Rick Whiting of Auburn cross-country skis Monday morning at the Auburn Nordic Ski Association trails in Auburn. Whiting, a member of the association, was pleasantly surprised to see the trails were already groomed because he had been planning to ski through deep snow. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Stephanie Clark of Minot skis Monday on the freshly groomed trails at the Auburn Nordic Ski Association. Clark teaches children how to cross-country ski on the weekends and was delighted to get out for for the first time this season. “I got out for a short time earlier this year, but it took me more time to get everything ready than I spent skiing,” she said. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal