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By GEORGE SMITH; Times Leader Outdoors Editor
Sunday, January 02, 1994     Page: OUTDOORS QUICK WORDS: POPULAR SPOTS
DRAW SKIERS

There is snow to be found in the mountains when you drive out of the
valleys.
   
Head up to Mountaintop, Bear Creek or Red Rock and there will be snow in
the forests.
    Many old trails and logging roads are well covered, and that’s good news
for cross-country skiers.
   
Plenty of areas in Northeastern Pennsylvania can offer fine cross-county
skiing.
   
What follows is a brief listing of some of the more popular spots where
skiers on “skinny skis” are known to enjoy their sport.
   
Frances Slocum State Park: There are about 10 miles of trails within this
suburban park near Trucksville. About 200 acres of rolling hills and fields
offer untracked challenges.
   
Stick to the fields to enjoy exhilarating downhill runs, and stay on the
trails to experience the beauty of winter forests.
   
Hickory Run State Park: Located near White Haven, this park has 13 miles of
trails on flat as well as steep terrain.
   
Small streams cross most of the trails, but in most cases the water poses
little problem as crossing can be found.
   
Try skiing the Fourth Run Trail. It’s a level trail that goes far back into
the woods.
   
Maps of the park’s trails are available at the ranger station.
   
Lehigh Gorge State Park: The terrain is flat, and the old railroad bed runs
from White Haven to Jim Thorpe. Access the park from behind the White Haven
shopping center for an outing along the Lehigh River.
   
Nescopeck Creek State Park: Located on Honeyhole Road, between Mountaintop
and Drums, this primitive park and adjacent state game lands offers miles of
wonderful skiing.
   
Herringbone up Mount Yeager for the exciting downhill run.
   
Ricketts Glen State Park: This park high atop Red Rock Mountain in northern
Luzerne County has 22 miles of hiking and snowmobile trails that are great for
cross-country skiers.
   
Take a lunch and extra clothing, and don’t try to ski the trails next to
the waterfalls.
   
Tobyhanna State Park: This park has nine miles of trails. Snow lingers
here, and the skiing is easy along flat terrain.
   
Denton Hill State Park: This is the big one. There is access to 85 miles of
trails maintained by the Susquehannock Trail Club. Trailheads are located in
Denton Hill and Patterson State Parks in Potter County.
   
State game lands also offer unlimited cross-county skiing. Try an outing
within sprawling State Game Lands 57, in northwestern Luzerne County. Or, ski
State Game Lands 119, with accesses near Mountaintop and the Francis E. Walter
Reservoir.
   
If you want to ski the backcountry and enjoy the amenities of a cozy ski
lodge, check out the 21 kilometers of tracked trails at Jack Frost Mountain
ski area near Blakeslee. Operations manager Mark Daubert planned on setting
tracks on the trails the Thursday before Christmas.
   
TIMES LEADER/GEORGE SMITH
   
Take five
   
Joe Chalawick from Mountaintop stops for some liquids while on a
cross-country outing. Food fuels the fires for long outings.