Rollerskiing: Gateway Trail Hill Workout
By Steve Thatcher
October 3, 2003
Rollerskiing on the Gateway doesn't have to be all flat.
With a little detour off the trail you can ski some nice hills
in a loop and end up back on the Gateway and heading back
to your starting point.
The hills can be accessed from the Hwy96 and Gateway junction.
If you go out onto Hwy 96 to the east about 50 yards and turn
right on Kimbro Ave, you come upon a hill that most people
don't even know exists. It's a winding quiet road that gets
steeper the further you get up it. But it's very skiable.
Once up on top you continue south on Kimbro down a long easy
downhill. There's one small sprinters hill about half way
down and then more downhill until you get to Hwy 12. The downhill
is very tame and anyone with a modicum of experience on roller
skis can navigate it even without speed reducers. Turning
around and climbing back up the long hill on Kimbro is also
an option but don't attempt to go down the hill to Hwy 96.
It's bumpy, steep and there's a railroad track at the bottom.
Once at Hwy 12 there are two hills to choose from. Cross
over to the south shoulder and head east for a bit then jump
over on to the off road trail and climb an easy hill up to
the Hwy 17 intersection. Now turn around and go back down
and continue west and climb up the longer hill that tops out
at Keats Ave. Cross over to the north side of the road and
take the off road trail back to the Gateway and Hwy 12 intersection.
From there you can head back to your start area. Either north
back to Hyw96 or south back to the Hadley parking lot.
Starting from the Hadley parking lot you get a nice warmup
skiing to Hwy 96 and then three nice hills and your back on
the Gateway. About an 11 mile loop.
Map
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About the author...
Steve Thatcher runs the Ride
and Glide Bike and Ski Club. The club offers cross
country ski instruction and workouts to cyclists and
other fitness minded individuals.
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