SCUM search for sunrise on Sunnyside Trail at Powerline cutoff–photo by Joanna Fox
With winter solstice rapidly approaching, the SCUM ventured out on the Sunnyside trail in hopes of capturing sunrise. The clouds prevented seeing the sun, but Robert Hannon, one of our wayward journalists, joined us today, so we needed to document that.
Robert makes a dramatic entrance–video by Joanna Fox
Later, we found LOL ornament #9 (our 4th one), and once again Robert posed in front of today’s SCUM ooze:
LOL ornament #9 (to the right of Mike Schmoker’s shoulder) —photo by Joanna Fox
Close up of LOL ornament #9
You’ve probably seen a herd of cattle, a flock of sheep, a pod of dolphins, a school of fish, or a pack of wolves. But, when was the last time you encountered an ooze of SCUM?
An ooze of SCUM–photo by Joanna Fox
Thanks to Byron Broda for coming up with an appropriate collective noun for us.
SCUM hanging candy canes on spruce trees at Birch Hill–photo by Bill Husby
Temperatures were a little chilly on Sunday, so the SCUM waited until today to decorate trees on Birch Hill trails with candy canes. Skiers are welcome to them as long as they make sure that they properly dispose of the plastic wrappers. Some candy canes are clearly visible, but three of them were put in a spruce tree on the downhill near where Mother SCUM dislocated her shoulder 4 weeks ago.
While decorating trees, the SCUM were very pleased with the opportunity to enjoy Randy Foland’s stellar debut of grooming and setting tracks with the PistenBully. And while enjoying his fast tracks, we spotted LOL ornament #2.
Foland’s grooming instructor, Bill Husby with LOL ornament #2–photo by Mike Mathers
Rudolf (left) and Wolfman (right) pose with Bill while photographer Mike’s fingers freeze
When we ran out of candy canes, we skied the rest of the newly set tracks. Here’s a short video of the SCUM following Rudolf on Randy’s new tracks on the Outhouse loop:
SCUM following Rudolf–video by Bill Husby
After the Outhouse loop, we followed Bill as he wanted to check out all the trails that Randy had groomed. Sometimes following Bill means skiing trails differently than how they are laid out. Rudolf missed a turn on the Tower Direct.
Rudolf rolls on the Tower Direct--photo by Bill Husby
With many SCUM leaving to spend the holidays with their families, we enjoyed spending today’s ski spreading sweet treats on the trails. We savor the friendships made while skiing.
SCUM elves wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a Happy New Year–photo by Mike Mathers.
Randy, welcome to the grooming team! We really appreciated your trail grooming today.
SCUM on the Tower Loop at -12 deg F–photo by Joanna Fox
It was a chilly and somewhat breezy day at Birch Hill this Sunday, but we had a decent turnout. Glide was somewhat compromised in cold and newly fallen snow, but we prevailed, and the SCUM were able to locate LOL ornament #7:
Joanna and Byron in front on LOL ornament #7–photo by Joanna Fox
Best holiday dress award goes to Byron Broda–photo by Joanna Fox
This means we’ve found 2 ornaments in two weeks. We need to up our game but once the groomers catch up with all the snow dumped this week, perhaps we can do better.
The SCUM will be decorating Birch Hill trails with candy canes soon. So, keep your eyes open as you ski this week.
With the SCUM volunteering for the recent Alaska Nordic Cup on the new Usibelli FIS ski trails at UAF last weekend, only one of the LOL ornaments of Christmas has been located. It’s not because of lack of holiday spirit as here’s the gang of SCUM looking around the trails today.
SCUM searching for LOL ornaments on Wednesday--photo by Joanna Fox
LOL ornament #11–photo by Bill Husby
The first Frank Soos Distance Race happens this Saturday, 7.5 or 15 km freestyle starting at 11 a.m. It’s a good way to create a calorie deficit so that you can enjoy more Christmas cheer.
SCUM travel team and friends–photo by David Prusak
To avoid “biting the dust” (see post from earlier today), the SCUM travel team moved their workout to UAF today to avoid the speed bump SCUM. Several of the skiers shown here will be heading to the Masters World Cup in Klosters, Switzerland on March 8 – 16, 2025 along with other Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks Masters skiers.
Dan Johnson (far left) wears the SCUM yellow hat designed by Frank Soos, that Eric mentions in his lyrics. Now most days, the SCUM are unable to find where they last placed theirs.
I’ll be back—-skiing with one pole in the not-so-distant future.
SCUM after fresh snow and relief from -20 deg F temperatures in Fairbanks--photo by Mike Mathers
**Over 9 km of newly groomed and set tracks on lighted loops, which were groomed overnight.
**Temperatures at 10 a.m. AST of +2 deg F after temperatures at Fairbanks International Airport reached -29 deg F at 10:01 a.m. yesterday. Thanks to the inversion, Birch Hill only dropped to about -14 deg F.
**The friendship and company of 10 SCUM enjoying well-groomed trails and balmy temperatures.
**All the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks staff and volunteers who help our community enjoy winter outdoors with lessons, tours, training groups, races, and other fun events. They keep us healthy, happy, and at times, slightly sore or tired–but motivated for more.
P.S. Although SCUM may not be fast, two of the skiers in the photo above are skiing on skis that once belonged to World Cup nordic skiers!
After spending a day removing downed trees, the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks groomers transformed the 2024 Slushmageddon (Rick Thoman’s moniker for the record precipitation event of October 21, 2024):
into skiable trails with set classical tracks on October 24. This allowed the SCUM to begin their 29th season, with ski workouts on Friday, October 25.
We joined many eager skiers on Sunday, October 27, preparing for the 38th Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot.
Remember that NSCF grooming is supported solely by donations.
Here’s the URL to make donations that support trail grooming and maintenance year-round:
Today, Mike Schmoker, Sonot Kkaazoot woodel guru was back in town after several weeks spent high altitude trekking in Peru. As he was the only SCUM showing up for our Wednesday Ester Dome ascent, I let him choose the route. Given that temperatures were around 30 deg with 12 to 18 mph SW winds, we opted to take the single-track trail up Ester Dome to Henderson Road.
Mike’s groomed track this morning
The wind protection was marvelous, but Mike’s high elevation acclimation made his pace rival that of Bernardo.
The clouds lifted and blue skies turned the trails magical
And unlike the SCUM mother, who is geographically challenged, Mike had a map in his head that mirrored those posted on the trail.
Mike finds the map
Unlike Bill’s maps that are sketched in the snow, Mike’s map was printed, sealed in plastic and posted on the trails.
Mike and I were both smiling through out hike:
Smiling Mike enjoying views of the valley
Mike’s fitness was again demonstrated when he fell but was too quick getting up for me to get a photo of his tumble:
Site of Mike’s first fall of the winter season.
If the National Weather Service is correct, we should be skiing soon. However, in the meantime, some of the trails less traveled will make for fun SCUM adventure workouts.
Sonot Kkaazoot 