MAINE PUBLIC • March 10, 2026
On an unusually warm late February day in Oxford, the Oxbow Beer Garden’s groomed trails are filled with skiers of all ages. The trails are open to skiers and snowshoers. About half a mile down the trail hidden in the woods sits the Hut, a little building that serves drinks to trekkers as they sit around campfires. Dozens of skis are leaned against trees as people gather together in ski boots. Nordic skiing’s accessibility is a large draw for many skiers, especially newcomers. “It's just so important to get out in the air and the sun and the outdoors in the winter. When you have a sport that you enjoy, or…even just walking, it entirely changes your outlook,” Cindy Talbot says.