Max Kaufman sent along a URL to an album of awesome photos he took of FXC Devos, who raced the virtual 10 km Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot on Sunday. He wrote that 9 skiers opted to do the race and Coach Tjarn Bross timed them. We haven’t received the names or times of these skiers, but, we wanted to share the photos.
As care coordinator for volunteers of the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks race events, Norma Haubenstock plays a huge role in making sure things run smoothly. So for her birthday on Sunday, the SCUM feted her during our tour of the Nordale Flats.
Norma cresting a hill–Video by Dan Johnson
The 20 km course had been carefully marked by Pat Lovely and John Estle, who had started at 0800 on two snowmachines to ready the course for the 1000 start by the slower skiers led by Don Pendergrast. The 1100 wave of skiers were led by John and finished right behind the last the 1000 skiers.
Here’s a map of our popsicle course, where the major climb parallels Heart Rate Hill at Birch Hill Recreation Area:
Map of course by John Estle
Leaving from John and Norma’s driveway, we walked down Wilderness Drive to the start of the trail:
Marching–photo by Bill Husby
When we left it was roughly 6 deg F at Birch Hill and -5 deg in the valley, so we started skiing to warm chilly fingers:
10 am start group —photo by Joanna Fox
Troupe–photo by Dan Johnson
By the time we reached a small pond (where you can see the North Star classical trail at Birch Hill), we stopped to sing happy birthday to Norma:
10 am start group–photos by Amanda Byrd
SCUM salute for Norma
With any group, certain individuals play key roles. For us, there was Don Pendergrast, our fearless leader, who made sure none of us got left behind:
In the foreground, Don Pendergrast, leader —photo by Joanna Fox
The cabooses, Susan and Bernardo, who switched off being the red lantern.
Red lanterns–photo by Dan Johnson
And of course, Bill Husby, the chief instigator of falls and crashes:
Bill, the Eddie Haskell of the SCUM–photo by Dan Johnson
As you’ll note, Bill had a face mask handy as he was not always social distancing when he was luring SCUM into potential crash sites with his phone rolling in video mode.
Some SCUM are definitely not right leaning– video by Bill Husby
By the time we had finished the loop and needed to ascend Heart Rate Hill again, additional kick wax was needed:
Rewaxing–photo by Amanda Byrd
The temperature and trail conditions were perfect for a several hour tour of woods very close to Birch Hill Recreation Area. Huge thanks go to Pat Lovely and John Estle for course marking (and take down) and John and Norma for hosting the group of very happy skiers.
Jana emailed Bob Baker (and all Sonot participants):
Pictures are located under 2019 events, free code is Sonotfree. It is good for 2 free pictures, watermark will automatically disappear after they clear it through the cart.
I hope I was able to create some good memories for you all. It was a lovely day.
Thanks again,
Jana
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The Sonot Kkaazoot thanks Jana for use of her fantastic photographs. Please make sure to credit her.
Dimond High School skiers, who traveled north from Anchorage to participate in the 10 and 30 km Sonot Kkaazoot, sent along these photographs of the team enjoying the sunshine, warmth, and friendly competition on Saturday:
Thank you for participating in the 32nd Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot.
Report from Sonot Kkaazoot race director, Bad Bob Baker:
We are all done with the World Masters. Last day was warm and mostly sunny for the skaters to enjoy. We are now in Oslo, and will bus north at 5:00 am tomorrow to the start of the Norwegian Birkebeiner 54 kilometer Classic ski race. All participants are required to carry an 8 lb pack the entire way. The five skiers on the Fairbanks travel team plan to TOUR the race together: Bruce Jamieson, Chris Puchner, Donna DiFolco, and Sharon & Bad Bob Baker. We all plan on taking full advantage of the FEED STATIONS. The race starts in RENA, and finishes in LILLIEHAMMER, Norway. It crosses 2 mountain ranges and often has 8 or more side by side classic tracks. The forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies, and 25 to 35 degree temps. We sure hope so. After the race we plan to tourist the town of LILLIEHAMMER, then catch a 2 hour train back to our Oslo Airport Hotel. Be back in Fairbanks Monday night.
Bad Bob
Donna DiFolco as part of USA silver medal relay team
All photos by Bad Bob Baker who didn’t supply captions for his Sonot Kkaazoot organizing underling
Bill Husby and Bob Baker also worked on grooming the Fort Wainwright Ditch and Pond that form the trail system that 40 and 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot skiers traverse between the Chena River and Birch Hill Recreation Area.
All photos in this post were taken by Bill Husby, who points out that a lot of whips and brush still need to be removed from the pond and ditch. So take some clippers with you on your ski to the river from Birch Hill. Bill plans to attack the brush with chain saw and loppers soon. Remember to have your government identification with you.
Pond before grooming on 1 March 2019
Pond after trimming whips and brush then grooming.
Newly rolled ditch
Bill is hoping that the rolled trails set up overnight so that he can run a small drag over the ditch. Today the snow pack was quite soft when two SCUM skied on the ditch trail.
Friday went well on the Chena River. The entire 20 km is flat and fast. We will see what the next two weeks bring weather wise. With the Chena River packed, and cold overnight temps, the ice should get thicker. Today I broke through in two places, very obvious! So, be aware and cautious if you ski on the Chena River. Enjoy, it’s very fast! This afternoon and tonight will be the best skating, before the snowmachines tear it up.
I’ll be back from ski racing in Norway on March 18. And will groom again then.
1 March 2019: It was +16 deg F and sunny at Denali State Bank at 11 a.m. as I headed out on the 20 km Sonot Kkaazoot course from start to turnaround. Groomers Bad Bob Baker and Bill Poles Husby had been out since 8 a.m. Skiing was awesome including under the highway bridges where Bob had dragged snow earlier and through repeated dragging had ground up the jumble ice. No need to use rock skis today! Today will be Bad Bob’s last grooming of the Sonot course until he returns from Norway on the Tuesday before the Sonot Kkaazoot.
Bad Bob and his drag on his pass toward town as I headed out around 11:15 a.m. today
Below are some photos I took during my 20 km ski. I was way overdressed and by the end, I was skiing without a hat. Bad Bob made an additional pass on the trail after I skied out, leaving the trail much wider and more level. On my return to the start, it was virtually an all V2 ski.
Only climb on the 20 km Sonot course
Bad Bob’s technique for removing toe grabbers on the 20 km turnaround trail
Bad Bob adds a kick as he grooms the 20 km turnaround
Bob and Sharon Baker will be out skiing the 20 km Sonot Kkaazoot course this afternoon. I highly recommend that you do the same. It will top off your Vitamin D stores and will definitely encourage you to sign up for the 32nd annual Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot today.
11 am Wednesday Feb 20. I just got off the Chena River, temp on the River at 8:30 am was just below zero. This morning I was bound and determined to start at the Cushman bridge and travel the entire 20 km route. Success! My Ski Doo Scandic SWT and I made it from start to finish without ending up below the Chena River ice. That said, the Chena River is still far from being a safe place to ski, walk, snowmachine or check out.
As seen in these photos on the Chena River at the downtown starting area, I churned up slush and water for the entire first 800 meters.
Photos of Sonot Kkaazoot start area on Chena River taken by Bad Bob Baker on 2-20-19
Had I stopped in a few spots, I felt that I would have broken through, or at the very least, been hopelessly stuck. Countless other spots along the entire river portion of the Sonot produced similar results. Needless to say. I did not attempt to pull my drag/groomer.
This year the Chena River is playing a game that I have yet to experience in my 32 years of grooming for the Sonot Kkaazoot. I’m not calling it quits yet for a traditional downtown river start. We’re still over 4 weeks from race day. Late March is always a great time to ski in Fairbanks. No matter where you’re skiing, it’s always an awesome experience.
I head over to Norway on March 3rd. I will give at least one more Chena River update before I leave, and will also will announce the race courses if the Sonot ends up all at Birch Hill. We should have a final decision by the early bib pick-up at the Doyon building on Thursday March 21. Until then, get yourself signed up for this year’s Sonot! Whatever the course, it will be a great day to be out on your skis!!
Thanks to Robert Hannon, Sonot Fort Wainwright liaison, and Dani O’Donnell, Fort Wainwright Community Engagement and Media Relations staff person, a crew of 17 Fort Wainwright volunteers were recruited to help Eric Troyer and Bill Chedister in staffing the road crossings on River and Ski Roads.
These Fort Wainwright personnel greatly enhanced the partnership with Fort Wainwright that has existed for all 31 years that the Sonot Kkaazoot taken place.
We urge skiers to thank their neighbors and Fort Wainwright personnel for their additional commitment to the greater Fairbanks North Star Borough community.(https://sonotkkaazoot.org/volunteers/). Without the partnership with Fort Wainwright, the Sonot Kkaazoot would not be possible.
Sonot Kkaazoot 