It's a good time to be a voter in New Hampshire, but it's an even better time for skiing.

At least, that's what I decided. The political junkie in me wanted to go see Sen. Obama tonight at my neighborhood middle school, but the rest of me wanted to get out and play in the snow.
The wrestling match within my conscience didn't last long. The outdoors enthusiast kicked the civic junkie's butt.
Clover wanted to come, too, so I pulled on my LJs, grabbed skis and drove on up to HHNP.
I've always favored Beaver Brook for XC skiing, but loose dogs aren't welcome there and Clover's no longer up to towing me around. Besides, I'd yet to try skiing in Merrimack's newest conservation area.
It's good. If there's any place more beautiful than New England woods at night with a new moon and snow falling, it probably requires a passport.
Horse Hill has a spacious, well-plowed parking lot off Amherst Road. As with any such place, the skiing gets better the further you get from the trail head.... skiing on trampled snow isn't quite as fun.
It took me a couple hours to do the whole loop trail, but I added an out-and-back excursion down a snowmobile trail, beyond the HHNP area. From what I could tell, the snowmobilers are sticking to their older ways and ignoring the narrower, winding trails... which is probably just as well.
I had no trouble following the way... others had gone before me, in most areas. The white blazes on the loop trail show up nicely in the moonlight, and even better with a head lamp.
I was able to break trail in a few sections, most notably on a descent of Blodget Hill, where the deeper snow kept my speed more or less in check.
I remain undecided about my vote come Jan. 8 - there's so many really good choices - but I will get out to play in the snow every chance I get. There's so many good choices there, too.