SCUM may not be in the lead pack in Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks ski races, but they do volunteer their time and efforts to improve skiing for all of us. Today 9 SCUM fed hungry mosquitoes while removing roots and other debris from the Relay, Medevac, and Roller Coaster trails that have been widened and reshaped to minimize erosion.

Before the trails are seeded, roots and other debris needs to be removed. Trail work has also been done on White Cub and White Bear so volunteer efforts are needed there, too. Work has begun on Blue and Black Loops, too, so volunteer effort is needed as part of the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks match for the RTP grant funding these trail improvements.

Volunteer work is fairly straightforward. All roots on the trails and trail banks need to be removed if they are larger than the diameter of one’s pinky. Sharp loppers are the most useful tools although we used saws and pulaskis, too.

Contact Tom Helmers at trails@nscfairbanks.org and he’ll direct you to the appropriate trails. After you’ve finished, let Ann Jamieson know what trails you worked on and how much time you spent. She can be contacted at: treasurer@nscfairbanks.org .

After our work party, we examined the ski racks that Dermot and Dan had repaired. These SCUM demonstrated that their versatility extends to carpentry as well as root removal.