Mikes and Mom ski walk FWW alpine hill under blue skies

Posted on July 29, 2022 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Mikes and Mom on Fort Wainwright alpine hill before our third ascent–*photo by Mike Mathers*

After training days when we’ve had hazardous wildfire smoke, winds, or persistent showers, temperatures this morning ranged from 56 to 64 with sunny skies and the Alaska Range clearly in view as we descended the hill. SCUM, of course had perfectly legitimate excuses of why they couldn’t join us: (e.g., “fair booth duty for the League of Women voters”, “moving stuff in Portland and painting a room”, “meeting up with relatives for breakfast”, “doctor’s appointment”, “simple cold although I tested negative but in abundance of caution”, “duty (work) calls “). Two young runners did two ascents while we were ski walking our first two, but I think our fun factor was higher.

We missed our wayward SCUM but they missed a perfect day as the three of us had a great workout before we went home to jack up a sauna, insulate an attic, and mow a lawn.

Life is good for the retired SCUM.

Heartrate monitor data showing we actually did three ascents

Sonot trail on Fort Wainwright groomed

Posted on February 23, 2020 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Although the temperature was pretty chilly for late February, the spectacular sun dog gave way to clear blue skies. Bill Husby, Birch Hill deputy groomer, headed out to check the Sonot Kkaazoot trail on Fort Wainwright this morning. Although there are no set classical tracks, the trail along the ditch has been groomed. Make sure that you have your government identification if you venture onto Fort Wainwright.

The Sonot Connector was groomed (and tracked by our NSCF groomers) so we had a pleasant circuit of the Relay, Blue, Outhouse, Sunnyside, and Cliffside trails, up the Sonot Connector and the rest of the White Bear trail. The sun was so bright that I had to dig out my shades.

The entire Sonot Kkaazoot trail is looking close to race ready. What is holding you back from signing up for the 33rd Denali State Bank Sonot Kkaazoot?

Sonot Kkaazoot trail on Fort Wainwright, photo by Bill Husby

Sonot Photos from Fort Wainwright

Posted on March 24, 2018 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Photos from the 2018 Sonot Kkaazoot Fort Wainwright road crossings are available at the link below. The photos are free to download. If you do download, please donate to the Birch Hill Trail Fund (https://nordicskicluboffairbanks.wildapricot.org/Donate/). If you would like a larger version of a photo just send an email to Eric at fbxskierparent@gmail.com. He’ll ask again for you to donate to the Birch Hill Trail Fund, but he’ll send you a larger version of the photo(s) for free.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Nordic-Ski-Club-of-Fairbanks-106945789335550/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2012647878765322

Meet the Sonot Kkaazoot media lead

Posted on March 16, 2018 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Putting on the Sonot Kkaazoot requires an army of volunteers who contribute many talents. Eric Troyer, a SCUM noted for his unconventional race suits, has been the Sonot Kkaazoot media lead (and NSCF Facebook guru) and a Fort Wainwright road crossing guard (and photographer) for several years. This year he has assembled the Sonot Kkaazoos, who will perform at the Sonot Kkaazoot Awards Ceremony.

Eric is one of the younger SCUM, and his wife put together this UTube video in honor of Eric’s 58th birthday.

Enjoy Corrine’s creative efforts, and be sure to wish Eric a belated happy birthday!

Entire 20 km Sonot course groomed

Posted on March 6, 2018 by Sonot Kkaazoot

From Bob Baker, Sonot Kkaazoot Chief of course, yesterday (3/5/18): “I groomed the Chena again today, and even set a rough set of classical tracks on one side. I finished all the brush clearing and widened the 20 km turnaround and it’s ready to go… Ft. Wainwright has groomed out the route from the ski area all the way to, and across the River Road and all along that ditch, too. Looks great! And now, they can even take the big grooming equipment all the way to the River’s edge.

The Chena River has developed some overflow and wet spots on a few places on the edges of where I have groomed. The temperature really shot up today to almost 20 deg. I think when the snow stops and the temps drop back down to the ZERO area over night, things will get much better again. No panic yet, just the Chena being the Chena. Otherwise, the Chena River was groomed with a Classic Track and a good 12′ wide Skate lane the whole 20 km.

Will do more next time the temp drops some more.”

So ski with care and preferably with someone on the Chena River. Do not wander outside the groomed trail. Remember to carry your identification if you plan to ski on Fort Wainwright trails and watch for traffic on road crossings.

Skiing on Sonot Kkaazoot course is great

Posted on November 16, 2017 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Although October was exceptionally wet, temperatures were also unusually warm so snow was late in coming to the Fairbanks area. However, after one false start, the snowpack on the Jim Whisenhant cross country ski trails at Birch Hill Recreation Area and on Fort Wainwright trails is great for both classical and free technique skiing. Thanks to a lot of volunteer brushing work done this fall on the White Bear trail, skate and classical skiing are great. Unfortunately, our fitness isn’t quite in the same shape yet. Here’s what coronary bypass looked like a week ago:

Coronary bypass sm

Yesterday we skied from the Sunnyside Trail to Fort Wainwright, where we found that the Army was busily enhancing snow cover on the alpine ski hill making for unusual skiing conditions up the ski slope to the base of the Sonot Connector. However, the classical tracks on the Sonot Connector and White Bear were awesome.

FWW ski hill at base of Sonot Connector sm

Take a break from snow shoveling and scooping to enjoy the ski trails!

The 31st annual Sonot Kkaazoot just 4 months away.

Sonot Kkaazoot volunteers at 20 km turnaround

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Sonot Kkaazoot

The photos below show some of the road crossing volunteers on race day: OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

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And the photos below show some key Sonot Kkaazoot organizers participating in the 30th annual Sonot Kkaazoot.

Frank Soos, guru of bibs and 50% of the team (with his wife, Margo Klass) that designed the fantastic Sonot Kkaazoot hats: OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Chris Puchner, organizer of feed stations and the Sonot Kkaazoot start and finish area, skis his longest Sonot Kkaazoot (thanks to pneumonia, work, and out-of-state family issues):

Bill Husby, one of the key NSCF groomers, before he broke his ski pole and skied 12 km with just one: OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Mike Schmoker, master of the woodel construction and award presentations: OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Bruce Jamieson, NSCF president and World Masters skier: OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Robert Hannon, Fort Wainwright contact and media mogul: OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

All photos by Eric Troyer

40 and 50 km skiers on Ski Road trail

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Sonot Kkaazoot

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All photos by Eric Troyer

Sonot trails on Fort Wainwright are fantastic

Posted on March 20, 2016 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Today we skied from Birch Hill to the Chena River on the trails that will be used Saturday for the 2016 Sonot Kkaazoot. The preliminary grooming has already created a wide trail on the west side of Ski Road on Fort Wainwright that will allow skate skiers to easily overtake and pass slower skiers on the skate platform. There will still be two road crossings that skiers will traverse but these places will be staffed by volunteers with snow shovels and stop signs.

Here are photos from the trail on the west side of Ski Road today:

Pat on West Ski Road trail

Eric on West Ski Road trail

And here are Pat and Eric skiing up the base of the alpine hill after looking longingly at the rope tow to the left of them:

Pat & Eric on Lower Sonot Connector thinking about rope tow

Pat and Eric on lower end of Sonot Connector

The new snow has really brightened up the ski trails on the Chena River, Fort Wainwright, and at Birch Hill. Skiing is awesome and temperatures are predicted to be springlike. What are you waiting for? Sign up now.

https://sonotkkaazoot.org/register/

and thank our great groomers again:

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

2016 Sonot Kkaazoot Course Updates

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Sonot Kkaazoot

New for the 2016 Sonot Kkaazoot: If you are a foreign national and have signed up for the 40 or 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot, we need to give the Fort Wainwright authorities your passport number. If you are already registered for the 40 or 50 km events, please send contact@sonotkkaazoot.org your name, country, and passport number at your earliest convenience. If we do not have this information by bib pick-up, we will be unable to give you a race bib.

We apologize for the inconvenience. Because of increased security on Fort Wainwright, we must provide them in advance a list of non-US skiers and their passport numbers because the 40 and 50 km Sonot Kkaazoot courses traverse Army land.

* **

After a several month drought, several inches of snow fell over the Fairbanks area yesterday. Today the hoarfrost and snow crystals were glistening on the newly groomed trails at Birch Hill!

White Bear Trail on St. Pat’s Day (photo by Bill Husby)

All the snow shoveling that we did last week to cover areas where debris or ground was showing now lies beneath a blanket of fresh white snow. For those of you who might have been considering doing the 50 km classical Sonot Kkaazoot, the abrasive ground ice in the tracks is now covered. You will no longer need multiple pairs of skis to finish the 50 km course.

What are you waiting for? Trails look fantastic and the Chena River is still holding solid. Remember that regular registration for the Sonot Kkaazoot ends tomorrow. Join the 207 skiers who had already registered by this morning at: