European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 17, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Ask Europe making tracks arc s Cross country course Story and photos by Chuck Vinch Munich Bureau aside Iron the fati that skis Are used in both spot is comparing Cross country and downhill skiing is like comparing the  apples and oranges. You won t catch a Cross country skier Silling around the Lodge with his leg in .1cast, boasting of that gloriously dangerous downhill run for which he thinks he should have been awarded the purple heart. No Cross country skiing seems relatively Safe and simple. There s neither the Flash Ness nor trendiness often associated with downhill Schissing. Perhaps that s Why some people just Aren t interested in Cross country skiing. After two years of downhill terror and thrills not to mention Bone jarring spills was one of those people. But a Friend in Berchtesgaden and a few Days at arc cured me. The Al re Cross country ski week begins on a monday morning. Ham Voss a lean bearded bavarian lakes the class through its opening paces at Skytop Lodge in Berchtesgaden. The skis Are thinner and longer than the downhill variety and the feeling is strange at first. Voss says to use .1 regular walking motion easier said than done. The hardest part of All is learning to Sno plow. Yes even on Cross country skis there Are slopes to be navigated usually Small gentle ones but slopes All the same. In the afternoon the class takes a Short run along a track near Skytop. Sure it s awkward at first says Voss a master of understatement. But very few people have so much of a problem that they give it up. But it can be deceptive too he says. Some people think that if you can walk you can Cross country ski. But How far there s a lot More exertion in Cross country skiing than walking. You can ski fora Hundred Yards and be totally out of  but he adds no one should worry about being Able to keep up. We usually have two instructors per lass so if some people want to go fast one instructor Wil go with them while the other stays with the group that would rather take it a Little easy. Hey we re out hereto have a Good  on tuesday we travel to Colling across the austrian Border. Or try to go to a different place each h Day during the week and we try to go a bit farther each Fay Voss says. Today s route is 8.5 Kilometres a bit More than five Miles. The track is relatively Flat although there Are a few Small Hills. Unfortunately i seem to meet most of them butt first. There Are icy spots in the track and Rny balance Isa bit shaky but after a while i All into a rhythm and it gets easier. The scenery is Beautiful. Few people Are out today and we ski in silence past a Large Lake surrounded by towering Mountain-., and Forest. The True Beauty of the sport becomes Clear. We ski or about two hours and then Stop Halfway along the track at a restaurant in the Woods. The return leg makes a wide Loop and returns us to where we started. Most Cross country tracks Are loops called  in German which literally Means Long run  by the end of the run. I m breathing heavily and sweating reply but with a feeling of accomplishment. We go to Wink Moos on wednesday starting off on a 12-kilometers about 7.2 Miles track. There Are a few Long gradual Uphill climbs but these Are compensated for by equally Long downhill grades on which we can relax and Glide for hundreds of meters. Our lunch Stop is an inn overlooking a huge Valley ringed by Alpine peaks. Everyone is a bit winded but our instructor looks As fresh As he did Early that morning. This is a great sport because it uses All the Muscles arms Chest legs everything says Voss calmly sipping a Beer while he wat ties the rest of us desperately try to replenish our bodily fluids. There s a bit of soreness in my Muscles but nothing serious. I Arcee along the trac k on the Way Back experienc ing thai same feeling of a t  the Day before. On thursday the la returns to Cit in Wink this time for a 20-kilometers Rorn which at that Point is easy. On Friday Here s a race a sky lop for Hose whose Muscles Are still Able to respond. Cross country is not going to replace downhill As my favorite Type of skiing yet it does have its merits. It can be a Nice change of Pace in an exercise routine. The scenery can t be beat. It s easy to learn it s a lot cheaper than downhill too a Complete Cross country Rig costs about the same As a pair of downhill boots. The arc ski week costs $55 for adults and $49 or children 14 and under. That includes equipment rental transportation and five Days of instruction. The season runs from january through March. Lodging and meals Are extra. Arc has a variety of meal plans available and their hotels run Between $19 and $24 for a double room with private Bath. Two people can figure on spending about $350 to $400 for the ski week room meals and incidentals. For More information Call recreation services Al any of the three arc areas All of which offer the Cross country ski weeks. For Berchtesgaden Call military 2538-648/62f or civilian 08652-58-648/626 Garmisch 2535-824/474 or 08821-750-824/474. To reach Chi Emsee on a military line Call the operator and ask for the Chi Emsee Lake hotel then ask for acc services. Or. A civilian line dial 08051-7264 and ask for rec services to a wac reservations for ski weeks at any arc location Call the Central reservations office at Garmisch military 2535-571 or civilian 08821-750-571. 10 stripes Magazine october 17,1985