Today’s workout was the usual Wednesday morning SCUM ski walk up Ester Dome Road from St Pat’s to Ullerhaven starting at the Ester Dome bike trails parking lot. We walk down to St. Pat’s as a warmup and then ski walk up Ester Dome Road for 5 km to Ullerhaven; walk back to cars as cool down with vistas that one doesn’t see on the uphill portion. Bernardo, Mike, Tim, Jill, and I did this workout.
However, the “uncoachable” SCUM wanted an adventure so took the trail less traveled.
The start of the trail less taken–all photos and videos by Bill Husby
Well-marked trailhead of Dermot’s recommended bypass route
Adventure leader and his trophy find
Bill takes over as adventure leader, these are his SCUM flock
This way folks, smile!
Is this a fun trail? (Notice that they aren’t using their ski poles)
They did eventually make it back to Ester Dome Road:
Dermot and Bill finished the adventure, but where is Dan and Robert
Dan said that it was a good change of pace (the search for Cabo trail).
SCUM pause to gaze at the mountains on a lovely spring day
The Birch Hill trails had dried out fairly well before the snow and rain earlier in the week. Today, to avoid muddy conditions on the Tower Direct, we took the Sunnyside and Cliffside trails to access the Fort Wainwright alpine hill. We found dry footing for walking and enjoyable vistas. Also, the mosquitoes haven’t discovered us yet.
Once we reached FWW, we did one ascent under the chair lift. The snow left from the ski jumps had diminished significantly since last week, but the hill was still a steep 840 m uphill.
Mike, Dan, and Bernardo ski walk up the FWW alpine hill
The SCUM dryland schedule involves ascending Ester Dome on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. (meet at the bike trails parking lot at 1 mile Ester Dome Road) and doing FWW hill ascents on Fridays at 10 a.m. (meeting in South Birch Hill parking lot). We sometimes change up the workouts depending on trail and weather conditions, so be punctual. Today Robert Hannon was 3 minutes late and didn’t get the change of venue so did his first FWW ascent alone. He did join us for our return hike up Cliffside, Sunnyside and Outhouse. The overachieving SCUM also did South Tower–completing the Birch Bakken course.
We welcome all comers and variations in the courses are frequently taken depending upon the schedule and fitness of participants.
SCUM with two of our amazing groomers (Bill Husby on left, Tom Helmers in the center) —photo by Mike Mathers
The recent chinooks knocked a lot of vegetative debris on the trails and the warm temperatures had compacted the trails. However, last night the groomers worked until about 1:00 a.m. to transform the trails into perfection for the final Town Race of the season and for recreational skiers like the SCUM.
Today we skied Outhouse, Sunnyside and Cliffside to the Fort Wainwright alpine lodge and then skied from this low point on the trails to the high point via Cliffside, Sunnyside, Outhouse, Blue Slot, and South Tower:
10.3 km of perfect corduroy
We finished by skiing Medevac where we met up with Tom Helmers, head NSCF groomer. We had to take a photo with two of the groomers responsible for our awesome ski. We’ve contributed to the NSCF trails fund because we want the guys to continue their magic through the spring skiing season.
Here’s the URL to make or add to your contribution:
What a difference 60 degrees makes! With temperatures at +23 degrees F, it was a perfect day to do the Military Transect from the Sunnyside and Cliffside trails to the Sonot Connector and White Bear.
Lots of lovely fresh snow surrounded us.
In the stadium, Mom who skied through the cold, and Bob Moloney, just back from 3 weeks in New Zealand, wait for the SCUM to assemble–photo by Dan Johnson
The warmer weather should encourage skiers to register for the 37th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot. With most of the SCUM planning to do the 30 and 50 km courses, you can be assured that we’ll be behind you. We plan to increase our haul of woodels this year over the 12 from last year.
Next Sunday is the final Frank Soos Distance Race, Unpleasantries, which will be classical technique this year. Skiers have a choice of 30 or 10 km distances. You can register here:
Before there was SCUM, there was Team Brain Dead. In the late 80s, when winter temperatures were colder, Team Brain Dead was formed to celebrate those hardy skiers who would continue their workouts regardless of temperature. They had t-shirts made when they ran the 1990 Midnight Sun Run on skis, extending their ski training range from -48 deg F to +68 F deg, a 110 deg range:
Team Brain Dead at finish of 1990 Midnight Sun Run
Team Brain Dead points are awarded for skis done at temperatures of -30 deg F or colder. One point is awarded for each degree below -30. So today each skier earned 7 points multiplied by the 5 skiers to total 35 TBD points.
We skied Tower Loop, Green Dot, Flat Black, Tommy Knocker Extension, Roller Coaster, White Cub to Zoomer Cutoff, and back to the stadium (or to the Groomer’s garage). Here’s the photo Bill took of the scariest skiers:
Scariest skiers after Roller Coasters--photo by Bill Husby
And here’s Joanna and Mom (whose claustrophobia prevents her from wearing anything over her nose or mouth):
Joanna and Mom after Flat Black–photo by Bill Husby
It was a “strange” day as there was no temperature inversion: it was -37 deg F in the stadium, -40 deg (both F and C) on the top of the Tower Loop, and -31 deg F at the biathlon range.
With the cold temperatures, the corduroy and deep tracks remain pristine except for the abundant birch seed and spruce cones that have been deposited on the trails. Air quality was moderate according to the Purple Air station at Birch Hill, so our workout did more good than harm to our aging carcasses.
Sunrise and SCUM on Black Hawk trail at -20 deg F–photo by Joanna Fox
On the day after skiing 20 km with Frank Soos on the Ginger Snap Special course that climbed 30.7 m/km, we needed an easy recovery ski. It was -12 deg F in the stadium, -20 deg in the biathlon range, and -17 deg on the Sonot Connector. So, it was the perfect day for SCUM with tired legs to do the helicopter trails (Blackhawk and Chinook) on Fort Wainwright. In faster conditions, the downhill corners on these trails are dangerous for skiers of SCUM vintage, but today, even tired legs could step around the corners.
Until 20 February 2024, you can follow our route here:
The “No Y SCUM” were well-dermotized so were taking it easy in the back of the train. Thus, Bill was able to document their skiing fashions:
Joanna with two fluffy jackets–next three photos by Bill Husby
Norma in a blue parka
Mom in a puffy hoody after spending over 2.5 hours with Frank yesterday
Nothing is better than friends and groomed Birch Hill trails to start off a Sunday morning. If you haven’t already done so, please donate to the Birch Hill Trails fund. All grooming is done by the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks and Fort Wainwright.
SCUM off the Tower Loop with flashy lights on hats--photo by Joanna Fox
Happy Winter Solstice (tomorrow)! —photo by Dan Johnson
The lighted loops were beautifully groomed after our recent snows, but some of us had to test our uphill techniques to get into the frame for the group photo:
Uphill technique used when your right leg and foot has been immobilized for 2 months–photo by Dan Johnson
Enjoy the holidays with family and friends. After you have overindulged, remember that the FXC Ski your age in kilometers event will be held Saturday, 30 December.
Most of the active SCUM are in their eighth or ninth decade on the planet and carry hardware within their carcasses rather than earning it in races. However, we have accepted the challenge of the LOL and have started searching for their 12 ornaments of Christmas. We will only indicate the number of the ornaments we find UNLESS there is no number visible.
LOL ornament on the Blue Loop that matches the ornament on Byron’s nose–allphotos by Joanna Fox
LOL 6
LOL 8
LOL 12
The SCUM hope that skiers enjoy the newly groomed trails on Saturday at the first of the Frank Soos Distance Races. It begins at 11 a.m. and will be 7.5 or 15 km classical technique. Many of the SCUM will be participating so you won’t be last. Here’s the URL for online registration:
5 SCUM take a break after 4 ascents of the FWW alpine hill
With temperatures in the low 50s, drizzle, and a nice breeze, four ascents of the FWW alpine hill (750 m total climb) was easily done by the SCUM today. With the hill fully mowed and the air free of wildfire smoke, we could chat as we ski walked. Lola was the only one to do fartlek ball chases during her ascents:
Lola still has energy to attempt to get SCUM to toss her ball down the hill
We’re always looking for additional companions as SCUM leave town for fishing, hunting, and travel Outside. We meet at Birch Hill at 10 a.m. (maybe a little earlier when it’s wet or chilly) every Friday until snow closes the Birch Hill trails to foot traffic. Tom Helmers and Bill Husby have mowed all the Birch Hill trails, and the Army contractor has done the FWW alpine hill, so conditions are great. No mosquitoes today, either.
SCUM ready to head to FWW in rain without Dan Johnson
When the SCUM workout schedule calls for ski walking on the Fort Wainwright alpine hill, we don’t let a little rain deter us. (Note to Dan Johnson, we’ve got to give the National Weather Service a little slack on when the showers will end.)
By the time we had hiked to the top of the alpine hill, the rains stopped and the blue skies returned:
Eric takes selfie of SCUM before first ascent (note that we’re all still dermotized from the rain)
We shed our jackets and bug dope on the bench at the top of the hill before heading down:
Robert who had missed last week’s 4 ascents because he was driving through 110 deg heat moving his daughter from New Mexico to Oakland, CA, was prepared to carry the medium rock as the large rock had disappeared over the winter.
Robert and his soggy pack ready to carry the rock down and up the FWW chair lift trail
So we did our first ascent, wishing for a breeze or less clothing. For the second ascent, most of us shed additional layers except for Lola whose fur coat wasn’t removable:
Eric goes topless while Lola still carries her stick
Dave flexes as he prepares to lead Lola up the hill
With the 93% humidity, it felt much hotter than the actual temperature, so we opted to do just two ascents today.
Soaked and muddy feet after our workout
So Dan, what chores did you do instead of joining us today?
Sonot Kkaazoot 