SCUM find LOL ornament #6 before getting warmed up on Friday –-all photos by Joanna Fox
The SCUM quickly found LOL ornament #6 as it was on one of the Strava segments named for a primordial SCUM. This ornament is gold, not a very easy to spot color, and is located above Joanna’s right shoulder.
Here’s a close up with Thumper, who was visiting from Reno:
Carl was cooperative with our photographer early in the workout, but then became wayward.
Mom was skiing with just one pole to avoid further aggravation of cartilage connecting her ribs to her sternum. Thus, she was looking around while she waited for the SCUM to chase Robert and Jeff downhill and spotted LOL ornament #5:
LOL ornament # 5
The photo makes this LOL ornament a giveaway for anyone skiing the trails regularly.
It may be chilly on the trails, but the newly set tracks allow one’s skis to glide so you travel more effortlessly than before the recent snow.
Although the Super Tour Races moved to Anchorage, fantastic skiing still awaits skiers in Fairbanks.
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:
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.
Today, Mike Schmoker, Sonot Kkaazoot woodel guru was back in town after several weeks spent high altitude trekking in Peru. As he was the only SCUM showing up for our Wednesday Ester Dome ascent, I let him choose the route. Given that temperatures were around 30 deg with 12 to 18 mph SW winds, we opted to take the single-track trail up Ester Dome to Henderson Road.
Mike’s groomed track this morning
The wind protection was marvelous, but Mike’s high elevation acclimation made his pace rival that of Bernardo.
The clouds lifted and blue skies turned the trails magical
And unlike the SCUM mother, who is geographically challenged, Mike had a map in his head that mirrored those posted on the trail.
Mike finds the map
Unlike Bill’s maps that are sketched in the snow, Mike’s map was printed, sealed in plastic and posted on the trails.
Mike and I were both smiling through out hike:
Smiling Mike enjoying views of the valley
Mike’s fitness was again demonstrated when he fell but was too quick getting up for me to get a photo of his tumble:
Site of Mike’s first fall of the winter season.
If the National Weather Service is correct, we should be skiing soon. However, in the meantime, some of the trails less traveled will make for fun SCUM adventure workouts.
Where were these guys when we were ski walking up Ester Dome today? It looks like Robert thought they were skiing (hence, his SCUM ski hat) but Bill had other ideas (wearing shorts and a t-shirt). They were BUMs (Bill’s Uncoachable Men) again today–leaving early and changing the course. However, we all agreed that it was a lovely autumn day.
Other wayward SCUM are hiking or biking in Germany, Peru, Erie Canal, NY, and other locations in the Lower 48.
Today the SCUM opted out of doing the Fort Wainwright alpine hill ascents since several of us plan to do the Golden Heart Trail Run tomorrow. Instead, we ski walked the black and blue loops and finished with some disc golf. However, in honor of the Plastic Free July Challenge, we used a wooden disc. Here is a close up of the disc and Bernardo who ended up tossing the disc the closest to the goal:
Bernardo, was the champion disc golfer among the SCUM
Robert putts
Carl’s new orange Hoka shoes don’t assist his disc golf swing
Mike Mathers, professional photographer, disrupting my attempt at getting a group photo.
Bernardo getting a SCUM salute for his mastery of the Dan Johnson disc toss
Norma Haubenstock’s Sonot Kkaazoot snail award from 1998
Although I’ve been the last finisher in the 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot more times than I have fingers to count, I’ve never gotten a red lantern. I have gotten to be friends with the trail sweeps. Ken has taken my excess clothes to the finish for me, and I have told Danny to remove the remaining orange kilometer markers because I definitely knew the course (especially when it was on the Chena River).
In 1998, Norma Haubenstock was awarded the Sonot Kkaazoot Snail woodel made by Bad Bob from a particularly unique shaped birch log. We might need to offer incentives for women skiing the 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot. This year Corinne Leistikow was the only woman over 29 years old to finish the 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot. She was ahead of her husband, an under 20-year-old female skier, and one 30–34-year-old male skier. But no other Masters female skiers finished the 50-km Sonot Kkaazoot.
Since the pandemic, I haven’t been the last 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot finisher because I have been unable to finish 50 km. Likewise, most of the SCUM have chosen to ski the 30 km instead of the 50 km event.
Among the SCUM there is fierce competition for woodels since the M09 (70 to 74 years old) category had 5 SCUM skiers so only three would be successful.
Woodel winners in M09 men in 30 km Sonot Kkaazoot–Bill Husby (2nd), Mike Schmoker (first), and Dermot Cole (third)–Joanna Fox photo
Last year Mike Schmoker and Dermot Cole skied the 50 km Sonot, however, this year, only Eric Troyer skied it.
In contrast, he provided these insights from the back-of-the-pack to me:
I don’t try to be at the back of the pack, but I enjoy being there. The people are friendly, and the atmosphere is more relaxed. It’s kind of like a pub in motion. But without the bar. Or the beer. And if you end up doing enough of the races, it’s like Cheers. Everybody knows your name!
One thing nice about being at the back of the pack is hope. You can always hope someone in front of you went out too fast and then runs out of steam badly. Then you can cheerily call out “Good job!” as you pass them. Sure, it’s sad and petty, but it’s all we’ve got!
I’ve been at the back of the pack many times. I’ve even got a list of all my Red Lantern finishes. I’m proud of them! Entered, competed, finished! Most important, though, is that you have a good time while you’re out there. Even when you’re struggling and feel like you want to puke. Good times!
Regardless of distance attempted, the SCUM have a good time. Here’s the view before the Sonot Kkaazoot as they flex their bionic hinges:
SCUM before the Sonot Kkaazoot, posing in front of the spectator directional sign —photo by Dermot Cole
and a view of the morning after:
SCUM on the day after the Sonot Kkaazoot, with Bill Husby feeling the effects of grooming for 5 hours, sleeping only 3 hours, and having Dermot pass him on the black loops when he fell–photo by Joanna Fox
However, this year, Sonot Kkaazoot race director, Bad Bob Baker, felt the effects of his completely torn hamstring while setting up the courses, supervising all the volunteers, and providing the play-by-play in the stadium for 6 hours. The pain and swelling did force Bob to go home for several hours before race morning.
We wish him a successful surgery and speedy recovery so that he can have more fun at next year’s Sonot Kkaazoot.
Bad Bob Baker at rest during a lull in the finish line activities of the Sonot Kkaazoot–photo by Dan Johnson
Sonot Kkaazoot 