Tag Archives: Chena River trail grooming

Chena River grooming for Sonot Kkaazoot has officially begun

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The amazing Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks groomers, Tom Helmers, Ken Coe, and Bill Husby did several hours worth of grooming this morning with the ginzo and small drags. Conditions were solid but very rough (jumbled ice).

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Photo and video below by Bill Husby

Fortunately, below normal temperatures and very little snowfall are predicted for the next 11 days so conditions should improve as the trails get more work.

Here’s a short video clip of the guys working on the trail.

Have you made your donation to the trail grooming fund? Race entries only cover a small portion of the required grooming costs.

https://nordicskicluboffairbanks.wildapricot.org/Donate/

Sonot Kkaazoot course on the Chena River is in!

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Today Bad Bob Baker, Chena River groomer, packed and dragged the Sonot Kkaazoot course from the start line to the first Fort Wainwright road crossing.

BAD BOB writes, “The Chena for the most part is VERY   SMOOTH  this year…no jumble-ice at all…There are a few icy spots and even some wet overflow in a few spots…but after dragging…they should harden back up well…”

Check it out and then sign up for the 2017 Sonot Kkaazoot:

Sonot Kkaazoot Chena River Grooming

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In preparation for the 2016 Sonot Kkaazoot, this afternoon Bad Bob Baker took his new double drag down the Chena River. He enthusiastically reported that it worked well. “The Chena has several sections of jumble-ice, however, after going over these areas 4 or 5 times, they really smoothed out quite a bit.  The Chena is actually in pretty good shape. I had no real problems with open water. ”

Bob continues “There is a small section just upriver from the DOYON building that I did not groom, as there is some open water problems there, but I think that will freeze up fine by next month.”

Bad Bob may make another grooming run next week before he heads off to World Masters XC Ski Races in Finland.  What a treat! We now have an opportunity to ski the Chena River downriver from Graehl Park (where the Sonot Kkaazoot has actually started in the past) two months before the Sonot Kkaazoot.