining, however, in this otherwise ominous cloud. One of the changes we will probably encounter before too long is the increased cost of travel. Those of us who have enjoyed skiing in Montana, hiking in Colorado, or paddling in northern Quebec may have to find our recreational adventures closer to home. The good news, which we often take for granted, is that we live in an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise.
For starters, few locations in North America have a more distinct four seasons than northern New England. Our summers are warm enough for swimming and boating, while our winters are still cold enough for skiing and skating.
In addition, we have a favorable topography for most outdoor sports: a smattering of mountains, lots of gently rolling hills, and not too much flat ground. I could never understand how Jim Ryan maintained his motivation to become one of the world’s best runners, when most of his training was on flat roads separating endless corn fields.
We have a wide array of recreational opportunities almost out our back doors. Here’s a sample. Every Tuesday evening, Joe Defner, Thetford Academy’s cross-country running coach, hosts a fun run on the school’s 5K course. No entry fee, no pre-registration, just show up before 6 p.m. to get your name on the list. If I were in decent shape, I could jog to the school from my house, do the 5K, and jog home.
On a recent, spectacular Sunday morning, my wife Kay suggested we put the canoe in the river. It’s about 10 minutes from our home to a boat landing where the Ompompanoosuc joins the Connecticut. Our Lab, Rosie, loves the canoe, and the paddling never gets boring as she shifts from one gunnel to the other, spotting birds. Speaking of birds, bald eagles are back on the Connecticut River and are they ever impressive from a canoe!
Kay and I sort of met on a hike more than a decade ago, and sometimes if the weather cooperates we return to Cube Mountain in Orford, NH, as an outdoor anniversary celebration. This year’s hike was perfect: a warm, clear day, no bugs, a nice breeze, and beautiful views on the top. Cube is a 20-minute drive from home.
Last weekend, daughter Julie and her partner, Ericka, wanted to try out their new road bikes. Kay, son Blair, and I joined them on a terrific loop on the New Hampshire side of the river, down toward Hanover, then north on Route 10 through Lyme, then back to the East Thetford bridge. The starting point is less than 10 minutes from home.
In the winter, it’s even better. We can see the Dartmouth Skiway in the New Hampshire hills to the east. Even with the bone-jarring frost heaves, it’s less than a 20-minute drive. We have a pond just down the hill from the house for skating, and the surrounding woods are laced with trails for cross-country skiing.
Bill McKibben has made a believer out of me. I know we’re in for some dramatic changes, probably within the next decade. But the good news is that those of us who love the outdoors, and are fortunate enough to live in Vermont, will probably be able to enjoy our traditional activities with only modest adjustments for years to come.
John Morton is a former Olympic biathlete and Nordic ski coach. He lives in Thetford Center, VT, where he designs Nordic ski trails. You can reach him through his website, www.mortontrails.com.
