Grooming January 25, 2021
Forestville: Andy reported he groomed all trails except the Mead Hills By Pass with the PistenBully last night. This includes the section west of Co Rd 510 all the way to the second gate (about 4k west of Co Rd 510). I should add, I am not sure if trails not used in the virtual Noque’ were also groomed so there may some intersections left ungroomed. Skiers on the Virtual Noque’ course will appreciate it if they are not groomed as one can get confused by the many intersections. Follow the “yellow” or “blue” arrow for the long and the short race. In any case, there are more “k” groomed than one could (or should be able to) ski in a day.
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 [email protected] 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: Trails were groomed on Friday. Groomers reported grooming is beginning to help smooth out the trail. Still much more to do with that regard, but need more snow.
Dave was out on Meditation yesterday and offered some comments on conditions. He would not say the trail is in excellent condition. On most of the trail there is only one set of tracks and it is a shallow and spongy. We take such comments very seriously and greatly appreciate any input. Standardizing conditions across trail systems is important and an area in which we can apparently improve. The Big Bay system is remote and the ground is rugged. Other trails in the NTN system have been manicured in the off season for years so very little snow is needed. The dedicated folks in Big Bay have work parties in the off season in an attempt to fine tune the trails. Volunteers are encouraged to contact the NTN office for this and many other volunteer opportunities.
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:
Mike reports South is at 90% groomed.
Greywalls may be soft. Everything else should be really good.
WTLGR: Fresh back from the woodshed for over promising on the Big Bay Pathway I was sent to the wardrobe and directed to find the most irritating hair shirt in the rotation. I should add, there isn’t a rabbit hair shirt in the bunch. Not being allowed out of the home very often my knowledge is not unlike the prisoners in the cave. I can only study the flickering shadows on the wall and guess at what they mean. Well, now I know; it is PistEnBully, not PistonBully. After all, the “piste” is the thing you ski “off” unless you like to ski groomers and Pisten is the plural. A “piston” on the other hand is something completely unrelated. When I told the other prisoners in the cave of course you know what they wanted to do so I’m lucky to be here at all; hair shirt notwithstanding.
See you out there,
Sondo