Lebanon
We were completely charmed. It was the perfect New England scene, encapsulating so much of what I was growing to love about the Upper Valley: the small towns, the town greens, the community effort and appreciation for simple (almost wholesome) activities. I got the feeling looking at the ice skaters on the green that it was an activity that had been taking place there for generations. Whether or not that was true, it made me feel more connected to the Upper Valley.
It also started my fascination with these outdoor rinks that pop up around the region each winter, many of which are created and kept up by dedicated volunteers and town recreation departments.
One of those rinks is at Sharon Elementary School, which has been up for about six or seven winters, said Steve Gagliardone, a member of the Sharon Community Rink Association.
Each year, the nonprofit committee hosts a rink-raising party where community members help set it up each season.
“For us, it’s our town green in the winter,” Gagliardone said. “It’s been an amazing transformation of our community around outdoor winter recreation.”
The Sharon Fire Department, also a volunteer organization, loads its tanker truck 17 times with water from Quation Brook.
“It’s an all-day affair and it takes about four to six fire department volunteers, so they’re committing a lot to helping us out,” said Gagliardone, who credited firefighter Andrew Brackin with leading the effort this year. “It’s fantastic to have their support because without it we wouldn’t have the rink.”
Students at Sharon Elementary will use the rink during gym classes or recess.
“As soon as put it up, the school made commitment to get every student out on the ice,” Gagliardone said. “Every kid has skates. Every grade goes out there and uses it.”
There also are sticks and pucks for kids who want to play hockey. On Thursday nights, pickup hockey games take place.
“We try to get kids, even small kids, involved,” Gagliardone said. Teams for an upcoming Feb. 3 hockey tournament that benefits the fire department must have two children on each six-person squad.
“It truly is a community effort to get this thing and maintain it,” Gagliardone said.
It’s also a prime example of the kind of grassroots community effort the Upper Valley is known for.
Despite my interest in ice skating outdoors, I haven’t made as much of an effort to use them, instead going to an indoor arena when I wanted to do laps. Last Thursday evening, I stopped by the rinks at Pat Walsh Park on Bank Street Extension in Lebanon.
The park has two rinks: one for ice skating and one for hockey. I laced up my thrift store figure skates and took to the ice. The temperature in my car read 20 degrees, but I quickly ascertained that the thermometer was lying. It was cold. Really cold. And despite my down jacket and gloves, despite the thick leggings I had on, I barely lasted 15 minutes on the ice.
But here’s the thing: Those 15 minutes were magical. I loved the sound my skate blades made as they glided over the bumps. I loved watching the winter sunset, something I don’t do often enough. I loved being on the ice with small children who were easily faster (and much better skaters) than I am.
I wasn’t viewing the postcard. I was in it. It’s an experience I encourage you to try (albeit with much warmer clothing).
Ice Skating on Ponds and Lakes
The mecca of outdoor ice skating in the Upper Valley is the Lake Morey Trail in Fairlee. The trail is maintained by the Lake Morey Resort and is free to use.
“On a Saturday, you can get 600-plus people out on the trail,” said Lisa Avery, director of recreation services at the resort. She had just come in from clearing off the nearly 4½ mile trail when we spoke by phone last week. “There’s a big myth that we Zamboni the trail. We don’t; it would take a month to get it around.”
Instead, they use a combination of four-wheelers, trucks and golf carts outfitted with brushes.
“It’s very peaceful to go out there, particularly in the morning,” Avery said.
The ice is best after a day or so of warmer temperatures when a thin layer of water forms then refreezes.
“Mother nature comes around with the sun and smoothes it off,” Avery said.
While lower temperatures may tempt people to stay away, Avery said it isn’t one of the main factors to watch out for.
“As long as there’s no wind and there’s sun, it’s gorgeous out there,” she said. “Even if there is a little wind … any time is wonderful to be out there, to be honest.”
Lake Morey has hockey, figure and Nordic skates available for a rental fee at its Skate Shack on weekends. People can park at the resort or at the field across the street. Access to the trail is through the resort parking lot.
“We want families to get out there and have a really good time,” Avery said. “There’s little kids on strollers and parents skating and pushing them.”
Those who choose to ice skate on area ponds and lakes should exercise caution and make sure the ice is thick enough before going out on it.
“Some people say if it’s 4 inches or thicker you can walk on it,” said Randy Richardson, development director at the Upper Valley Trails Alliance. “Most people will say 6 inches to be safe.”
People can use hand drills, known as augers, to drill a hole in the ice and then use a measuring device to gauge its depth. Just because the ice might be thick enough in one spot doesn’t mean it’s the same thickness throughout the body of water, said Richardson, an experienced ice skater.
“People who do it year to year tend to know it, but they’re still going to check,” he said. “Only go on the stuff where an experienced person or professional has checked the ice and know that it’s safe.”
Ice fishermen are particularly good guides when it comes to checking the ice. If you see shanties up with vehicles parked near them, chances are the ice is strong enough to skate on.
An area where a stream empties into a body of water may not be as safe. The sun, naturally, also affects the thickness of the ice.
“If the ice is black … that usually means it’s more likely to be thicker,” Richardson said. “If it’s bubbly and lighter, then it’s not. But the snow tends to make those visual cues vanish pretty quickly.”
After checking the ice to make sure it’s thick enough, people can create their own trails using a shovel to clear off the snow. Be wary of ice skating on frozen, flowing bodies of water.
“Rivers are the most dangerous,” Richardson said. “They’re highly variable in terms of where the water is flowing.”
He also recommends wearing a helmet.
“That’s hard to get people to do,” he said.
Chelsea: Heath Field, Route 110.
Claremont: Arrowhead Recreation Center, 18 Robert Easter Way. Open Friday, 6-9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. The city has plans to put one up at Moody Park, 152 Maple Ave.
Fairlee: Lake Morey Trail, located at 82 Clubhouse Road. Free to use trail, which is maintained by Lake Morey Resort. Rentals available at the Skate Shack, which is open Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Check conditions on Lake Morey Resort Facebook page.
Hanover: Occom Pond, 10 Hilton Field. Free. Dartmouth-owned. Rentals available at Dartmouth Outing Club House on Oak Hill. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For prices, visit https://outdoors.dartmouth.edu/services/xc_ski_center.html. Bernice A. Ray Elementary School, 26 Reservoir Road.
Hartford: Frost Park, 130 South St., Wilder.
Lebanon: Pat Walsh Park, Bank Street Extension. One for ice skaters and one for pick-up hockey games. Open 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Lights turn off at 9:30 p.m. Warming hut open 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Free rentals available. Check rink status at LebanonNH.gov/Cancellations or https://www.facebook.com/lebanonrecreation/.
Lyme: Town Common, Route 10.
New London: The Bob Andrews Memorial Rink, on Main Street next to the town hall at 375 Main St. It’s usually open daily from 8 a.m.-11 p.m. There is also a warming hut. The recreation department has ice skates available for rent for free Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at Whipple Hall 429 Main St.
Newport: Town Common, Main Street. Free. Skate rentals available for free. Hours vary, but it’s usually open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on weekends and around 2 p.m. on weekdays. Call the town’s rec center at 603-863-1332 for conditions.
Norwich: Marion Cross Elementary School, 22 Church St.
Randolph: 26 Prince St., Monday-Friday, 2:30-7 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 1-7 p.m. Day pass costs: Children $3 or $3.50 (non-resident); Adults, $4 or $5 (non-resident). Season and 10-day passes also available. Rentals, $3; Sharpening, $6. There is also a warming hut. Contact the rec department for more information at 802-728-5433, ext: 18 or rec@randolphvt.org.
Sharon: Sharon Elementary School, 75 Route 132. Open after school hours and on weekends.
South Royalton: Town Green, Chelsea Street.
Strafford: Behind the Red Barn, in the lower village, across the street from Newton Elementary School, 243 Route 132.
Sunapee: Center of town, next to Sherburne Gym, 555 Route 11.
Thetford: Thetford Elementary, 2689 Route 113; Child’s Pond, Route 5.
Windsor: Town Common, State Street.
Woodstock: Vail Field, South Street.
Editor’s note: Email additions and updates to calendar@vnews.com. Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
