Maine woods eco-lodge

The Washington Post reports on a Maine eco-lodge reached only in the winter by skis. Diane Daniel writes about her trip.

We were looking for a silent, snowy and achingly beautiful winter weekend. Five hours north of Boston, in the western Maine woods, we found it.

Even better, we spent two nights in off-the-grid full-service comfort deep in those woods, thanks to one of the most ambitious environmental projects in the state: the Maine Huts & Trails system, a nascent network of year-round hiking, biking and skiing trails connecting alternative-powered, eco-friendly huts where guests can spend the night.

Read the full story: Deep in the Maine woods

Photo from Maine Huts & Trails

Mapping out green ski developments

New Scientist reports on new geo-software that will help ski resort developers be eco-conscious.

Developers Jordan Silberman, a geographer at the University of Delaware in Newark and colleague Peter Rees created the geographical information system (GIS). Prospective developers need only to type in their business model plans:

The software then homes in on the preferred general region and seeks out those locations with the combinations of available land and humidity levels most likely to produce powder snow. Among many other factors, it also analyses accessibility by road, slope steepness - to work out the risk of avalanches - and the likely erosion from tree felling. A key factor is the ready availability of electricity to power the ski lifts.

Read the full story: Geo software aims to avoid ski eco-disasters

Photo by Ulli Seer / Getty

Idaho crosscountry ski spots

The Idaho Statesman reports on Nordic ski spots around the state.

Included are Bogus Basin (picture left) , Idaho City park n' ski, and Lake Cascade state park loop (description follows):

What: A 1.2-mile groomed trail.

Coolest things: The one-way loop trail with a variety of terrain is available for the first time this winter. It's a quick ski through the Van Wyck and Ridgeview recreation areas, which have sweeping views of West Mountain and Lake Cascade. Restrooms and trail maps are available at the trailhead.

Trail fee: Parking fee required - either the Idaho State Parks annual pass or the daily motorized vehicle entrance fee of $4 ($5 starting Jan. 1). No other trails fees required.

Distances are from Boise.

Read the full story: Nordic nirvana

Photo from Idaho Statesman