Monday's snowstorm translates into the season's first big weekend for nordic buffs, with many ski centers opening in Maine and New Hampshire.

A reminder: Cross-country snow conditions can be accessed via two statewide websites. Ski Maine started working with the nordic centers last year, and its site cross-links to SnoCountry.com's omnibus online reporting service.

Ski New Hampshire compiles its own trail reports, which can be viewed online or accessed in two levels of detail (brief state summary recorded by the Ski NH staff) or in considerably expanded form (recorded by people at the centers) by calling 800-88-SKINH.

In other news...

Yesterday I spoke with Dave and Anne Carter, the personable couple who run Carter's X-C Ski Centers in Oxford and Bethel. Dave reported that he spent much of the summer cutting new ski routes on the Farwell Mountain side of his Bethel trail system.

A number of cross-country activities were announced at Wednesday's meeting of the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club.

Carolyn Arcand, who hopes to organize a Portland-based, adult-oriented nordic racing club -- to be known as the Portland Lobsters -- is still seeking contact with like-minded folks. Email her at maineskibum@gmail.com.

Carolyn also reports that she took the Ski Bum's advice, given at her first organizational meeting: She's joined the Coastal Nordic Ski Club, a very energetic Cumberland-based bunch of racing enthusiasts.

I'm including a few photos I shot last season in Maine and New Hampshire; all were taken at ski centers and touring trails that will definitely be open this weekend.

My selection doesn't represent a complete list of what's open this weekend -- just some appealing pix I like.

A group from the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club poses at Sunday River Cross Country Ski Center.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Jesse Hill, son in law of Dave and Anne Carter, helps skiers in their Bethel shop.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Portland's Riverside Golf Course has about three miles of well-groomed nordic trails, and it's a popular after-work workout for skiers with headlamps.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Maine Outdoor Adventure Club group at the covered bridge over the Ellis River at Jackson Ski Touring in New Hampshire.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Skiing through spectacular scenery is one of the big reasons to visit Great Glen Trails in New Hampshire.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

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