Tom Helmers, head groomer for the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks, reported at 2:30 a.m. that the temperature at the Fort Wainwright alpine lodge is 62 deg cooler than last year. Thus, there will be no water over the trail anywhere today.
Also, a truck is still stuck in the trail as it comes off the river. Here’s hoping that the owner doesn’t choose today to retrieve it.
See you at the start on the Chena River at the Cushman Street Bridge.
As of this morning, 266 skiers are currently registered for the 2017 Sonot Kkaazoot. The 50 km event has 58 skiers after several skiers moved down to the 40 km or 20 km before bib pick-up. Fifteen skiers will take advantage of the early start to participate in the 50 km classical event, and 21 will compete in the 40 km event. The vast majority of skiers (currently 172) are signed up to take off on their Saturday ski at 10:30 ADT as part of the 20 km wave.
The Sonot trail on the Chena River has been deemed “race ready” by yet another of the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks groomers. Bill Husby will be testing those trails himself as he starts with the 50 CL skiers at 9:30 a.m.
Late Wednesday afternoon, Bad Bob Baker did grooming on the Sonot Kkaazoot trail on the Chena River. Here is a photo he took of the Steese Highway Bridge after the shoveling done by Byron, Dermot, Donovan, and Frank followed by Bob running his comb over the area a dozen times.
Bob also built a wide ramp from the parking lot down to the Sonot Kkaazoot start area under the Cushman Street bridge. This will make getting to and from the start/finish area MUCH easier than normal.
Course conditions for the 30th annual Sonot Kkaazoot are looking great!
Email update from the amazing Bad Bob Baker:
I will be down on the river several times tomorrow, Wednesday, and will be putting in a big snow ramp/path down to the start area, from the parking lot. That will give it time to really harden up… I will also spent some time under the bridges, and perhaps my drag will pull some snow under the bridges. I will report to you tomorrow night on how it goes, along with perhaps some pictures. It just might work well, or it might not work well at all. BUT…I will try my best….and try to impress you. My plan on Saturday if and when I finish 50km..is to crawl onto my snowmachine and get up to the sonot cutoff, and follow ( sweep the trail behind the last skier)…that is If I’m not that person…
Groomers were out on the Chena River today in preparation for Saturday’s Sonot Kkaazoot. Ken Coe has deemed their handiwork as “race ready” after they finished today. Classical tracks in both directions will be set on the morning of the race to make sure that they are not damaged overnight. Also, Bad Bob Baker spent over an hour today doing test drilling of ice thicknesses on the first 0.5 km of the course. Even in the “bad looking thin spots”, the ice was over a foot thick.
Thus, barring some unforeseen weather anomaly before Saturday, we’re a “go” for the traditional start and finish line of the 30th annual Sonot Kkaazoot.
Remember, that early bib pick-up is Thursday, 23 March 2017 at the Doyon Ltd, Headquarters from 5 to 7 p.m. All late registration must be done online. See the “register” tab at the top of this website.
Photos by Bill Husby
A trio of groomers and drags work on the Chena River today (video by Bill Husby)
As late registration begins, we have a total of 216 skiers from throughout Alaska and beyond signed up to ski one to the 4 events making up the 30th annual Sonot Kkaazoot. 134 skiers are signed up for the 20 km Sonot, including 19 skiers from Galena. 72 skiers will continue on to the Jim Whisenhant Ski Trails at Birch Hill Recreation Area to complete their 40 or 50 km courses.
Remember that all registration must be done online. Register by 7 p.m. on Thursday, 23 March and pay “late registration” fees. After that “race day” fees apply until 9 a.m. ADT on Saturday, 25 March 2017. Because of enhanced security considerations on Fort Wainwright, no foreign skiers may sign up for the 40 or 50 events after 7 p.m. on 23 March. By the end of bib pick-up, we must submit to the U.S. Army a list of all foreign skiers and their passport numbers and country of issue.
Check the “Entries” page and make sure that you entered all your information correctly.
The predicted below normal temperatures on race day will ensure that no skier has wet boots this year.
Bad Bob Baker is back in Alaska and reports that the Chena River will be groomed better by Monday night. By then, he’ll also have done ice drilling necessary to determine where the precise start and finish will be for the 30th annual Sonot Kkaazoot.
So if you plan to ski on the Chena River before Monday evening, proceed with caution.
The amazing Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks groomers, Tom Helmers, Ken Coe, and Bill Husby did several hours worth of grooming this morning with the ginzo and small drags. Conditions were solid but very rough (jumbled ice).
Photo and video below by Bill Husby
Fortunately, below normal temperatures and very little snowfall are predicted for the next 11 days so conditions should improve as the trails get more work.
Here’s a short video clip of the guys working on the trail.
Have you made your donation to the trail grooming fund? Race entries only cover a small portion of the required grooming costs.
Although overall winter temperatures are near long term averages, the departures have been significant. Likewise, winter snowfall has varied greatly. After a dry start in early winter, our cumulative snowfall and snow depth have literally piled up.
Thus, trail conditions for the 2017 Sonot Kkaazoot are likely to be ideal. Regular registration ends 17 March 2017.
https://sonotkkaazoot.org/register/
From Alaska Climate Research Center: http://climate.gi.alaska.edu/Climate/fairbanks
If the cold weather has you doubting whether you want to ski the 30th annual Sonot Kkaazoot, we offer you further enticement. Margo Klass and Frank Soos (shown above wearing their creation) have designed as special 30th anniversary Sonot Kkaazoot hat that will be given to the first 300 skiers to sign up and pick up their race bib. This hat will be only available to skiers and volunteers (who brave the cold to groom, time, or serve as road crossing guides on race day).
Register now, or you might have to wait 10 years for next special Sonot Kkaazoot swag.
Sonot Kkaazoot 