2016 Sonot trail on WEST side of River Rd

Posted on March 16, 2016 by Sonot Kkaazoot

If you have ventured out on the Sonot Kkaazoot trail from the Chena River to the Fort Wainwright Alpine area, you may have noticed that the ditch on the east side of the road where we’ve skied for the past 2 years, was far from ideal. This year the Fort Wainwright Birch Hill Ski and Snowboard area will be closing before the Sonot Kkaazoot weekend. Thus, the Sonot Kkaazoot trail will be on the west side of River Road over the pond to Ski Lodge parking lot. Then the trail will ascend the lower part of Alpine Ski hill before joining up with the Sonot Connector Trail.

With the wonderful new snow, the trails should be absolutely awesome.

Remember, regular registration for the Sonot Kkaazoot ends on Friday, 18 March 2016.

Visualize Skiing the Sonot Kkaazoot

Video

To help the first time participant in the Sonot Kkaazoot, here are a few videos of the 40 and 50 km events taken by Dermot Cole in 2015. The first clip is the mass start for the 40 and 50 km freestyle events:

Here is the climb up the Fort Wainwright alpine ski hill to the base of the Sonot Connector:

and 28 km later coming down the same hill:

Remember, if you smile, it’s no big deal.

Here’s Robert Hannon, Sonot military contact AND coordinator for FWW road crossings finishing:

More volunteers responsible for the “Miracle on Snow”

Posted on April 4, 2015 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Reports from Sonot Kkaazoot participants (both local and from Anchorage) were that the trail conditions were fantastic in spite of the record heat during the week prior to the 28th annual Sonot Kkaazoot. Here are some photos of the heroes behind those trails at work and the final results of their efforts:

Although most skiers were too tired when they got to the crest of the bunny hill to look up at the slope that had melted away as a river of water on Friday, Sonot Kkaazoot skiers really owe their great day to Jeff Skeels who bulldozed this alternate route for them.

All photos by Chris Broda, Fort Wainwright alpine hill crossing volunteer and leader of Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks “Ladies of Leisure”

Sonot Kkaazoot: Chena River update

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Although the current 7-day forecast isn’t optimal for training for the Sonot Kkaazoot, it is optimal for setting up the traditional Sonot Kkaazoot course that has skiers skiing 20 km on the Chena River.

Yesterday, Bad Bob Baker spent 5 hours dragging and grooming the entire Chena River section of the Sonot Kkaazoot to “race width.” The thick new blanket of snow has now been compressed and mixed with unfrozen areas so hopefully things will freeze back up thicker and firmer than before. So, keep your fingers crossed that a week of consistent cold will allow the 2015 Sonot Kkaazoot to be held on our traditional course with the Chena River start and finish. Stay tuned!

Also on Monday, groomers Tom Helmers, Bill Husby, and Ken Coe assisted by Bad Bob cleared brush near the 20 km turnaround and along the ditch from the river to the Fort Wainwright alpine hill. It’s up to Mother Nature now.

Random shots from the Sonot Connector & Fort Wainwright

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Sonot Kkaazoot

: NSCF co-Prez Bruce Jamieson

: Chris Puchner

: Darren Rorabaugh

: Dash Feierabend

: Frank Soos

: Gretchen Chamberlain

: Ian Ludwig

: Heidi Amskold

: Joey Nunes

: Ari Endestad

: Matt Cameron

: Sam Flora

: Mike Schmoker

: Will Coleman

: Sharon & Bad Bob Baker

All photos by Sam Lamont

The making of Sonot Kkaazoot #27 by volunteers!

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Photos by Sam Lamont & Eli Lyke

: Eli’s new signs painted

: Eli’s signs bundled

: Signs w/ distances on them

: Smiling volunteers on race day

: Day of race registration

: Hauling snow for road crossing

: More snow

: Parking lot gravel covering

: Traffic control

: Lisa Stuby at road crossing #1

: Volunteers on break

: Happy shovelers

Glistening hoarfrost and perfect classical tracks

Posted on January 12, 2014 by Sonot Kkaazoot

Although temperatures in town this morning were well below -30 deg F, the sun was out, skies were bluebird blue, and the temperature in the Birch Hill stadium was -16 to -18 deg F, depending on which thermometer you cared to believe. With days getting longer and the Sonot Kkaazoot just 11 weeks away, it definitely was a day to enjoy the enhanced sunlight of the South Side Classic Loops. However, to warm up, we skied the Relay and Tower Loops before heading down the White Cub and White Bear to SCUM corner where we assembled for a group photo before crossing Beacon Road over to Fort Wainwright.

Descending down the Sonot Connector, we skied past the Blackhawk Loop to the Chinook Loop that has bright southern exposure that warms a clear, chilly day.

Here Robert and Sam stop briefly to help the Sonot blogger demonstrate ski conditions.

We definitely saw more moose prints than skier face plants and had both trails entirely to ourselves. With blood and enthusiasm flowing even in distant appendages, we skied the Blackhawk and then headed back up the Sonot Connector:

The overachieving SCUM went ahead and did the other White Bear Classical Trails, but the group gradually found their way back to the warming hut for coffee and conversation while cars and bodies warmed up again.