Bad Bob finishes 2016 Equinox Marathon with a smile
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Category Archives: Sonot Kkaazoot race organizers
Bad Bob, Sonot founder, will run Equinox Marathon with “new heart”
Tomorrow’s 54th annual Equinox Marathon will feature a little additional climb thanks to the last-minute addition of the “zipper” and “tunnel” sections of trail on Ester Dome. However, Bad Bob Baker, the founder and longtime organizer of the Sonot Kkaazoot will be unfazed by this minor diversion. Baker will be continuing his personal Equinox glory in spite of a brush with death in late June when he collapsed at the Loftus Mile after winning his age category by 1:30! Cleared by his doctors to do the Equinox Marathon if he keeps his heart rate under 135, I hope that I get to see him on the course out-and-back. However, with his 75% coronary blockage removed, Bad Bob will likely snooze his way around the course, leaving mere mortals behind him.
photo by Ned Rozell
Second chance for Bad Bob, Sonot Kkaazoot founder
Reprieve from break-up
The several inches of fresh snow that fell this morning gave us a short reprieve from break-up. Tom, the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks head groomer, made a single pass of the White Bear and Moilanen Meadows today so we enjoyed the warm, sunny April Sunday. The barely hidden water hazards let us know that our skiing days are numbered for this season.
SCUM also rises on Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday for the Sonot Kkaazoot organizers felt like a resurrection after we watched winter melt away during our event Saturday that from start to finish took barely 6 hours. Seeing as none of us wanted to ski out onto the Chena River today, we decided to examine the largest south facing slope whose melting snow helped feed the river flow as yesterday unfolded. The Sonot Connector is south facing and by mid afternoon it was a combination of deep slush and bare ground. This morning, it was icy and the trail rattled beneath our skis. Don missed one of the curves and face planted a foot shy of a tree:
Don was fine and we progressed downhill to where the Sonot Connector joins the Fort Wainwright alpine hill. A slush pond had formed there and Poles (the Eddie Haskell of the SCUM) tried to splash those of us nearby and ended up cooling off in the slush pond.
Notice how no one is offering to assist him. However, demonstrating the flexibility of his bionic knees, Bill rises:
and joins us for a group photo:
and a trek up the alpine hill (the way the Sonot Kkaazoot used to go).
Happy Easter! I hope that you got a solid chocolate Easter bunny in your basket after your great efforts yesterday.
Please send us any photos of the Sonot Kkaazoot you’d like to share.
Chena River update at 6 p.m.
Bad Bob Baker just called. The river is good. He’s 99% confident that it will be fine in the morning.
Updates on trail grooming Thursday
While some of the Sonot organizers were buried with late registration and bib pick-up, the groomers were busy working on the trails. Here’s the Thursday update from Bill Husby:
“Today Tom took the ginzu down to the river and leveled the bumps between the RR bridge and FWW bridge. He also got above the RR bridge. We also added some snow by electrical box along the road. As of now that 200 meter section is beautiful corduroy with no vehicle ruts. There are piles of snow by the crossing areas ready to be shoved onto the road with the piston bully (PB) on Saturday morning making for little or no shoveling for the crossing staff.
Ken and I will be grooming the river tomorrow morning. Expect an update with pristine photos. Tom will start grooming all the BH trails with the PB tomorrow evening. He will also PB the Sonot Connector, road and down to the river. Around 0700 he and Ken will drag and set tracks on the river and wherever else they are needed. This should prove the best 50K course in the state of Alaska this year.”
So that’s the most recent report. The Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks are working hard to make the 2016 Sonot Kkaazoot special for all skiers.
One final note: Sonot Kkaazoot volunteers will be drilling the ice on the Chena River to make sure that the ice will safely support skiers and run all our equipment on Saturday.
A HUGE THANK YOU to all our wonderful volunteers who have come together to pull off the 29th annual Sonot Kkaazoot, and our awesome groomers who have allowed us Fairbanks skiers to continue skiing through our winter drought.
Chena River groomed again today
The Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks groomers dragged the Chena River again today. Then Bill Husby and friends skied the new corduroy as captured by Bill’s phone:
Here Carl and Jerome are approaching the Fort Wainwright bridge:
and here is the birthday boy enjoying the sunshine and fast snow:
Chena River ski trail UPDATE
Bad Bob Baker finished regrooming the 20 km Sonot Kkaazoot course this morning at midnight. The course has been groomed 20 feet wide including the 20 km turnaround area. Up and down the Chena River, the course is as much as 40 feet wide. Because Bob was grooming in the dark, he wasn’t able to see if there were areas with dirt or rocks showing.
Ken Coe and Bill Husby hauled two loads of manmade snow down to the Fort Wainwright bridge and combined with river bank snow. Here are some photos from Tuesday morning taken by Bill after their work and that of Bob last night. The Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks groomers plan to groom the river tomorrow so we’ll get an updated report. However, as of now, it looks like no snow enhancement work party will be needed.
ENJOY the fantastic spring skiing! Urge your friends to sign up for the Sonot Kkaazoot now.
https://sonotkkaazoot.org/register/
This year’s conditions are perfect for those skiing their first Sonot Kkaazoot. Please note that on race day, classical tracks WILL BE SET on both sides of the skate platform.
Also, remember grooming doesn’t come free. Please donate to the Birch Hill trails fund:
https://nordicskicluboffairbanks.wildapricot.org/Donate/
We also are looking for more race volunteers so if you would like to support the Sonot Kkaazoot and the efforts made to groom the Chena River, please sign up at: contact@sonotkkaazoot.org
Update on Sonot Chena River Trail
Friday night, Bad Bob Baker took a skid-steer down to the Chena River and put a 10 foot wide snow path under the Steese Highway Bridge over the ice and rocks. The snow didn’t adhere well to the slick icy surface. Bad Bob will groom the river when he gets back to Fairbanks after Spring Break. In the meantime, there is now a snow path under the Steese Highway Bridge.
Sonot Kkaazoot 