December 16, 2018 Grooming Report;
Thank you Trail Builders: Today’s report is brought to you by the Stiens and the folks that make the Saux Head ski trails possible. If you have not been to Saux Head you need to expand your horizons. The picture above is a charcoal drawing from the early years of NTN. (Far) more details about this drawing and the trails below in the Too Long To Read section below.
If you have not done so, please renew your membership.
Forestville Real Grooming Report: Warm oversight temperatures kept the groomers parked again but skiing will continue to be very good depending on the time of day. Groomer’s recommendation is for noon skiing.
As always, your feedback is appreciated. Send in pictures and you too can get your K marker moved to the front of the line.
Saux Head: Trails were last groomed the prior weekend but the skate lane was quite nice yesterday once it softened up after noon. The classic tracts were fair at best and mostly icy.
Fit Strip: Trails were groomed last week and are groomed about once per week.
Big Bay Pathway: Too little snow in the woods so trails are closed. The Big Bay Trails are groomed for classic skiing and are through the rugged hills south of Big Bay. They are spectacular but need ample snow to cover the rugged terrain. We groom as weather permits so think cold and snow. Trails are just off Co Rd 550 in Big Bay.
Too Long To Read Report: I skied the Saux Head trails yesterday and it was awesome! Now, keep in mind, Awesome is not on the Race-Ready, E, VG, G, F, Poor and To-Win-a-Bet skiing scale but rather a more holistic approach regarding the experience in toto. Trails had not been groomed in a few days and no less a grooming expert that Craig advised me it was “icy as hel*” but growing up alpine racing I thought it was just a little icy. Of course, I have been called Polly Anna so many times that I answer. Anyway, with 45f showing on the thermometer at 2:30, bright sun, no wind and hard snow; it was awesome to be sure. Please refer to the charcoal drawing above to gain insight into trail section names as well as the passions of their creators. The remarkably accurate and artistic drawing is almost 30 years old and created free hand after a ski one day and before GPS. Hill names typically have an “up-hill” name or a “down hill” name. The Beast for example is an excellent major hill with consistent pitch with little deviation from the fall line. I do ski it both ways but helmets are recommended for skiing down. The Cork Screw winds the skier around and through giant Hemlock and your speed is just on the edge of “way too much”. All the down hills at Saux Head are designed for skiing rather than logging roads. Skiing such down hill sections is an adrenalin sport. Not all skiers are thrill seekers but those that are understand the similarity with wasabi. I typically want to optimize the adrenalin dose. Every hill should have that split second where you think, “could I crawl out of here with a broken pelvis?”. So, just like wasabi, it is, a little more… little more… little more, way too much. Getting through all the hills at Saux Head with the optimum taxing of the adrenal gland without injury is as good as it gets. Please add Saux Head to your list of ski destinations in the days, weeks and months to come.
See you out there.