CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING & SNOWSHOEING

Bristol Harbour Resort
5410 Seneca Point Rd., Canandaigua; 585-396-2200 x1 www.bristolharbour.com
Groomed trails, open daily during daylight hours. Ski and limited snowshoe rentals available.

Bristol Mountain Summit Nordic Center
5589 South Hill Rd., Canandaigua; 585-374-6000 / Snow Report: 585-374-1114 www.bristolmountain.com/nordic-center
1.2km trail with lighting and snowmaking; additional 1.8km loop open weather permitting. Tentative operating schedule: December 9-March 11, Mon.-Sun. 9 am-9 pm. Ski rentals available.

Eagle Vale Golf Club
4344 Nine Mile Point Rd., Fairport; 585-377-5200 www.eaglevale.com
Semi-groomed trails, open 9 am-5 pm, daily, excluding holidays. Ski rentals available.

Genesee Country Village & Museum
1410 Flint Hill Rd., Mumford; 585-538-6822 www.gcv.org
Nearly 5 miles of marked trails available for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on weekends; Call or see website for hours. Ski and snowshoe rentals available.

Letchworth State Park
Parking at Visitor’s Center, Inspiration Point and Trailside Lodge, Castile Entrance, off Rt. 19A, Castile; 585-493-3600 www.nysparks.com
Groomed trails. Park hours: 6 am-11 pm, daily. Guided nature ski hikes offered on weekends beginning in January. Call for updates.

Mendon Ponds Park
Canfield Rd. and Douglas Rd., Pittsford/Mendon; 585-753-7275 monroecounty.gov/parks
Groomed trails, open during daylight hours. Best trails for snowshoeing located at Mendon Ponds Nature Center, on Pond Rd. near Clover St.

RMSC Cumming Nature Center
6472 Gulick Rd., Naples; 585-374-6160 www.rmsc.org
Re-opens December 28. 15 miles of groomed ski trails, plus 3-mile snowshoe loop. Volunteers from the Genesee Valley Nordic Ski Patrol monitor trails on weekends. Hours: Wed.-Fri. 9 am-3:30 pm; Sat.-Sun. 9 am-4:30 pm. Ski and snowshoe rentals available.

Monroe County Parks
Various Locations; 585-753-7275 www.monroecounty.gov/parks
Walking trails at all county parks available for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing during daylight hours. See website for park locations and downloadable maps, or call for information.

DOWNHILL SKIING & SNOWBOARDING

Brantling Ski & Snowboard Center
4015 Fish Farm Rd., Sodus; 315-331-2365 www.brantling.com
Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 4-9 pm; Fri. 4-10 pm; Sat. 9 am-5 pm (Dec.); Sat. 9 am-9 pm (Jan.-Feb.); Sun. 9 am-5 pm, plus special holiday hours. Call or see website for updates. Ski and snowboard rentals available.

Bristol Mountain Resort
5662 Rt. 64, Canandaigua; 585-374-6000 / Ski Report: 585-374-1100 bristolmountain.com
Hours: 9 am-4 pm, daily. Peak operating hours tentatively scheduled to begin December 9: Mon.-Fri. 9 am-10 pm; Sat.-Sun. 8 am-10 pm. Ski and snowboard rentals available.

Northampton Park
Hubbell Rd., Ogden; Northampton Lodge: 585-349-0901 / Swain Snow Report: 585-234-SNOW (7669) www.swain.com / www.monroecounty.gov/parks
Open ski hours scheduled for December 17-March 11. Call Lodge or Swain Resort for hours of operation. Ski rentals available.

Powder Mills Park
154 Park Rd., off Rt. 96, Pittsford; Powder Horn Lodge: 585-586-1470 / Swain Snow Report: 585-234-SNOW (7669) www.swain.com / www.monroecounty.gov/parks
Open ski hours scheduled for December 17-March 11. Call Lodge or Swain Resort for update and hours of operation. Ski rentals available.

Swain Resort
2275 Main St., Swain, NY; 607-545-6511 / Snow Report: 585-234-SNOW (7669) www.swain.com
Hours: Fri.-Mon. 9 am-9 pm; Tue.-Thu. 1 pm-9 pm. Ski and snowboard rentals available.

ICE SKATING

Churchville Park
N. Main St., Churchville; 585-753-7275 (Mon.-Fri.) / 585-753-7270 (Sat.-Sun.) www.monroecounty.gov/parks
Outdoor rink (weather dependent) located next to Church Lodge. Warming hut available. Hours vary, call for schedule.

Ellison Park
Blossom Rd.; 585-753-7275 (Mon.-Fri.) / 585-753-7270 (Sat.-Sun.) www.monroecounty.gov/parks
Outdoor rink (weather dependent) open during daylight hours, located on north side of park, lower Blossom Rd. Warming hut available.

Fairport Junction Ice Rink
Liftbridge Lane East, Downtown Fairport; 585-425-1170 www.fairportpartnership.org
Refrigerated outdoor rink open daily, noon-8 pm, weather permitting.

Genesee Valley Park Ice Arena
131 Elmwood Ave.; 585-428-7888 / Taped Information: 585-428-7889 www.cityofrochester.gov/GVPSC
Open skating Mon.-Fri. noon-1:15 pm; Sat. 5-6:15 pm; Sun. 2:30-3:45 pm (all ages); Tues., Wed. & Thurs. 10:30-11:45 am (ages 18 and over); Fri. 10-11:15 pm (ages 16 and over). Call for additional holiday hours and special events. Skate rentals and skate sharpening available.

Greater Canandaigua Civic Center
250 N. Bloomfield Rd., Canandaigua; 585-396-7230 www.gccc.org
Open skating hours vary, call for updates. Skate rentals and skate sharpening available.

Highland Park
Highland and South Aves.; 585-753-7275 (Mon.-Fri.) / 585-753-7270 (Sat.-Sun.) www.monroecounty.gov/parks
Outdoor rink (weather dependent) open during daylight hours, located off of South Ave., near School #12. Warming hut available.

Lakeshore Hockey Arena
123 Ling Rd.; 585-865-2800 x5 www.lakeshorehockeyarena.com
Open skating Fri. 8:30-10 pm; Sat. 6:15-7:45 pm for ages 12 and under with parent; Sat. 8:30-10 pm for ages 13 and older; Sun. 1:15-3 pm. Call or see website for additional holiday hours. Skate rentals and skate sharpening available.

Manhattan Square Park Ice Rink
353 Court St., Downtown Rochester; 585-428-7541 www.cityofrochester.gov/manhattansquare
Outdoor rink open Mon.-Sat. noon-8:30 pm; Sun. noon-7 pm. Call for open skating hours. Limited skate rentals available.

RIT’s Frank Ritter Memorial Ice Arena
51 Lomb Memorial Dr.; 585-475-2223 www.rit.edu/studentaffairs/ciar
Open skating Mon.-Thurs. 12:15-1:45 pm; Fri. 12:15-1:30 pm, 8-10 pm; Sat. 2:30-4:30 pm, 8-10 pm; Sun. 12:15-2:15 pm, 2:30-4:30 pm. *Hours subject to change, call for the most up-to-date information. Skate rentals and skate sharpening available.

Scottsville Ice Arena
1800 Scottsville-Chili Rd., Scottsville; 585-889-1810 x4 www.scottsvilleicearena.com
Open skating Sat. 7-9 pm; Sun. 3-5 pm. Skate rentals and skate sharpening available.

Sports Centre at MCC
2700 Brighton-Henrietta T.L. Rd. on the MCC Campus; 585-424-4625 x230 tscmcc.com
Open skating hours vary. Call or see website for schedule. Skate rentals and skate sharpening available.

SUNY Brockport Tuttle Ice Arena
New Campus Dr., Brockport; 585-395-2244 www.brockport.edu/recservices/ice_arena
Open skating hours vary, call for schedule. Skate rentals/skate sharpening available.

SUNY Geneseo Wilson Ice Arena
Park St., Geneseo; 585-245-5350 www.geneseo.edu/intramurals/open_recreation
Open skating hours vary, call or see website for schedule.

Thomas Creek Ice Arena
80 Lyndon Rd., Fairport; 585-223-2160 x1 www.tcice.com
Open skating hours vary, call or see website for schedule. Skate rentals and skate sharpening available.

Webster Ice Arena
865 Publishers Pkwy.; 585-787-3530 www.websterarena.org
Open skating hours vary, call or see website for schedule. Skate rentals available.

SLEDDING

Monroe County Parks
585-753-7275 (Mon.-Fri.) / 585-753-7270 (Sat.-Sun.) www.monroecounty.gov/parks
Designated hills for sledding are located at the following parks: (See website for downloadable maps, or call for information.)
*Black Creek Park - near Woodside Lodge, off of Union St., Spencerport/Chili.
*Ellison Park - at corner of Blossom and Landing Rds.
*Mendon Ponds Park (2 hills) - near East Lodge, off Canfield Rd., and across from Cavalry Lodge, Douglas Rd., Honeoye Falls.
*Northampton Park - across from the Ski Lodge, Hubbell Rd., Ogden.
*Powder Mills Park - near North Lodge, off Woolston Rd., Pittsford.
*Webster Park - Parkview Lodge, Holt and E. Lake Rds., Webster.

SNOWMOBILING

Eastern Monroe County Trails
585-234-0095 www.websterridgerunners.com
40 miles of groomed trails maintained by Webster Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club connecting eastern Monroe County to western Wayne County. Trailheads with parking available at Granskofski’s and Bill Gray’s Restaurants in Ontario; Ginegaw Park in Walworth; Carey Lake and Blue Heron Hills in Macedon. See website for maps and more information.

Hamlin Beach State Park
Lake Ontario Parkway, Hamlin; 585-964-2462 x221 www.nysparks.com
6 miles of groomed trails, with heated comfort station located in Area #1. Hours: 6 am-11 pm, daily. *By permit only after dusk. Permits available at park office, 8 am-3 pm, Mon.-Fri..

Letchworth State Park
Mt. Morris, Perry and Castile Entrances; 585-493-3600 / Hotline: 585-493-3660 www.nysparks.com
25 miles of groomed trails. Hours: 6 am-11 pm, daily. *By permit only after dusk. Permits and maps available on website and at park office, 8 am-5 pm, Mon.-Fri.

Southern Monroe County Trails
Henrietta Hill and Gully Riders Snow Phone: 585-234-4523 www.hillandgullyriders.org
23 miles of groomed trails maintained by Henrietta Hill and Gully Riders Snowmobile Club. Trailheads with parking available at Martin Road Park and Silvarole Trucking Company Parking Lot in Henrietta, and points along the Genesee Valley Greenway Trail, including Brook Road in Chili, and Canawaugus Park in Scottsville. See website for maps and more information.

Western Monroe County Trails
Hilton Sno-Flyers Snowmobile Club Snow Phone: 585-234-0629 www.hiltonsnoflyers.net
120 miles of groomed trails maintained by Hilton Sno-Flyers Snowmobile Club, connecting to Genesee and Orleans County trails. Trailheads with parking available at Churchville Park’s Cottonwood Lodge; Scottsville Ice Arena, Hamlin Beach State Park and the Dakota Grill, 913 Rt. 18, Hilton. See website for current info and events.

SNOW TUBING

Bristol Harbor Resort
5410 Seneca Point Rd., Canandaigua; 585-396-2200 www.bristolharbour.com
Open daily during daylight hours. Tubes available on a first come, first served basis.

Glacier Ridge Snow Tubing
Doug Miller Family Sports Park, 4618 Ridge Rd. West, Spencerport; 585-420-TUBE (8823) www.glacierridgesnowtubing.com
Hours: Fri.-Sat. 9 am-10 pm; Sun. 9 am-8 pm, plus additional school holiday hours. Tubes are supplied.

Gunny’s Gorge Tube Park at Swain Resort
2275 Main St., Swain, NY; 607-545-6511 / Snow Phone: 585-234-SNOW (7669) www.swain.com
Hours: Sat. 10 am-9 pm; Sun. 10 am-5 pm, plus additional holiday hours. Tubes supplied by Swain, only.

Letchworth State Park
Trailside Lodge, Castile, off Rt. 19A, Castile; 585-493-3600 www.nysparks.com
Hours: 9 am-3:30 pm, daily. Limited number of tubes available for public use. Visitors allowed to bring blow-up tubes only.

PolarWave Snow Tubing
Harloff Rd., Batavia; 1-888-727-2794 www.polarwavebatavia.com
Open Sat.-Sun. beginning December 26, plus additional holiday and school break hours. Call or see website for updates. Tubes supplied by PolarWave, only.

Snowshoeing Making Strides in Popularity

By Mark Tichenor

Winter sports are often love/hate activities. Not everybody enjoys extended exposure to cold, and lots of people cringe at the thought of hurtling down a mountain, plunging through treacherous ice, or getting beaned in the face with a hard rubber projectile. Fortunately, snowshoeing offers a great outdoor winter workout with plenty of adventure, but less of an extreme edge.

Like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing began as the solution to a transportation problem. Ancient people developed snowshoes as a way to distribute their body weight, allowing them to walk on the surface of deep snow instead of plunging in up to the knee with every step. In the 20th century, the broad, racquet-shaped shoes were modified into a more compact and lightweight form, complete with bindings and gripping cleats. The introduction of the sport snowshoe is a godsend for avid hikers, who can now enjoy their favorite trails any month out of the year,

Unsurprisingly, the popularity of snowshoeing is skyrocketing. For one thing, it’s a great cardiovascular workout at a time of year during which outdoor running becomes a frustrating shower of slush and personal sadness. According to Snowshoeing Magazine (yes, there is a Snowshoeing Magazine), striding along the drifts can burn up to 600 calories per hour.

Ironically, this form of exercise can be very peaceful and relaxing. With fewer people out on snowbound trails, the snowshoer can get much closer to nature and wildlife, experiencing the kind of peace and solitude usually associated more with backcountry hiking than a county park, ten minutes away from your car.

It’s also easy to get started. The sport’s boilerplate line is “if you can walk, you can snowshoe.” While there are some tricks to feeling efficient and natural on snowshoes, no special skill beyond basic ambulation is required to get going, and, unlike skiing, if you misstep you won’t go face first through a giant spruce.

Snowshoeing is also maybe the lowest-cost winter sport. A decent pair will set you back $100-$200, although you can feel free to pay more for the hoity-toity models. Many retailers, such as Medved Running and Walking Outfitters in Pittsford, offer snowshoe rental for as little as $10 per day. And almost all trails are completely free of charge to use.

If you’re one of those insufferable people who need to turn everything into a competition, you’ll be pleased to find an avid snowshoe racing circuit. The World Snowshoe Championship takes place from March 9-12, 2012, at Foret Montmorency, Quebec. You’ll find many local races too, such as the Frozen Assets 5K Citizens Race at the Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area, about 45 minutes south of Rochester.

Ultimately, the allure of snowshoeing is the freedom it gives you–the liberty to enjoy otherwise impassable spaces with ease, as well as a way to experience familiar outdoor environments in their breathtaking winter glory. And how you experience that is a very personal thing. Be it for competition, fitness, or winter birdwatching, the snowshoes are but the tool. How you travel is your decision.