Race Day; Race Ready
Grooming January 23, 2021
Forestville: The entire race trail was groomed with the Piston Bully even across Co Rd 510 to the second gate. All other trails in the system were Ginzu groomed. Expect race ready conditions on the Noque and excellent skiing on all trails.
Call for Rental Equipment: The equipment rentals at our Forestville Trailhead have been very popular this season. It has been great to see so many discovering skiing but the high use and required COVID sit period for boots occasionally leaves us in short supply. We could use extra classic and skate NNN boots, NNN classic no-wax skis or poles that you may have sitting around and would be willing to donate. Please drop off at Forestville any time 10-4 weekdays or 9-4 weekends. Thanks for your support!”
Bag pick up for virtual Noque begins Friday: Want to pick up your race packet this weekend (Jan 22nd-24th)?
Send an e-mail to noquemanoninfo@gmail.com by midnight on Wednesday Jan 20th with your first and last name and we will have your packet ready for you to pick up onsite at the NTN Forestville Trailhead this weekend. Pickup times will only be from 8am to Noon this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Pick up will not be inside the trailhead building per COVID restrictions and social distancing requirements.
Please note, the parking at Forestville is limited and the trailhead is open for normal public use. Please park like a sensible human being. If you arrive and the parking area is full you may need to try another time.
Noquemanon Ski Marathon Goes Virtual: Due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control, the 2021 Noquemanon Ski will be a 100% virtual event this year. See details at the race web site: http://www.noquemanon.com/ . Following this weekend’s snow the race committee will designate a course. Keep an eye on the above link for up to the minute details and the grooming report will include details and the link each day.
Fit Strip: Groomed all trails but low snow in the hemlock covered areas. There was enough snow to set classic track on the upper loop.
Big Bay Pathway: Nick hit the trail at 1 pm on Friday. The Big Bay Pathway is groomed. Meditation and Hidden Grin were both rolled and tracked. The trail is in excellent condition.
Groomers reported grooming is beginning to help smooth out the trail. Still much more to do with that regard, but need more snow.
Boe
Saux Head: All trails rolled and then ginzu groomed and track set. Trails in excellent condition.
Snow Bike Trails:
NORTH TRAILS
All of the north trails have been groomed since the snow event on 1/21, with multiple trails groomed twice. Cold temps have helped the base set up firm and users can expect good to very good conditions on Saturday. There is likely to be drifting in some exposed areas.
South Trails Grooming:
South was hit with the big sleds on Friday! Everything but East Greywalls has fresh corduroy for your weekend fun. Langford Link and Harlow Farms to the Iron Ore Heritage Trail is sled packed while East Greywalls will be cleaned up Saturday am. Watch out for the broken sled on Harlow Farms (it will hopefully be extracted in the morning.) Thanks for the grooming Rubin and Mike!
WTLGR: High season to be sure. One can count on great winter sports opportunities the last weekend in January through early March to be sure. Of course skiing continues through much of April and even into May but spring skiing is different. Today is classic Noque’ Marathon weather; great snow and seasonal weather. Over the 20 some years of the event the weather has always been great. Sure some will whine about days like when the start was delayed an hour until the temperature climbed to minus 10f but even that day was wonderful. I remember dropping down onto the Dead River Basin crossing. The cold calm air laying in the basin must have been 15 or 20 degrees colder than in the jack pine forest. As we crossed you could see frost form on the backs of skiers ahead. Once across, on the climb to Granit Point the frost melted just as fast. By the finish line temperatures were in the 30s. It was a glorious day. Now we need to decide when to ski the virtual race. Some will look for a fast snow day while others will opt for as much misery as possible; it is Nordic skiing after all.
See you out there,
Sondo