Virtual Sonot updates

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Sonot Kkaazoot

from race director, Bad Bob Baker at 10:04 a.m. today:

THE weekend is coming..I just talked with TOM and with the wild winds he’s not sure when he’ll groom, but he plans to do what he can, when he can.. and often as possible. Tom also mentioned that there is also a possibility of the administration shutting down the groomers. SO..anything can happen on this VIRTUAL SONOT KKAAZOOT.

This coming week looks very warm and lots of snow…but by next Friday the sun starts to come out and the temp really drops …down to just below zero downtown….

NEXT SATURDAY…the true SONOT KKAAZOOT race day is forecasting some sunshine and a high of +12 downtown..

SO, the big question is how the Chena River will hold up from now till then…

It looks like tomorrow and Sunday are going to be the best skiing snow wise until Friday and Saturday of next week. Lots of snow and high temps Monday through Thursday… SO…get out tomorrow and Sunday for the the most assured SONOT KKAAZOOT conditions… it might get better, it might not, and the River may hold up, or it may not..

Bad BOB

Blogger note:

I intend to ski my virtual Sonot Kkaazoot tomorrow so there’ll be no updates once I leave home. Remember, I’m a 70 year old volunteer so I do everything SLOWLY.

Seeing as this is a virtual Sonot, Bad Bob won’t be following me as course sweep. Thus, this year, I may be napping on the Chena River not him in late afternoon. (Maybe Eric Buetow will bring out a beverage in front of his house to revive me).

Keep your virtual Sonot reports coming. I’ll update this site as soon as I can. I’m also a struggling grad student and my home internet is barely crawling along.

Chena River groomed and tracked

Posted on March 18, 2020 by Sonot Kkaazoot

As of 10 a.m. ADT today, Bad Bob Baker has groomed and tracked the Sonot Kkaazoot trail from the Cushman Street bridge to the bottom of the Sonot Connector on Fort Wainwright.

Bad Bob Baker says “Get out and ski!”

Bad Bob says “Ski Virtual Sonot soon”

Posted on March 17, 2020 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Spring has arrived in Fairbanks. Bad Bob Baker, who has 33 years experience grooming the Chena River, warns that the Sonot Kkaaoot course on the Chena River may NOT be safe if you wait until Saturday, 28 March 2020 to ski the Virtual Sonot Kkaaoot.

Bad Bob plans to groom the river again tomorrow morning (Wednesday) and will set classical tracks on the edges of the Virtual Sonot Course. Stay inside of those tracks! If you notice new holes or signs of break-up, don’t ski near them. Use your head and be safe.

Carry government identification while on Fort Wainwight property and use extreme caution at all road crossings. The first road was very slick today when walking across with ski boots.

Ski one of the three Sonot Kkaazoot courses. Send us a screen shot of the display from your GPS route, date, and time to us at: contact@sonotkkaazoot.org . We’ll post the virtual 33rd Sonot Kkaazoot times for all three distances. If you ski low tech, send us your time, date, distance and who you skied with or saw while you were out on the trails.

When Bad Bob deems the Chena River to be ungroomable, the VIRTUAL SONOT KKAAZOOT will be over. Kaput! Done. So get out there and ski.

Bob also plans to groom early on both Saturday and Sunday (21 and 22 March 2020).

Chena River trail groomed on 3/16/20

Posted on March 16, 2020 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Bad Bob Baker spent the better part of today grooming the Sonot Kkaazoot trail from the start and finish area near the Cushman Street bridge to the Fort Wainwright alpine hill. He also groomed the 20 km turnaround loop and the ditch between the Chena River and Fort Wainwright.

It is springtime so stay alert on the river and ski with a buddy who is 6 feet away from you. Conditions can and will change swiftly. Make sure you have your government identification if you are skiing these trails.

Groomed ramp to the virtual Sonot Kkaazoot start and finish area

Sonot Kkaazoot trail on Chena River groomed wide for distancing sm

Bad Bob grooming the Chena River wide enough for social distancing

Bad Bob plans to groom again on Wednesday morning when he will set a classical track. Enjoy the spring skiing. It is good for your physical and mental well-being during the coronavirus pandemic.

Cold nights, thicker river ice

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Yes, it’s been a cold winter in Interior Alaska. However, the cold nights have thickened the Chena River ice so that the traditional Sonot Kkaazoot start looks VERY promising. With World Masters canceled this year because of the coronavirus, Bad Bob Baker is in town to pack down the abundant new snow so that the river ice will continue to thicken as race day approaches.

From the NWS Fairbanks Facebook page:

March ice thicknesses

Register now for the 33rd Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot. Also, contribute to the Birch Hill trail grooming fund so that we can enjoy skiing on the abundant snow this spring.

https://nordicskicluboffairbanks.wildapricot.org/Donate/

Fresh grooming on Chena River today

Posted on February 27, 2020 by Sonot Kkaazoot

With the cold nights and sunny days, the Chena River portion of the Sonot Kkaazoot is looking awesome. Bad Bob Baker groomed the Chena River today. Here’s a photo that Bad Bob took looking back at the start/finish area of the Sonot Kkaazoot:

View of the Sonot Kkaazoot start on 2-27-20

and here are some close ups of Bad Bob’s grooming equipment and the corduroy after he has groomed.

Bad Bob grooming gear 2-27-20 on Chena Chena River cordoroy 2-27-20

Again, make sure you have your government identification if you ski onto Fort Wainwright from the Chena River.

What is holding you back from signing up for the 33rd Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot? The register tab at the top of this webpage will take you to the secure site for online registration.

Sonot trail on Fort Wainwright groomed

Posted on February 23, 2020 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Although the temperature was pretty chilly for late February, the spectacular sun dog gave way to clear blue skies. Bill Husby, Birch Hill deputy groomer, headed out to check the Sonot Kkaazoot trail on Fort Wainwright this morning. Although there are no set classical tracks, the trail along the ditch has been groomed. Make sure that you have your government identification if you venture onto Fort Wainwright.

The Sonot Connector was groomed (and tracked by our NSCF groomers) so we had a pleasant circuit of the Relay, Blue, Outhouse, Sunnyside, and Cliffside trails, up the Sonot Connector and the rest of the White Bear trail. The sun was so bright that I had to dig out my shades.

The entire Sonot Kkaazoot trail is looking close to race ready. What is holding you back from signing up for the 33rd Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot?

Sonot Kkaazoot trail on Fort Wainwright, photo by Bill Husby

Chena River groomed on 2/15/20

Posted on February 15, 2020 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Bad Bob groomed the Chena River portion of the Sonot Kkaazoot trail again today after a week of cold weather. He commented that the trail was “nice.”

If you plan to ski the Chena River, be alert for any changes in the ice, stick to the area groomed, ski with a buddy, and make sure you carry your government identification if you ski onto Fort Wainwright.

Enjoy the sunshine and longer days.

Chena River 2-15-20 sm at Hamilton Acres

Photo by Bad Bob Baker of Sonot Kkaazoot trail on Chena River near Hamilton Acres

Chena River ice thickness downtown

Posted on February 12, 2020 by Sonot Kkaazoot

From: National Weather Service Fairbanks Facebook page:

Capture Capture2

Ice thickness on the Chenr River downtown is 21″.

We have 2 feet of snow pack at the airport, which provides considerable insulation. The overflow that Bob Baker encountered on Sunday was only 4 to 6 inches deep. This cold spell will solidify that now that he had packed down the snow overlying it. Don’t panic. The Sonot Kkaazoot is still six weeks away and Mother Nature hasn’t revealed all her secrets yet.

However, this is for sure. Early registration ends a week from Friday so sign up now and save money on your entry fee. Just click on the register tab at the top of this page.

Chena River is NOT skiable on 2/9/2020

Posted on February 9, 2020 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Bruce Jamieson observes as Bad Bob Baker points to the spot where he got stuck in the overflow and chose to stop dragging. Photo by Bill Husby

As of 10 a.m. Sunday, 9 February 2020, from Bad Bob Baker:

The Chena River is NOT skiable. Countless overflow areas. Only the first 2 to 3 km from the Cushman Street Bridge are skiable.

REPEAT: Sonot Kkaazoot trail on Chena River is not skiable as of Sunday morning, 9 February 2020.

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