Grace Note Farm, with its central house and barn, dates to the 1730s. The equestrian trails in winter are cleared by snowmobiles for use by skiers and snowshoers who can begin at the farm and access the adjacent George Washington Management Area and Pulaski Management Area -- two established trail systems that have been used for years by winter sports enthusiasts and have warming huts.
''We're far enough inland and high enough so that it can be raining 2 miles away and we'll get snow," said Sindelar, who adds that her food is all ''home cooking," and who offers a free beverage with the $15 day's fee at the Inn.
Grace Note Farm, named by Sindelar after her career as a classical musician, offers various food and lodging packages and is precisely 67 miles from downtown Boston, about 2 miles off Route 44 on Jackson Schoolhouse Road. For more information call 401-567-0354 or visit gracenotefarmweb.com.
Johnson takes title
Andrew Johnson, 28, of Greensboro, Vt., Tuesday captured the first men's title in the US Cross-Country Championships at Soldier Hollow, Utah, the nordic venue of the 2002 Winter Olympics. The championship races are considered part of the criteria for making this year's Olympic team, which will be announced Jan. 17. The race, a 30-kilometer freestyle, was won by Russian
Ivan Babikov (only US skiers are eligible for the title), and Johnson,
Carl Swenson (Park City, Utah)
Kris Freeman (Andover, N.H.), and
David Chamberlain (Bethel, Maine) rounded out the top five.
Rebecca Dussault of Gunnison, Colo., won the women's 15-kilometer freestyle, followed by Morgan Arritola (Fairfield, Idaho), Abigail Larson (Bozeman, Mont.), and Liz Stephen (Montpelier, Vt.).
Minor sensation
Ski racing's minor leagues is the NorAm Circuit, with racers competing to move up to World Cup. Last Monday at Hunter Mountain in New York,
Jake Zamansky, 24, of Aspen, Colo., made a strong bid for advancement with a NorAm win, followed by
T.J. Lanning, who finished the giant slalom course a half-second behind his teammate on the US ski development team. In third place was Canadian
Stefan Guay, whose brother,
Erik, has become a perennial podium threat on the World Cup circuit . . . Skicast: Looks like some light, but accumulating snow this weekend, so bring the goggles. In the high country of Maine, light snow should begin falling tomorrow and reduce to a trace by Sunday. In New Hampshire today, rain in Concord should change to snow in the mountains, clearing out by late in the weekend. In Vermont, light snow should dress things up right through the weekend.
