Monthly Archives: March 2020

Chena River trail groomed on 3/16/20

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Bad Bob Baker spent the better part of today grooming the Sonot Kkaazoot trail from the start and finish area near the Cushman Street bridge to the Fort Wainwright alpine hill. He also groomed the 20 km turnaround loop and the ditch between the Chena River and Fort Wainwright.

It is springtime so stay alert on the river and ski with a buddy who is 6 feet away from you. Conditions can and will change swiftly. Make sure you have your government identification if you are skiing these trails.

Start and finish area ramp sm

Groomed ramp to the virtual Sonot Kkaazoot start and finish area

Sonot Kkaazoot trail on Chena River groomed wide for distancing sm

Bad Bob grooming the Chena River wide enough for social distancing

Bad Bob plans to groom again on Wednesday morning when he will set a classical track. Enjoy the spring skiing. It is good for your physical and mental well-being during the coronavirus pandemic.

33rd Sonot Kkaazoot canceled

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The Sonot Kkaazoot is cancelled; entry fees will not be refunded, but will be used to defray the sunk costs of the race (grooming to date, bibs, awards, honoraria for the schools responsible for the aid stations, etc.). Race Director Bob Baker is working on a virtual Sonot; if Ft. Wainwright consents and the river remains safe so that Bob can continue to groom, the virtual Sonot will include the original courses. You can anticipate updates from Bob as he works out the plan.

 

Regular registration ends Friday

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Exercise, especially outdoors where you’re almost always more than a meter away from another skier, is beneficial in boosting your immune system and lowering stress. To date, 85 skiers ranging in age from 8 to 71 have registered for the 33rd Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot.

Here is the current breakdown of entries:

20 km event: 38 skiers

40 km event: 8 skiers

50 km event: 39 skiers

Regular registration ends Friday. After that, you’ll be charged late registration fees. With 85 skiers spread over 50 km of ski trails, the likelihood of you contacting the coronavirus during the Sonot Kkaazoot is extremely low even if entries double before race day. This year’s snowfall and cold weather has the course looking spectacular with a little more than two weeks before the Sonot Kkaazoot.

Click the “register” tab at the top of this blogsite and you can securely sign up for any of the three events.

Perfect ski on the classic only trails

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Today the temperature was -4 deg F when we left the hut with a major temperature inversion. However, all the classical only trails had been groomed on Wednesday so we didn’t want to miss the opportunity to ski on firm new tracks even if it meant dropping down 10 or 20 deg F.

The trails didn’t disappoint. If you are training for the Sonot Kkaazoot, or even more, if you are training for the Oosik or the Skiathon,  you REALLY should check out the classical only trails at Birch Hill.

The North Classical trails are groomed 5 feet wide making downhill corners easier for skiers with less flexible joints. The really steep downhill on the North Star was just fun today–no fall anxiety at all.

North Classics tracks sm

North Star tracks sm

Skiing past North Star pond sm

The South Classical trails are more technical but with the current snowfall and grooming, this 70 year old, bionic skier managed to easily stay on her skis on the Blackhawk loop.

Bernardo on Black Hawk sm

Trails groomed by Ken Coe and Bill Husby. All photos by Bill Husby.

Enjoy the longer days on the ski trails. If you enjoy skiing, please make sure that you donate to the Birch Hill Trail Fund:

https://nordicskicluboffairbanks.wildapricot.org/Donate/

Chena River groomed for Spring Break

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The Chena River portion of the Sonot Kkaazoot trail has been groomed again today and is ready for skiing. Bad Bob Baker reports that it is 20 feet wide (or more) for the entire length.

What’s holding you back? The river ice is more than 2 feet thick and the trail is groomed 20 feet wide? It’s just a little over three weeks until the Sonot Kkaazoot. Register now and avoid future price increases.

Bad Bob gives Chena River trail a thumbs up

Sonot Kkaazoot Race Director, Bad Bob Baker gives the Chena River trail a thumbs up.

Wide enough to skate side-by-sideChena River 3-5-20

Cold nights, thicker river ice

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Yes, it’s been a cold winter in Interior Alaska. However, the cold nights have thickened the Chena River ice so that the traditional Sonot Kkaazoot start looks VERY promising. With World Masters canceled this year because of the coronavirus, Bad Bob Baker is in town to pack down the abundant new snow so that the river ice will continue to thicken as race day approaches.

From the NWS Fairbanks Facebook page:

March ice thicknesses

Register now for the 33rd Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot. Also, contribute to the Birch Hill trail grooming fund so that we can enjoy skiing on the abundant snow this spring.

https://nordicskicluboffairbanks.wildapricot.org/Donate/