U.S. #5479
Issue Date: June 13, 2020
First Day City: Incline Village, NV
Type of Stamp: Commemorative
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Pane of 20
Self-Adhesive
Quantity Printed: 35,000,000
The cold winter months can seem never-ending, making you feel trapped inside. But there is a way to get outside and enjoy the season without getting too chilly. Cross-country skiing is fun and easy to learn. Plus there are no intimidating slopes like in downhill skiing.
Cross-country skiing has existed for thousands of years. Skis were used by early peoples as an easy and reliable form of transportation during the winter, and today cross-country skiing is a popular recreational activity. The sport is even part of the Winter Olympic Games. It can be a standalone activity or can be done in combination with target shooting or orienteering (navigating an area using only a map).
Many towns, state parks, and national parks have cross-country ski trails today. Some are groomed (the snow packed down and smoothed out by machine) to make travel easier, while others are left natural. The best part of cross-country skiing is that you have to use your whole body to propel yourself across the snow. This makes it an excellent form of exercise, so skiers rarely get too cold, even when it’s snowing.
Winter may seem dull, but cross-country skiing can show you the season’s hidden beauty. There’s nothing better than gliding through the trees on a quiet afternoon and taking in the sparkling wonderland of snow and ice.