WAM-XC: Women and Men who Cross County Ski - -

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the next hike?

WAMXC schedules a variety

of events and lists all using a Google calendar. The events are listed on the WAMXC home page and a link is provided to the Google calendar. "Check the website" to learn about future events.

I arrived late. How do I find you?

WAMXC events start

promptly at the posted time. Plan ahead and arrive early. If the workout is a bike ride, consider following the turn list and catching the group. Our hiking routes vary so a rendezvous is less certain.

Where do you meet after the workout?

We gather for coffee and

replenishment following workouts. The coffee venue is sometimes considered of more importance than the workout venue. The WAMXC calendar lists locations for "after" and links are provided for "take me to". "check the website".

Do you arrange car pooling?

We don't,

however, we do encourage car pooling. We do not list personal addresses or meeting spots for car pooling on the website, primarily for security reasons. An email to the list might smoke out others who live nearby or on your proposed route.

What should I wear?

Fashion faux pas

are rare on WAMXC hikes. Review the "My First Hike" page to get a glimpse of hikers in action.

Will you add me to the mail list?

There is an

icon on the WAMXC home page for the Yahoo email list. Register with Yahoo for the WAMXC email list. We don't have a ton of email but we do use the list for last minute changes, short-notice workouts, car pooling and a little other chatter. If you are unable to register with Yahoo, send email to the web list owner.

Where exactly do you meet?

The website

contains links to Google maps showing the exact spots where we meet. From Google maps you can receive directions to the venue. There is also a mobile app which will do the same. Now that turn-by-turn navigation is available on smartphones, The Google map links will assist in finding the meeting spot for the workout and the meeting spot for "after". Take a good look at these linked maps to find the exact spots where we meet.

Do I need ski poles for hiking?

Poles

are not required and not encouraged for first timers. Ski poles slightly shorter than the correct length for classic skiing help develop arm muscle movement memory and a little strength. We use poles for XC ski imitation but this technique is learned and not intuitive.

What's this I hear about "unsolicited" advice?

We do not have coaching

but we have a lot of experience. It's rare that someone does not offer advice on something, especially related to training or skiing. We like to say that we offer unsolicited advice about problems you never knew you had.

Do you stop to eat or drink while hiking?

We eat

and drink on the fly. Although, we do stop occasionally, one should be prepared to drink and eat while working out. We carry water and food so as to be easily accessible while moving. A backpack, for example, might easily carry a bottle of water and some food, but generally requires stopping, removing the pack and digging through storage pockets. Hydration packs are especially popular in the hot summer months when the workouts are of long duration. Belt packs find use, too.