Winter Snow Resources

(Any reference to a specific dealer is not an endorsement, but only a suggested source.)

Gear

A selection of links that help you decide what type of gear needed for winter activities.

Safety Notes

Here are some rules and practices that are best followed to decrease your chances of becoming injured, lost or frozen (in part or whole.)

Get Ready for Icy Winter Hiking - In order to safely navigate our local trails in the winter, you need more than just good hiking boots. You need some kind of traction platform. It is treacherous to be on the icy trails without such equipment. All the following products are linked to vendors to show you what they are like. This does not mean that we are recommending any particular vendor. Traditionally in-step crampons have been used for years and are still available. They are very aggressive on hard ice. If you have access to older gear, you might find a pair in the attic or garage. Modern non-technical lightweight crampons are available such as the ultralight KTS Crampons. Less aggressive and recommended for general use are Stabil-Icers about $59+ and available at the Cranston REI. There are three types of Stabil-Icers for various aggressiveness and price. Similar and a little more aggressive (review link) are the Katoola Micro Spikes, $59, available via direct order, and also at REI. There are less expensive options that we have tested and can recommend. The Yaktrax is about $20.00 and they will do a good job, but they are not as durable and do not grip hard ice as well. REI and EMS carry them, as does Dicks Sporting Goods and Sierra Trading Post (reduced price). (Mine pulled apart while shoveling show in my driveway, which probably put more stress on them than designed for.) As of Nov. 15, 2011, available at the local Ocean State Job Lot stores, is a much less aggressive and cheaper ($6) alternative, seen in these photographs. Here are Backpacker Gear Reviews for some of the mentioned traction devices.

Winter Hiking Equipment and Clothing (new)
The Northern Hiking committee presented a Seminar on winter gear and clothing at REI Cranston on Dec. 2, 2010. The linked article is derived from the handouts provided by the AMC leaders. Information is provided on clothing, boots, gear, and etiquette. Click here to read more.

Good Environmental Practices

Winter Hiking Leave No Trace Techniques (new)
As a growing number of skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers, telemarkers venture out in winter for day or overnight trips, the need to practice Leave No Trace winter techniques is now greater than ever. Click here to read more.

Resources

Websites that promote, support and provide information on winter snowsports.

Cross-country ski areas within reasonable driving distance:

Windblown cross country skiing and snowshoeing (www.windblownxc.com) is located in Ipswich, NH, approximately 90 miles and 2 hrs from Providence. A family operation with rentals, lessons, and a lodge, with about 25 miles of XC ski trails. When the snow melts in RI, there is a good chance that there is still snow at Windblown.
Great Brook Farm State Park (www.greatbrookski.com) is located in Carlisle, Mass. about 1 1/4 hr drive for a 60 miles from Providence. They have over 10 miles of machine-groomed trails for cross country skiing from December 1 to March 20, snow conditions permitting.
Pulaski Memorial Recreation Area (www.riparks.com/pulaski.htm) is a "day use" facility that has free xc-skiing when there is snow. (Not often lately) It is located in the northwest corner of the State. There are 10 miles of groomed trails available. Paved parking and new restrooms make this place an idea local place to xc-ski. This 100 acre facility is located within the 4000 acre George Washington Management Area, which allows hunting during ski season, skiers are required to wear regulation hunting orange when sking. (Note if you have dialup internet access it will take about 10 minutes to download and view this park page.)
Goddard Memorial State Park (www.riparks.com/goddard.htm) - Located in the city of Warwick, this 489-acre park has wide open grassy areas for XC skiing.
Lincoln Woods State Park (www.riparks.com/lincoln.htm) - Located in the town of Lincoln, this 627-acre park has flat areas in the lower part of the park that can be used for XC skiing.
Eastern Connecticut offers XC-skiing in many of their State Parks (www.visitconnecticut.com) - Depending on where you live in RI, some of them may be within easy driving distance to catch some xc-skiing after a recent snowfall.
Southeastern Massachusetts offers XC-skiing in their State parks (www.mass.gov/dcr/recreate/skiing.htm) depending on the snow conditions. F. Gilbert Hills State Forest in Foxboro is the closest to RI.

Cross –country ski equipment packages and snowshoes - Two retailers that provide sales and rentals of these items:

New England Backpacker in Worcester, Mass. See www.newenglandbackpacker.com for details.
The Ski House in Somerset, Mass. See www.theskihouse.com for details. Also the Ski House sells and rents downhill ski equipment.

Unfortunately, due to the vagaries of winter in Rhode Island, it is not cost effective for Rhode Island stores to stock cross-country skis:

The EMS store in Middletown (www.ems.com) ( 846-6766) is no longer offering cross-country ski rentals (they offered them last year), but is selling off beginner level cross-country ski packages at bargain prices ($99 for ski and binding and about $40 for boots). They have some of these ski packages available (not all sizes are available). If there is enough phone call demand for such skis for either purchase or rental, they said they would bring them in from EMS distribution points out of State.
The EMS store in Cranston offers snow shoes, but no cross-country skis.
The REI store in Cranston(www.rei.com) offers only downhill skis and snow shoes for sale, but not rentals.

rev.4-1-2011