November 28, 2019 Grooming Report
Check this out from 7PM last night. Near the lake we received just a few inches but just a few hundred yards inland, or more to the point, a few hundred feet higher, there was over a foot of heavy, high water content snow! The trail head is about half mile from the lake as the crow flies; it is like a different season. Check out the bend on the 3” maple. The entire forest is just like that so you can imagine Andy and crew out there last night. They were at the task when I arrived at the Forestville. It is slow going but they are hard at it.
By press time they had cut trees and rolled Animoosh to Migizi and back via the Noque multiple passes. Then went out and set classic tracks and smoothed the skate lanes. Andy says it will take some time but with this snow we will be in mid season shape by the end of some very long days in the saddle.
Equipment and Facilities Update: If you have been to Forestville for the early November skiing you will have seen lots going on. We are expanding the trail head and will be done soon. We plan to be open before Christmas. New grooming equipment has been purchased for both skiing and snow bike grooming. We will detail equipment and trail head facilities over the next few weeks.
Way Too Long Grooming Report: So much to do, so little time. There is a debate raging in the grooming report writer’s guild regarding storm naming rules and tradition so please forgive this delay. I have to run now. The surf should be still good at first light and I have to heat up the sauna and get my suit on. If we have a loving god it will be a biathlon today, but, again, so much to do and so little time: I still have to bake a pie and cook a bird (oh yes, I remember, the grooming report writing critic does that so the biathlon is looking good). See you out there,
Sondo
NON-GROOMING INFORMATION: I like to start with the trunk followed by an ear. Then one typically takes on a shoulder and next a leg. Before you know it you have eaten an elephant. So, don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done. A couple of decades ago a small group of young people set about to make Marquette County a year round silent sports destination. Mountain biking was only on old two tracks or deer trails and cross country skiing was ungroomed. One put on ski boots in the car and trail access was in jeopardy because there was no organized silent sport voice.
Fast forward 20 years to find over 65 miles of single track, 35 miles of snow bike125k of Nordic ski trails. NTN works with land owners, governmental units and the community to license, build, sign, insure and groom these trails. We have grooming equipment, trail head facilities and an organization that is a positive force in the community.
Members, sponsors, volunteers and staff should be proud of what has been accomplished and what you are doing.
To learn more about the NTN, to join, volunteer, become a sponsor or make a comment, please visit www.noquetrails.org .
Sondo