As you know, there isn't much choice for xc skiing right now.
Here's one recommendation:
Timberline Resort:
Gear up, head to the bunny hill (right in front of the resort).
Practice makes perfect.
When you are ready, go up Salamander ski trail, stay on the left the whole way up.
Enjoy lots of turns down the mountain after a 2+ mile hike.

Canaan Ski Area:
The connector is a great place to start to get your legs in shape.
Take it easy - have fun.
Better than not xc skiing!

There's a telemark clinic coming up at Timberline.
Sign up early.

vic keep the positivity going! you can also practice backwards tele! 3-2 on backwards tele sweep

Those options are going to be out of the question for the average flat ground XC skier. There is just too much intimidation in a sustained downhill, even a very mild pitch.

Thirty or morE years ago I witnessed telemark turns for the first time, on Ballhooter at Snowshoe. The guy was good, even dazzling, It was leather boots and skinny skis in those days so I assumed he was on ordinary XC skis. Next trip I brought my cheap XC skis with floppy bedroom slipper boots. And in deference to the equipment decided to go down a blue trail even though I was an expert downhill skier. It took about an hour and I was lucky not to have killed myself. I came away from the experience with a renewed understanding that steel edges were the greatest single advance in the history of skiing.

XC skiing without mention of Whitegrass? The only place in the Valley with REAL XC skiing!!!

There's just not enough snow yet at White Grass, but I tell you what:
You can't beat the best place to eat Friday night and Saturday night. Just be sure to call in advance to make a reservation!

As for the skiing, it won't be too much longer to xc all over the place.
For the total beginners, you can try to East Banks of the training area at Timberline. As long as no one is using it, you should have plenty of room to practice (without killing yourselves)

For the far more advanced, climb Salamander on light gear and come down White Lightning.

goin up, easy.... comin down WL on xc gear...for the way advanced! but the A-man can rip on the lightest gear there is. soft nnnbc boots, and rossi evos with no metal edges. you know you are a good skier when...

Chaga,

Who's the skier?
Yesterday was a little brutal for me on light gear down WL - it was more like golf ball skiing. Today, by comparison, was much better.

athey lutz. we all had big gear on and could barely keep up!