Upper Valley neighbors team up for Mascoma Lake skating loop

ENFIELD, N.H. (WCAX) - Lake Morey in Fairlee has had an ice skating loop for many years but it is no longer the only game in town. Mascoma Lake in Enfield is getting into the action.

Ben Prime backs his plow off a trailer in the boat ramp parking lot at Mascoma Lake. Within a few minutes, he’s cutting through the fresh snow out on the frozen surface.

Prime owns Nordic Skater in nearby Newbury. The retail shop sells, among other things, Nordic ice skates.

“Anyone can skate on any frozen lake leading up to snowfall,” Prime said.

That’s where Joan Holcombe and Mary Reynolds come into the story. They are both homeowners on the lake and avid outdoor enthusiasts. One day, the neighbors got together and formed the Mascoma Lake Skating Association.

“It’s a healthy activity, there is lots of fresh air. There is lots of space. Distancing is not an issue out here,” Holcombe said.

Fundraising pays to have the 1-mile loop plowed after a big storm. They say the response from their modest marketing campaign, during this inaugural season, has been outstanding.

“If we could keep the skating going all winter, it would be an amazing experience for us, for the community, for the region,” Holcombe said.

The ladies say the skating trail is just another activity that makes the region more appealing all year-round.

“People come, they look for lunch, they look for dinner, they have to have somewhere to stay,” Reynolds said.

But, the story does not end on this lake. A much bigger vision lies ahead.

“I get so much personal pleasure out of starting things and building things, and seeing where they go and how they grow,” Reynolds said.

That brings us back to business owner Prime. He’s working on developing a model that can be replicated on lake and ponds across the country.

“All the way from setup to equipment that is required to how much time goes into it,” he said.

And maybe one of the best parts about it-- getting out and enjoying the ice is absolutely free.

Click here for more on the Mascoma Lake Skating Association.

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