One moment if feels like spring is on the way and the next we get 2" of fresh snow in the Adirondacks around Whiteface and the Olympic village of Lake Placid. My family is now in the midst of biathlon and skate skiing. Though we still get out on the trails with our microspikes, snowshoes and XC skies, it's the skate skiing that has taken this family by storm.

I drop my son off for his weekly skate ski lesson and poke around to see what else we can do while he fine-tunes his biathlon skills. The Lodge is warm and comfortable with a TV highlighting the news while a few people cozy up in front of the woodstove.

Skate skiing is different than the classic cross-country stride. In classic skiing the person is sliding each ski forward, one ski boot at a time, using the poles for guidance and using a kicking motion to propel forward. In skate skiing, the person skates in a V stride shifting the weight from one ski to the next. One doesn't skate ski in set tracks but usually on a groomed surface. Skate skiing has been around for years and remains popular and in the public's eye through World Cup, Nordic Combined and Olympic Biathlon events.

The trails are a bit icy but that offers a different type of challenge on these groomed trails. My child just wants to go fast so it's the perfect venue for him. Though we are here for a skate ski lesson. Mount Van Hoevenberg offers a range of activities from biathlon lessons to traditional ski lessons. There are even Pulka sleds to rent. Most are just out enjoying the open trails and the beautiful view of the High Peaks around them. There are plenty of other people just relaxing by the fire and enjoying a few trails and coming inside to warm up.

Don't forget your furry friends. Mount Van Hoevenberg has a dedicated 1K doggie run where your leashed or ski-joring "man's best friend" can join in the fun. Winter isn't quite over in the Adirondacks. It looks like we have a few more weeks of winter and we are going to be outside enjoying it.

all photos © Diane Chase, Adirondack Family Time. Diane Chase is the author of the Adirondack Family Time guidbook series and co-owner of the the young adult wilderness adventure program, Adirondack Outdoor Expeditions.