Where else can you ski a critical part of the Sonot Kkaazoot course, stop in at the Fort Wainwright ski lodge for a hot chocolate, and then ski back up the Sonot Connector to the White Bear? The 2 km Sonot Connector was added to the Sonot Kkaazoot in 2012 as an alternative to skiing up and down the alpine hill as was done 19 times during the Sonot Kkaazoot history. Four years, the Sonot was held entirely at Birch Hill (when the Chena River was deemed unsafe) and one year entirely on the river when the south facing trail that was unofficially the first Sonot Connector, melted to dirt. The new Sonot Connector is very user friendly as the climb/descent is broken up by a series of gentle switchbacks that are fun on the downhill traverse and offer much needed recovery on the uphill. The Fort Wainwright groomers maintain the Sonot Connector and all nordic skiers are welcome providing that they have a picture identification with them and stay on the groomed nordic trail. Take your wallet with you and enjoy a well-deserved snack at the ski lodge.

The Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks is hosting a Wednesday night race on 13 March at 6:45 p.m. for those hard core skiers who want to race down and up the Sonot Connector from the biathlon range (http://wnrace.com/). However, for the less elite wave, incorporating a fun descent and a leisurely ascent in the southern exposure of this relatively new section of trails is worth a tour (or several) before the Sonot Kkaazoot.