Among the things to give thanks for at this season, one that I think of daily is the work of the crew at the Rikert Nordic Center at Breadloaf. It’s been a low snow year around here, but Barney Hodges, Mike Hussey and their entire Middlebury College crew have kept the skiing world-class — every morning they groom out a creamy ribbon of snow through the woods.
Not surprisingly, expert skiers from around New England keep showing up; we’re blessed with the best cross-country skiing in the Northeast. But it’s most fun to watch the college, high school and youth racers hard at work honing their skill and endurance, and the elementary-school kids from around the county on skis for this first time.
When things work this well, it’s easy to take them for granted. But the fact that we’re able to ski every day on a beautiful track is a great gift to the region.
Bill McKibben
Ripton