From the National Weather Service Fairbanks:
Here’s a weather timeline to help you plan for your virtual Sonot Kkaazoot:
Weekend weather timeline from NWS
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First entry for the Virtual Sonot Kkaazoot
From Sonot Kkaazoot race director, Bad Bob Baker:
Bad Bob and Sharon Baker, started and completed the 2020 SONOT KKAAZOOT!!
At 38 degrees, short sections of slush, dog poo, headwinds, and sucky slow snow, we started and completed the 20 kilometer 2020 Virtual Sonot Kkaazoot. At a tourist’s pace, taking pictures, talking the whole way, we managed an impressive time of 1:38:27
……Could be the first time entered, which would put Sharon and me in FIRST PLACE so far.. We did see some other ski tracks, but none of them went the whole way. The trail is actually in pretty good shape, and the classical track looks pretty good…
There are a few soft snow spots, but the RIVER feels very safe and skiable right now….I wouldn’t wait….lots of signs of break-up around the corner..
We are thinking about taking on the 50 k this Saturday. I will groom very early, and only if it’s at least 25 degrees or colder…this heat is not grooming up too well… I’ll keep everyone posted…
Bad Bob
Chena River groomed and tracked
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”
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).
Skiing the 20 km Sonot Course
Starting at 10 a.m. ADT this morning, several SCUM practiced both social distancing and skating the 20 km Sonot course. It was mostly sunny and 15 deg F when we started and 28 deg when we finished.
Besides social distancing, SCUM practice foot and mouth sanitizing. We were able to use resources found under the Cushman Street pedestrian bridge at the Sonot start. There are many secrets to skiing the Sonot Kkaazoot–and taking advantage of found feeds can be important in non-pandemic years.
Dual purpose foot and mouth sanitizer
Although we are 50 km Sonot skiers, we skied the 20 km turnaround today in case we suddenly feel our age during the virtual Sonot.
Practicing social distancing on the Sonot Kkaazoot 20 km turnaround. Photo by Bill Husby.
We all agreed that Bad Bob had done an awesome job of grooming. We only saw one other skier (a young FXC skier who had come down to the river from Birch Hill) but the sunshine and trails were wonderful.
Here’s a view of the Chena River trail from the Cushman Street bridge with a fat biker heading upstream.
Enjoy the skiing before break-up starts on the Chena River. Remember that Mother Nature holds all the cards. Ski with care and with a buddy.
Chena River trail groomed on 3/16/20
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
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.
33rd Sonot Kkaazoot canceled
The Sonot Kkaazoot is cancelled; entry fees will not be refunded, but will be used to defray the sunk costs of the race (grooming to date, bibs, awards, honoraria for the schools responsible for the aid stations, etc.). Race Director Bob Baker is working on a virtual Sonot; if Ft. Wainwright consents and the river remains safe so that Bob can continue to groom, the virtual Sonot will include the original courses. You can anticipate updates from Bob as he works out the plan.
Regular registration ends Friday
Exercise, especially outdoors where you’re almost always more than a meter away from another skier, is beneficial in boosting your immune system and lowering stress. To date, 85 skiers ranging in age from 8 to 71 have registered for the 33rd Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot.
Here is the current breakdown of entries:
20 km event: 38 skiers
40 km event: 8 skiers
50 km event: 39 skiers
Regular registration ends Friday. After that, you’ll be charged late registration fees. With 85 skiers spread over 50 km of ski trails, the likelihood of you contacting the coronavirus during the Sonot Kkaazoot is extremely low even if entries double before race day. This year’s snowfall and cold weather has the course looking spectacular with a little more than two weeks before the Sonot Kkaazoot.
Click the “register” tab at the top of this blogsite and you can securely sign up for any of the three events.
Perfect ski on the classic only trails
Today the temperature was -4 deg F when we left the hut with a major temperature inversion. However, all the classical only trails had been groomed on Wednesday so we didn’t want to miss the opportunity to ski on firm new tracks even if it meant dropping down 10 or 20 deg F.
The trails didn’t disappoint. If you are training for the Sonot Kkaazoot, or even more, if you are training for the Oosik or the Skiathon, you REALLY should check out the classical only trails at Birch Hill.
The North Classical trails are groomed 5 feet wide making downhill corners easier for skiers with less flexible joints. The really steep downhill on the North Star was just fun today–no fall anxiety at all.
The South Classical trails are more technical but with the current snowfall and grooming, this 70 year old, bionic skier managed to easily stay on her skis on the Blackhawk loop.
Trails groomed by Ken Coe and Bill Husby. All photos by Bill Husby.
Enjoy the longer days on the ski trails. If you enjoy skiing, please make sure that you donate to the Birch Hill Trail Fund:
Chena River groomed for Spring Break
The Chena River portion of the Sonot Kkaazoot trail has been groomed again today and is ready for skiing. Bad Bob Baker reports that it is 20 feet wide (or more) for the entire length.
What’s holding you back? The river ice is more than 2 feet thick and the trail is groomed 20 feet wide? It’s just a little over three weeks until the Sonot Kkaazoot. Register now and avoid future price increases.
Sonot Kkaazoot Race Director, Bad Bob Baker gives the Chena River trail a thumbs up.
Sonot Kkaazoot 