2019 February 6, Grooming Report;
Thank you Trail Builders:
Today’s report is brought to you by the nice folks that make the Big Bay Pathway possible. Mike Springer & Michelle Moran are trail builders for the Big Bay Pathway. Groomed ski trails in this rugged landscape are spectacular. Please do enjoy them this winter.
Honey Bear Classic in Big Bay is This Saturday!
Join us on Saturday, February 9, 2019 in celebrating the Honey Bear Classic Ski Event held on the scenic Big Bay Pathway located in Big Bay, MI, 25 miles north of Marquette. This family-friendly event includes youth and adult ski events, prizes, refreshments and a warming fire. Have your photo taken with the Honey Bear! More details below.
If you have not done so, please renew your membership. ALSO, there are K markers available. Your name and favorite picture can be here too.
Forestville Real Grooming Report: Two inches of light new snow on trails will be groomed late morning or afternoon. Fresh cold fluff will make for very nice skiing on all the trails that were groomed yesterday. Andy apologizes for catching a cold and needed a little more sleep. He has a tough office to go into with a cold to be sure.
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| TRAIL – First Priority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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TRAIL – Third Priority |
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| Noque to FV to Tourist Park Storm debris and crusty snow from ice storm on trails |
As always, your feedback is appreciated via reply to this email or to FB. Send in pictures and you too can get your K marker moved to the front of the line. See the Nordic skiing FB page https://www.facebook.com/NTNNordic/
Saux Head: Trails groomed weekly
Storm debris and crusty snow from ice storm on trails.
Fit Strip: All trails groomed yesterday but watch for low branches due to ice storm.
Big Bay Pathway: The Big Bay Pathway was groomed on Tuesday 2/5. All Trails are groomed and in excellent condition except for the Ridgeline. The forecast is looking very good for a fantastic Honey Bear Classic this coming weekend. Come to Big Bay for a relaxing day in the woods.
Snow Bike Trails:
South Trails: Groomers will be out asap but I have no first hand information.
North Trails: The following North Trails have been groomed and all low branches have been cleared: Rambling Man, Silver Lead, Collinsville, BLP Rocks and Blue Heron. The rest will be groomed and cleared tomorrow.
Of course you can also post your own information on the FB page and you are encouraged to do so. Here is the link:
https://www.facebook.com/ntnsingletrack/
Too Long To Read Report:
I am reminded of a sign in the “lifty’s” shack at Cliff’s Ridge. First, you need to understand the Constam T-bar. The invention of Zurich engineer Ernst Gustav Constam in 1934, it revolutionized alpine skiing. It had strong springs and the passengers needed some weight to keep from being carried 5’ in the air. The spring kept a good deal of weight off the skier’s legs during the trip up the mountain. The lify would grab the T and pull it down for the skiers and place it behind their back side. As a youngster you would hope to get an adult to ride with you and as an adult you would never want to ride with a youngster because you would have to hold the bar down by your knees. The lifty was also responsible for verifying safety straps in the days before the ski brake. In addition, he (never saw a female lifty in the 60s but would love to hear from one) would verify lift tickets and turn off the lift if there was an accident.
Of course, during the week when there were not many skiers and even fewer managers, the lifty would typically never even get out of the lift shack. Skiers would simply grab the bar as it went by and position it on the back side. Of course, for a first grader weighing maybe 50 pounds this what not the technique. The bar was normally over head as it passed but if you could time your jump you could pull the bar down under your arm pits and ride up. With some skill you could even pull the Tee down below your back side and ride up like a chair lift. Your skis would only touch the snow at the tips so us kids would normally spin around backwards so as to avoid digging the skis in the snow. It was a splendid by gone era. It never dawned on me to bother the lify for help although there was a sign on the window that said to knock for assistance. I should add, there was also a bigger “Kilroy” sign with a dripping nose and a caption, “Have a heart, I have a cold.” So, if I have typos above or if you find today’s report lacking in creative juice, have a heart, I have a cold too.
Honey Bear Classic is This Saturday!
Join us on Saturday, February 9, 2019 in celebrating the Honey Bear Classic Ski Event held on the scenic Big Bay Pathway located in Big Bay, MI, 25 miles north of Marquette. This family-friendly event includes youth and adult ski events, prizes, refreshments and a warming fire. Have your photo taken with the Honey Bear!
The Honey Bear 12K or 24K classic challenge around the Bear Mountain Loop will be a timed event with a $15.00 suggested donation and unique prizes. Youth events will be held on the rolling 7K Hidden Grin Loop or the 6K Meditation Loop. A $5 donation is suggested for these events. Participants may explore the Pathway on snowshoes after all skiers are on trail. Everyone is welcome to gather around the trailhead fire for the Annual Weenie Roast, refreshments and light snacks.
No Classic Skis? No Problem! You can check out a set of classic ski equipment courtesy of the Noquemanon Trail Network at the NTN Forestville Trailhead on Friday between 10am and 4pm for the Honey Bear Classic event. Snowshoes also available. Return equipment on Sunday between 10am and 4pm.
The Honey Bear Classic event helps support the grooming and maintenance of the ski trails in Big Bay. If you frequent the Pathway, the NTN “Powell Pass” is available through www.noquetrails.org, which also includes the Saux Head Trails, or feed the pay pipe located at the trailhead. For more information, call Kristi at 906-250-3350, like the Big Bay Pathway on facebook, or email [email protected].
See you there; Sondo