Despite the paucity of snow on the ground, a crowd of cross country skiers gathered last night at Jackson Ski Touring for the club's December potluck supper.

A crowd of cross country skiers gathered last night at Jackson Ski Touring, in Jackson, N.H., for a potluck supper
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

The featured event for the night was a silent auction of old trail signs -- a fund-raiser for the non-profit foundation that exists to maintain the renowned network of 150 km of trails in and around Jackson, New Hampshire.

The Ski Bum picked up one of the signs that once directed skiers in the village network.

The Ski Bum purchased a sign that once directed skiers in the Jackson Village trail system
THOM PERKINS PHOTO

Among the many things that sets Jackson apart from other ski touring centers is the ski school's roster of offerings. I chatted with ski school director Marianne Borowski, whose programs go far beyond basic instruction to embrace structured and informal activities devoted to social interaction and health.

Jackson's ski school director Marianne Borowski runs a big and varied roster of programs that go far beyond basic how-to instruction
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Marianne had been out teaching her teachers earlier in the day, using a strip of machine-made snow behind the touring center office.

Thom offered a rather dismal assessment of the economics of snowmaking for Jackson Ski Touring. He noted that by using borrowed snowmaking equipment, he'd succeeded in making a skiable strip that measures 450 by 75 feet. Barely enough for Marianne to conduct a minimal level of lessons.

Yet to buy, maintain and operate that equipment would cost about $9,000 per year, Thom explained.

"If I could make a kilometer of snow for $3,000 I would do it," he added. "But I can't justify the money it takes to make a patch of snow. For us it doesn't make economic sense."

Marianne will be out on that pricey patch of white stuff this morning giving lessons. Among the benefits of joining the club -- same as buying a season pass -- is a free tune-up lesson. That's on this morning's schedule.

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