2019 April 19, Grooming Report;
One can not look at Justin’s swamp crust skiing pics without imagining games of sport on such a field. Humans have played games since our social contract was first signed some ten thousand years ago. Many began as territorial struggles pitting one town against the next. The origins are but dim shadows left by fading light; yet, there were real events and we can conjure up likely scenarios.
As I see it, one day in the 13th century some guy or gal said something like, “Our town can beat your town; lets have a go.”. So, as part of Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras in French, the games were on. After all, for the next 40 days they would leave out the meat, or carn levare so we now have a carnival and play football. Anyway, the game was devised where folks up river would run with, throw or push a cork filled ball three miles down river while the Down’ards would be doing their best to move the ball through the up river goal and defeat the Up’ards. The Royal Shrovetide Football game in Ashbourne, Derbyshire has been played ever since. Sadly, much of the game’s early history was lost in a fire at Royal Shrovetide Committee office in the second to last century so it is unsure if the games was ever played with a severed human head. In this year’s match, after two 8 hour periods the Down’ards vanquished the Up’ards one nil.
So, imagine the great game we can create with great crust skiing fields like the swamp at 23k on the Noque. Thank Justin for showing us the field for our new game of sport. In another few centuries grooming report writers everywhere will conjure up memories of the 21st century as they ponder the origins of our creations. One can not help but imagine. Game suggestions encouraged.
Please send pictures. This week’s rain may have put a hurt on the base. Please let us know so we can report for the weekend. I have not been out all week.
Forestville: (Remember; grooming is being done from Co Rd 501 due to logging. See map and details below)
No grooming today but Goldie Locks skiing will begin by late morning and should be good all day. Please let us know what you see. Of course, pictures too. Fun spring skiing; see pics from
Saux Head: I expect there are some thin or wet spots but expect good base on much of the trails. Please let us know.
Sondo
See map below for trail closures due to logging.
FOLLOWING IS A RE-RUN GOING OVER COMMERCIAL FOREST AND THE NTN (PLEASE READ ONCE) In
Over 99% of the trails we ski, bike, run and walk are owned by private land owners. Most of the trails are on commercial forest land. These land owners wish to see their land used by skiers, bikers, runners and walkers for 99+% of the time. All they ask is that we understand they need to use the land for a few months per decade.
I really want both of you to understand how important our commercial forests are to life in the U.P. In much of the country where commercial forestry has fallen behind other uses as the highest and best use, trails like the entire NTN are not possible. Land in such areas is owned in small private blocks and the public is locked out.
Effective March 25th, parts of our trail system were closed for logging. One of the keys to the NTN’s success is the fact our users understand this symbiosis. Our part in this process is to stay out of the way of the loggers and thank them for their support. Logging is a dangerous and capital intensive operation. We need to help them be safe and look out for their equipment. Trails will be marked as closed and we trust you will stay away from the logging operations.
The land owners always wait until late in the year to allow as long a ski season as possible. In addition, they attempt to keep as much of the trail open as possible. Beginning next Monday, several sections of trail near the power lines will be blocked and logging trucks will be driving on them.
The NTN is committed to providing top quality skiing if at all possible. You have come to expect nothing less and we are used to providing nothing but. We will continue to groom trails between Co Rd 510 and the logging areas. Most skiers (especially the spring time skiers) know the best skiing is near Co Rd 510 anyway.
Sondo