Cross-Country Skiing and

Snowshoeing at Eastman Cross

Country Center- PO Box 53, Grantham, NH 03753

Eastman Cross Country Center, (603-863-6772, www.eastmannh.org/ski) is on a golf course within a community association in south central New Hampshire close to Route 89. There are about 36 km of groomed trails for classic and skate xc skiing. There are plenty of fun trails and the great grooming makes it even easier, so bring the kids.

The trails run up, down, and around the golf course fairways and also in and out of the forest. There is also a sledding hill and an ice skating pond.

Ski or snowshoe to John's Glen Warming Hut or go for a short jaunt and enjoy soup or a snack in the xc center. The trails are groomed regularly with a Pisten Bully. Expect to see volunteer hosts out along the trails. Many of these hosts live in the homes in the association.

Eastman Cross Country Center has a ski shop for repairs, products for sale, and rental equipment. On weekdays, rental xc gear is $18 for adults and $13 for kids and on the weekend rent for $28 and $18 respectively. Snowshoes are available for $15 for a full day, $9 for a 1/2 day, and 2 hours for $6. On weekends, snowshoe rentals are $24 for 2 days. Ice skates can be rented during the week at $6 for 2 hours and for kids it is $5. Half day ice skates rent for $8 and $7 respectively, and a full day skates are $14 for adults and $12 for kids.

The ski lessons are available as semi-private at $15 and private at $30 at 10 AM and 1 PM. There are adult clinics on Wednesdays at 10:30 AM (free for season pass holders and $5 for day visitors) and junior clinics are held after school on Wednesdays for $10 including rental equipment.

Nearby alpine skiing in the region in New Hampshire at Sunapee (the largest ski area in the region), Ragged Mountain, Dartmouth Skiway, and Whaleback. Eastman has a complete list of restaurants Eastman Dining and lodging facilities in the region on its Web site at Eastman Lodging

Some of the events at Eastman Cross Country include a Women's Ski Clinic on Jan 13 at 9 AM; Nordic Nibbles food event served by local restaurants along the trails on Jan 19 at 6 PM David's House Family Winter Fest & Chili Cook-off on Feb 10; and St. PatrickD's Day Family BBQ on Mar 17.

Directions: From Interstate 93 north toward Concord, NH, take Route 89 north to Exit 13, turn right and the next right is the entrance to Eastman. Turn right at Greensward Drive and the Eastman Cross Country Center sign will be on the left on Clubhouse Lane.