Breaking Trail at Churning Rapids

While there has not been quite enough snow to groom at Churning Rapids that doesn't mean there isn't enough snow to ski.  This morning conditions were just fine for making some tracks around the Tower Loop and on the Maki Trail.

Looking toward Ruby Marsh

Ruby Marsh

Maki Trail

Tower loop progress.

Today we had a crew of three in Churning Rapids and made great progress on the Tower loop.  With any luck, one more day of clearing on it and we'll have it completed.   

With Gromit along, I should have said a crew of four :-).

This is how if looked afterwards.  Great!

Tools of the trade in the trailer.

We also rolled St. Urho's this morning in hopes of keeping its snow.  The compacted snow is quite shallow for skiing.

1st roll of the year!

Oh ya.  With the little snow we received, pods (tracks) were installed on the Grizzly then Tomasi loop was rolled, plus Tomasi RD and the Pine loop.  Doing this will help firm up the base and gather more snow. The rest of the trails are too rough to groom until the snow depth is greater. Walking without snowshoes is ok for now, for trail users who have purchased an annual membership or day pass.

Skiers had been out testing the snow, too.

This roller had  a major update done to it this past spring.

We love snow!

Support all the local trails - purchase your annual pass today:

Online: http://keweenawtrails.com/buy-a-pass/

In person: Down Wind Sports, Cross Country Sports, MTU's SDC

Or, pick up a trifold map at one of our kiosks to mail in your KNSC membership.

Thanks!

Guess winter starts on December 22nd...

...good thing because we're still doing FALL trail work!  
These photos were taken over the past week.

The great divide fence goes up.

This divides the sled and skier trails.

We put this up every year.
Thanks to Mike, Pete, Arlyn, Sandy and Gromit for assistance.

Small trees and limbs coming down on the tower loop in Churning Rapids.

Yes, lots to do here.   Trail work continues.

The trusty pole saw. Photo taken today, 12/17.

 

Then the lake snow started up. Woo Hoo!!

Maasto Music Fest

On Saturday evening of December 5th, the 3rd Annual Maasto Music Fest was held.  We hold this fundraiser to help pay for operational cost of the trails.   Keweenaw Nordic only takes in about $11,000 per year via trail passes, so other funds must be secured to keep the trails going.  This year was an unusually costly one and ran about $60,000 with the replacement of the middle bridge and a UTV (an important work machine).   Please help the Maasto and Churning Rapids trails by purchasing a yearly pass...plus an extra donation will help keep them nice. 

The opening group was "Uncle Floyd".

They were great!

Both groups did this pro bono.  Thanks guys!!

Next the "Wingnuts" performed.  Seems everyone was dancing!

They were really good as well and brought a following with them.

A BIG thanks goes to Frann for organizing this year's Maasto Music Fest and to the Orpheum Theater for hosting.   We love you both!

Made it to the tower today.

More trail clearing fun in Churning Rapids...

The small, leaning limbs and trees were trimmed and dragged off.

Gettin' there!

Many thanks to Keith M. and Mike D. for a full day of trail fun.

The crew cleared up to the tower today.

Big thanks to Kieth for the photos.

This is just how we love to see a ski trail corridor looking.
Churning Rapids has rolled over 600 hour of clearing so far this fall.

Maasto Music Jam that occurred Saturday night photos will be posted shortly.

Brushing continues...

This week in the trail clearing catalogy, much work was done in Churning Rapids. While no one who loves to ski or snow shoe is happy about the lack of winter weather, the up side is conditions have been excellent for trail clearing.

The intrepid crew takes a break. This was Saturday morning.

Thanks to Jeff, Sandy, Sheri, Pete, and Mike...

...plus Sam aka Mr Pole Saw.
We made excellent progress thanks to your help!

This is how it looked afterwards.

The beautiful, clean corridor...just add snow.

This past Tuesday. At least it looked like winter...