Anyone cross-country ski?

[d000hg]

It can be quite strenuous. You'd probably be better off with snow-shoes.

See above - tried that. When I see people crossing flat ground - like a frozen lake - it looks so effortless. Put your feet in the tracks and push with your arms every now and then... my kind of exercise

[d000hg]

Well we enjoyed a lovely week in Lapland, thanks.

Liked snow-shoeing a bit better this time. It's great being able to walk anywhere but they really don't work like on TV with the snow up there; you still sink thigh deep or more at times and if you fall it's a right PITA

Did a beginners' XC skiing lesson around the frozen lake. Glad we did - watching everyone else effortlessly gliding along I was totally unprepared for how unstable I felt just standing on the damn things!

After a couple of hours I can move around OK and go down small inclines (how steep a tiny hill seems when you're on skis!) but I cannot go uphill for toffee. Barring the total leper "walk up sideways" technique, on even very minor gradients I just end up sliding backwards until I fall on my arse!

Learning to ski in a location where the residents learn as toddlers and it's a mandatory part of school, sure makes you feel embarrassed to learn