Annual XC Ski Getaway - Landgrove Inn, VT

For almost as long as Holly and I have known each other, we've been heading off to Vermont for a couple of days of XC skiing every winter. For much of that time, we've been staying at the Landgrove Inn, an old country-style inn with lots of charm, located in North Landgrove. You may not find that town on any map, but it's northwest of Londonderry and southwest of Weston. They've had scads of snow this winter, and we caught the owner, Tom, on the roof clearing off some of the excess.



Because of Wednesday's storm, we'd gotten a late start, and had no time for skiing when we arrived. So we settled in for a nice dinner at the Inn. Afterwards, we went out snowshoeing in the dark for a while, and spent the rest of the evening reading and talking with Tom and some of his other guests in the cozy lounge.



Thursday morning found us at the Vermont Country Store, in nearby Weston. Even though we both hate to shop, we always make a stop when we're in the area because of the many unique things to be found here.

On Thursday afternoon, we went skiing at nearby Wild Wings Ski Touring Center, in Peru. The trails were nicely groomed, and the woods were beautiful. This is an old-time, family-owned, no-frills cross-country ski center, with lots of snow, good prices, and best of all, no skating allowed! The trails are relatively narrow, and are only groomed for classical skiing.



Thursday's dinner was at the Inn at Weston, a place we'd never tried in many previous trips to the area. Then it was back to our own Inn and more quiet time in the lounge, playing games, reading, and talking.

On Friday, before checking out to come home, we skied on the Landgrove's own trail network, a modest one, which had so far only been "groomed" by a pass with a snowmobile. The real grooming was to take place on Friday, but we were out there before it happened. Many of the trails are in open meadows and along a stream, with others deep in the pine woods.



Arriving back home Friday afternoon, we found mounds of snow already turned brown and black since Wednesday's storm. Vermont was still very white, in stark contrast. A couple of inches on Saturday will freshen us up again and continue this wonderful winter.