From the Alaska Climate Research Center, here’s where this season’s snowpack compares with the longterm average:
With over a meter of snow depth on the ground in March, we could be skiing into May if you donate to the NSCF trails fund:
From the National Weather Service Fairbanks Facebook page:
I think the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks groomers will have no problem with sufficient snow covering the Sonot Kkaazoot courses.
2022 Sonot Kkaazoot course maps with course profiles are available for download at the “Courses (download)” tab at the top of the Sonot Kkaazoot home page.
We sincerely thank John Estle for putting together this fantastic course maps.
Bad Bob Baker has made sure that all participants in the Sonot Kkaazoot will get their money’s worth of skiing. According to John’s software, the 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot course is 50.728 km and has 1,689 m of total climb. Those skiing the 30 km course, will get 30.707 km of trail with 1,035 m climb. Even the 10 km skiers will get a little bonus because the 10 km course measures out at 10.231 km with only 288 m of climb.
(Scroll down to results that we uploaded on 3/11/22)
A large group of SCUM and friends headed out on their Virtual Skiathon today at 10 a.m.
All photos (except where noted otherwise) were taken by Eric Troyer, who warmed up for the Virtual Skiathon by skiing the 26 mile Chena River to Ridge Endurance Race on Saturday. Corrine Leistikow also skied the 26 mile Chena River to Ridge Race.
Although “the graveyard” (aka Miller Hill) section of the Skarland Trail hadn’t been groomed, most of the SCUM and others managed to negotiate the ungroomed sections, but none as skillfully as Sam Bishop.
Because this blogger was the course sweep, I am unable to provide captions for the Skiathon photographs so I’ve invented something to cover the Olympus digital camera advertisement that accompanied Eric’s photos.
Under bluebird skies and on beautifully groomed trails, Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks skier, Owen Hanley, was third in his M10 class with a time of 37:51 in today’s World Masters 10 km classical race. Owen’s podium performance is even more amazing in that he’s on the old end of his age category.
For many years, Owen has been a key volunteer for the Sonot Kkaazoot Awards Banquet, where he headed up the kitchen staff. Go, Owen!
Update on 9 March 2022: Owen Hanley earned a silver metal today skiing in the Men’s M10 4 x 5 km relay. France won the gold and hometown Canada won the bronze. Will post more details if Bad Bob sends photos and story.
Course maps for the 35th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot have been posted.
and online early registration is open until Monday, 21 March 2022.
Late registration ends at 8 p.m. on Thursday, 24 March 2022 so don’t wait too long.
Online early registration for the 35th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot is live at:
Three race distances and all registration closes at 8 p.m. on Thursday, 24 March 2022.
Meanwhile, Bad Bob Baker, Sharon Baker, Donna DiFolco, and Bruce Jamieson started off their 2022 World Masters with a 15 km skate race in Canmore today. Bad Bob reports: Times of NSCF finishers today for 15 km, Donna 48:19 (6th), Sharon 50:18 (13th), Bad Bob 49:14 (36th) and Bruce 1:02:09 (39th). Beautiful and fast conditions! 27-8 degrees. Owen Hanley skis classic tomorrow.
I’m not sure what our videographer was doing as the SCUM discussed the Skiathon course.
During the Frank Soos Distance Race #3, The Unpleasantry, I was passed by Thomas St. Clair holding a broken pole in one hand and skiing outside the tracks with just one pole. I mentioned to our group of skiers that Bill was perhaps part of a growing trend.
Then today, Bill headed out to Smith Lake to keep him at the top of our Creme de la SCUM team in miles earned for our 2000-mile relay on the Race Across Alaska Winter Challenge. I hope that this didn’t jar any of his fractured ribs and that he will soon join our workouts again.
Sunday was a noteworthy SCUM ski. We had probably 4 inches of new snow that had been newly groomed and tracked. Temperatures were a balmy 8 deg F above zero. But our injured Creme de la SCUM leader, Bill Husby (aka Poles) was not skiing back and forth at the head of the pack. With his cracked lower rib and nondisplaced fracture of the right ulna, Poles will likely be Pole (singular) when he rejoins us. However, a half-strength Bill Husby will still ski faster and further than the rest of the SCUM.
PLEASE support Bill’s recovery by donating to the trails fund:
https://nordicskicluboffairbanks.wildapricot.org/Donate/
I’m willing to wager that Bill will be back on his skis and snowmachine sooner if he knows that his work is needed and appreciated.
Sonot Kkaazoot 