Grooming January 18, 2021
Forestville: Heavy snow from Forestville to Co Rd 510. Groomers are setting track and grooming the skate lanes on the Noque to 510 including the Mead by pass as well as Animoosh. If time permits they will hit the Wagis. Trails will remain a little soft as we are still grooming with the Ginzu. More snow is needed to pull out the heavy equipment.
Call for Rental Equipment: The equipment rentals at our Forestville Trailhead have been very popular this season. It has been great to see so many discovering skiing but the high use and required COVID sit period for boots occasionally leaves us in short supply. We could use extra classic and skate NNN boots, NNN classic no-wax skis or poles that you may have sitting around and would be willing to donate. Please drop off at Forestville any time 10-4 weekdays or 9-4 weekends. Thanks for your support!”
Noquemanon Ski Marathon Goes Virtual: Due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control, the 2021 Noquemanon Ski will be a 100% virtual event this year. See details at the race web site: http://www.noquemanon.com/ . Following this weekend’s snow the race committee will designate a course. Keep an eye on the above link for up to the minute details and the grooming report will include details and the link each day.
Fit Strip: Some new snow but no report yet.
Big Bay Pathway: Some new snow but no report yet.
Saux Head: Craig rolled the trail system Sunday the 17th. There are several icy areas on the East end of the Peep O Day section, but the remaining trail system is in good shape. There is not enough base to groom or set track yet.
. Snow Bike Trails:
NORTH TRAILS
Main loop groomed.
South Trails Grooming:
Trails west of Co Rd 553 groomed.
WTLGR: So I was the second person to turn left at the Mead Hills By Pass fork. It reminded me of Luca’s comment before we dropped into a bowl of bottomless powder, “Should we open it up?”. In the States we have “bounds” and you are not supposed to go out of bounds. A silly concept to be sure and one the Europeans do not recognize. After getting off the gondola one stands at the top of the world looking down at countless ways off the mountain; some being quite dangerous. There are unseen glacier crevasses, cliff bands and uncontrolled avalanche risk. Ninety percent of the skiers stay on piste for fear of death so bottomless powder is everywhere if you know how to manage risk. Once a few skiers drop into an area it gets flooded with skiers that figure “That other guy must know what he/she is doing.”. Many skiers/climbers die without knowing the risk. Remember, that “other guy” might be an idiot.
I never follow tracks thinking the other guy/gal knows what they are doing and would have turned left regardless. I really needed to see the steep hills to report to you two and was not surprised it turned into what George calls “a no-fun-tour”. Four inches of heavy snow fell after it was rolled and I managed to catch my tip a few times. It was well worth it. The forest silence after a heavy snow is profound; you couldn’t even hear your skis. The return via Noque’ was also less than ideal with the heavy snow cut up by about a dozen Co Rd 510 bell ringers. Needing the exercise I didn’t mind the work but it was work to be sure. There is plenty of snow everywhere now. In one day we are back to mid-season conditions.
See you out there,
Sondo