If seventy-five bucks for a lift ticket isn’t lifting your spirits much this winter, we still recommend hitting the trails . . . the flat ones. You know, cross-country trails, the ones requiring you to break a sweat to get anywhere. For our money, the best people to get you trekking are the folks at Carter’s X-C Ski Shop, with centers in Bethel and Oxford. A family affair, Carter’s has been renting and selling equipment for almost thirty years, and their passionate expertise will set you on the right path, no matter what your skiing savvy or skill. Plus, at Carter’s it’s shop and ski. Both centers feature miles of groomed trails to traverse — just you, the skis, and the trees. 420 Main St., Oxford (Rte. 26), 207-539-4848 and 786 Intervale Rd., Bethel, 207-824-3880, www.cartersxcski.com