Grooming March 17, 2020
Today’s report is brought to you by Chain Reaction Cyclery: Chain Reaction Cyclery is a sponsor on the NTN trails. Without the support of folks like Chain Reaction Cyclery p we would not have the excellent trails we have come to expect. If you see them, say thanks.
|
Trail sponsorships are available. Please visit www.noquetrails.org and follow the links. You too can be feted in an up coming grooming report. Forestville: All trails from the ponds to 17k are Bully groomed and tracked. Expect race ready skiing. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TRAIL 1ST Priority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
First major climb on Bagwagi Monday afternoon.
Last section of Bagwagi crust skiing Monday afternoon.
Way too Long Grooming Report:
Recent events remind me of a key theme in the wonderful grooming report writer Boris Pasternak’s seminal work. Our hero has just been released from years of forced labor caring for wounded solders and plans to go to Varykino when the comrade general asks him what he plans to do there. After all, how can he help the cause in some rural backwater? The theme is summed up in a single sentence so wonderfully delivered by Omar Sharif in the film adaptation. Zhivago tells the general, “I’m going to live.” People still have to live even in the midst of major events. We get to ski on race ready trails in our own back yard.
Check out the pictures from yesterday. I know this is the third day in a row with Bagwagi’s first major hill but one of you may want to see if it is really that good. It was great yesterday even with no grooming. There were a few sections on the Noque where sun had softened the base so one inch and even an inch and a half of corn had frozen skate tracks marring small patches of the otherwise excellent skiing.
And check out the crust skiing on the last section of Bagwagi. If you look carefully you can see 1cm deep ski tracks in the backwoods crust. The last time I skied Bagwagi after the second cut off it was bushwhacking through thigh deep powder with an ax. Yesterday it was gliding over perfect crust. The mature timber allows one to slalom through the trees or return to the ungroomed trail. It was spectacular. However, take care on the down hills. There are some wind falls and checking one’s speed on a crust is problematic. I did place a sitzmark near the bottom of the last major downhill just before the sharp left turn; sorry.
I trust I will see both of you out there today. Remember, practice social distancing.
Saux Head: All trails were groomed and track set on last Saturday, March 14th. There are no classic tracks as the snow is too hard to make tracks. Caution should be used on the downhills as the trails are icy. Conditions will be variable as temperatures change. Spring freeze thaw in effect.
Big Bay Pathway: Hidden Grin trail of the Big Bay Pathway was groomed last week on the 6th. Spring freeze thaw in effect. Expect variable conditions as temperatures change.
Fit Strip: Fit Strip was groomed a week ago but by now there may even be bare spots. Spring freeze thaw in effect. Expect variable conditions as temperatures change.
General Snow Bike Comments:Today’s cold temperatures should have trails hard and in good shape. There may be some icy spots. Please let us know what you find if you do ride.
North Trails:
Spring conditions throughout varying from bare ground to rough hard snow to ice. Still fun but expect mixed conditions as temperatures rise and fall. Be considerate of those behind you with warm temps. Please don’t be the guy/gal leaving postholes. Trails will be most firm in high traffic areas.
South Trails:
Spring conditions across system varying from rough to icy. Firm in most places with patches of ice. Plenty of fun to be had. Black Trail to Border Grill most likely done for season. Be considerate of those behind you with the warm temps. Please don’t be the guy/gal leaving postholes. Trails will be most firm in high traffic areas.
Grooming and Forestville Chalet Updates
While winter does march on, we also know we are on the brink of Spring. It is the time of year that we have to balance trail demands with grooming resources. Starting March 11, grooming at Forestville has been ramped back. You will continue to see multiple grooms a week on the core of the system but only one run to 510 each week. The 510 run will be done on Friday night as part of a full groom of the system in preparation for the weekend. Singletrack grooming will be on an as needed basis but expect variable conditions during spring freeze-thaw cycles. Your best bet is to keep an eye on the daily trail report and facebook for updates when making plans. We hope you have enjoyed and continue to enjoy some best days ever on the trail.
New Trail Host and Rental Hours: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10am-4pm
If you should need equipment on other days, please call the NTN office. This is a great time to give a shout out to our wonderful volunteer trail hosts for giving of their time throughout the season! Chalet hours remain 7am-10pm.
To learn more about the NTN, to join, volunteer, become a sponsor or make a comment, please visit www.noquetrails.org .
Sondo