With the post-Sonot Kkaazoot fatigue lingering in our weathered bodies, the SCUM decided to enjoy the sunshine, scenery, and each other’s company while skiing the White Bear and Moilanen Meadows today.
Here is the entire gang at the bottom of Heartrate Hill:
SCUM on Sunday ski at bottom of Heartrate Hill–photo by Joanna Fox
How White Bear looked and sounded like today–video by Dan Johnson
Below are photos and videos of the SCUM foolery. In between the photo and videos, I managed to get 1:12 of low level 1 training.
Moilanen Meadows looked prime for spring snow angels:
Snow angel attempt in sunshine almost results in a concussion–video by Bill Husby
Snow angel in the shade–video by Joanna Fox
Greg’s snow angel complete with halo–photo by Dan Johnson
The SCUM encountered wildlife on our ski including an early rising honey badger:
Honey badger attacks tree at Dermot’s Demise–photos by Joanna Fox
Birch tree’s revenge on honey badger
Honey badger’s burrow left unwatched
Enjoy spring skiing. Contribute to the NSCF grooming fund for continued skiing under warm inviting conditions for the next generation of SCUM:
SCUM gather after Double Theta time trail–photo by Corrine Leistikow
This post was actually assembled after a SCUM workout on 16 February 2025 at UAF. However, I was lacking enough brain cells then to figure out how to embed a large video that was a key part of this post. Now with my MFA thesis defense postponed until Fall 2025 and training for and assisting with the organization of the 38th Sonot Kkaazoot finished, here is a look back to 16 February 2025
Joanna earned the right for a finish line collapse after setting a new segment record for the Double Theta today in -3 deg F chill.
Joanna collapses at the finish of the Double Theta (skiing two figure 8s on Smith Lake)–photo by Bill Husby
After our approximately 2.5 km time trial chasing the youngest skier among us (and the most stressed this week), our bodies were fatigued but our minds were more relaxed, so our judgement was slightly impaired.
Somewhere on the t-field, the decision was made to wallow in the untracked snow. While in other areas of America, winter swimming in frozen lakes becomes an extreme sport, snow wallowing requires just taking the path less traveled.
Bill started out the challenge on the T-field:
Bill gets off trail below notch of T-field to avoid out-of-control skate skier headed his way--photos of Bill above and below by Joanna Fox
Bernardo and Dan offer encouragement to Bill
Following Bill’s leadership, Dan accepted the challenge in the middle of the potato field:
Dan accepts the doubledog dare to wallow in the potato field snow–video by Bill Husby
Only to be outdone by Joanna, who was ready to really take a dive:
Joanna takes a dive for stress relief–video by Bill Husby
View of the Sonot Connector as Eric Troyer (official red lantern for the 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot) stops to photograph the remnants of the Color Run held on the same day as the Sonot Kkaazoot
The photo taken of the SCUM BEFORE the start of the 38th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot:
SCUM standing (30 km) or resting (Eric Troyer, who skied and napped in the 50 km Sonot)--photo by Mark Boyce
and AFTER:
Greg, the kid SCUM, finishes with a smile–photo by Jerome Jackson
Mom balances gingerly on her screaming left ankle–photo by Jerome Jackson
Carl, (the only active primordial SCUM, who first skied the 50 km Sonot in 1997) finishes 30 km Sonot before his 74th birthday on Sunday–photo by Jerome Jackson
SCUM with woodels after the Sonot Kkaazoot awards ceremony–photo by Carol DeVoe
A huge thank you to the SCUM who didn’t race but volunteered for timing the Sonot Kkaazoot. Next season will mark 30 years of SCUM.
On the results page (at top of website), there is the URL to the results on Zone4. Please let me know if you see any errors before we finalize results.
Woodels are awarded to the top three skiers in each age category for each distance. Please come to the Awards Ceremony (at 6 p.m.) so that you can get your woodel. If you cannot make the awards ceremony, please ask a friend or coach to pick up your award for you.
Although 168 skiers are signed up for the 38th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot, only 33 race bibs were picked up at early bib pickup on Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. That means 135 skiers will need to pick up their bibs on race morning between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.at Rikka’s Roadhouse (located between the log warming hut and the timing building at Birch Hill). Because the volunteers assigning bib numbers are also planning to race on Saturday, bib pickup will end at 9:30 a.m. Plan to arrive early and expect to wait.
Thursday, 20 March 2025 is the last day to late register for the 38th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot. All online registration will close at 1159 pm. ADT on 20 March 2025.
Early bib pickup is from 5 to 7 p.m. upstairs in the Birch Hill Recreation Center building. Please pick up your bib (or make arrangements for a friend or family member to pick up your race bib for you). Thursday early bib pickup is also your last opportunity to change the course distance that you’ll be skiing. If you signed up for the 10 km race and now want to ski the 30 or 50 km event, you’ll need to bring the difference in race entry fee either in cash or check (written to Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks). If you want to ski a shorter distance, you will not receive a refund in entry fee.
Day of race bib pickup will be at Rika’s Roadhouse from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Sonot Kkaazoot 