Time: Sunday February 14 at noon.
Place: Eaglecrest, near the Daylodge and the start of the Meadow (lower) Loop.
Courses: 3k or 9k, skate or classic, once or three times out around the meadow and back.
Who: all ages and abilities welcome.
Prizes: chocolate for all finishers!Registration: in the Lodge before the race (under 17 free; $5 per adult or $8 per couple).

A mere $25 will get you an individual membership for the year, or $10 if you’re under 18. Go ahead and click on the “Join Us!” link to the membership on the sidebar to the right. Even though the form says 2008-2009, it is the same as this year’s.  (Just cross out the years and substitute 2009-2010 on the top. I’ll be replacing the old form on this website with this year’s as soon as I figure out where it’s located in my website code.)

This year we are looking at more skiing opportunities and more grooming than ever before. Our new trail extensions at Eaglecrest, cut last summer by our volunteer work parties, are opening up fun new terrain. Eaglecrest is already on top of the Nordic trail grooming this early in the season, and they’ve even been grooming the upper loop to offer additional variety for more experienced skiers. Remember, Eaglecrest’s trail pass is now separate from JNSC membership: it’s $5 a day during December but is due to go up in January, or for the best deal you can get a Nordic Season’s Pass for $79. Skiing in the Valley at the campground or on Mendenhall Lake is free, as always. In either case, your $25 JNSC membership helps make it all happen!

So don’t hang around and twiddle your thumbs or mope just because the snow at the campground has melted off. Conditions are downright excellent at the ‘Crest, with lots of snow and well-set dual classic tracks, with a skating lane in between. If you’ve become accustomed to skiing only in the Valley the last few yearsnow is the time to give Eaglecrest a try. Check the groomed trail conditions forum on the link to the right to see what the latest reports are. And drive on up to get a good head start on the season.  After all, despite the last three winters of wonderful conditions in the lowlands, you can never be sure when the snow will be back. And the Eaglecrest meadow loop complex is a gorgeous location with terrific variety and superb grooming.

Just remember a couple of things: please pick up a day pass or a season’s pass at the ticket window before you head out on the trails to support Eaglecrest’s professional grooming equipment and personnel,  and please don’t take your dogs on those trails, even after hours. There are plenty of other places to run dogs, and their paw prints in the tracks create cavities in the snow that really affects getting kick with classic skis. But do get out on the snow and remind yourself how magical winter is up above the snowline, even when it’s dark and gray down in town.

First of all, there is still some good skiing at the campground, at least for the moment. Some qualifications apply: take advantage of it early in the day when the snow is the right consistency. Too early and it will be icy if overnight temperatures have been below freezing, and too late in the day and it will get mushy. Play it by ear, but mid-morning should be about right. There is a short bare spot now at one of the bridges, but otherwise the snow is still hanging in there. Our volunteer groomers took their equipment around last night for the last time this season, but it should be skiable for a few more days.

Up at Eaglecrest there is still quite a bit more snow. JNSC volunteer Jack Kreinheder once again this year has volunteered to keep the nordic skiing going for another week or two on the lower loop, as long as conditions allow. This spring snow can be really delightful when it corns up and gets really consolidated, as long as you catch it at the right time of day: before the heat of the day makes it too soft (and after it thaws out a little if it has been below freezing during the clear nights). So grab your skis again, put on your sunscreen and shorts, and head up the hill this coming week.

Remember to thank our volunteer groomers for their terrific efforts whenever you run into them and consider including them in your will. By the way, in case you missed it, JNSC along with the 4H Nordic Club last week received an award from the Juneau Health Summit for “setting the standard as a community wellness organization in the category of physical activity.” Way to go, team!

Here’s the message from Jack:

Eaglecrest lower loop set Saturday 4/25
I set the lower loop for skating.  Was a little short on time, the skate track is 8-9 feet wide most of the way (2 laps with the 5 foot USFS Ginzu groomer), 12 feet wide in the meadow.
Track is not perfect, has some ridges and dips, but should be decent skate skiing from 8 -10:30 or so in the morning.
Didn’t have time to reset the classic track, but the old classic track is still there and skiable most of the way around.
Jack

P.S.  Please, no dogs on the lower loop to preserve the track for skiing since I don’t have time to groom it every day.  If you want to ski with your dog you could hike up to the upper loop (ungroomed).
Thanks, Jack

Of course, the lower loop at Eaglecrest is also groomed now, as usual, daily Thursday through Monday. During school spring break March 23 through 29, they will be grooming it every day of the week. The groomers have been doing a consistently excellent job this season, and the snow gods have been on our side. The layout and terrain of the lower loop places it in the top tier of Nordic ski trails anywhere.  

This Sunday, March 15,  Eaglecrest will be sponsoring a fun race designed for all ages and skills. You can race classic or skate, 4K or 12K, on a moderate course using part of the lower loop out to the meadow, up the hill and back on the downhill loop, passing right by the day lodge, around the caretaker’s cottage and past the base of the Hooter chair. There will be a mass start at 11:30 am. The race is free, with glory for the winners and french fries at the finish line for all participants. If you don’t want to race, it will be fun to watch and cheer the racers on.

The purpose of the meeting will be to sign volunteer waiver forms, and to go over procedures that will help enhance the frequency and quality of snow grooming for skiing on the Eagle Beach trails.  Any interested persons are invited to attend.

Looking ahead to next Saturday, Feb. 28 -
Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Sprint race at Eaglecrest, in conjunction with Alaska 50th Anniversary Celebrations.    11:00 am, 2k and 6k skate or classic race, and a 2k snowshoe race.  Bring the family!

The Juneau Nordic Ski Club will be offering free lessons, from rank beginner on up to old salt or hotshot, to anyone who wants to show up this coming Saturday afternoon, February 21, at the Mendenhall Campground.  The clinic will begin at 1:30 and run until 3:30.  Instruction for both classic striding and skating techniques will be available.

The joys of good technique.  JNSC exists to promote Nordic skiing in our community, and we can’t think of a better way to complement the terrific groomed trails that our volunteers prepare so dependably, than helping skiers improve.  No matter whether you’re a relaxed shuffler or a competitive speed-freak, good ski technique will allow you to have a lot more fun out on the snow.  As with any sport, the more you learn, the more you are able to appreciate the rich world of variety and nuances that opens up to you.  You can learn to take great pleasure in the kinds of challenging terrain and snow conditions that might normally spoil your day.  Ironically, while you can go a lot farther or faster with less effort, you can also get a much more vigorous and well-rounded workout with proper Nordic technique when you choose to crank up the exercise level.  All in all, it’s well worth coming out to our classes to see what you’ve been missing.

The classes.  Several of JNSC’s most experienced members will be volunteering their time and skills to help out with the instruction.  We won’t be importing a big-name coach this year, but that also means that we don’t have to charge for the classes to cover expenses.  No sign-up is required — just come on out to the campground by 1:30 and we’ll put you together with an instructor and other skiers with compatible skills and interest.  We work on the fundamentals, but you can let us know if there are specific issues you want to address, questions you’d like answered, or points of technique you’d like covered, and we’ll do our best to help out.  This will be casual, with an emphasis on how to have as much fun as possible on skis.  Kids are welcome too, but if under 12 should be accompanied by a parent or adult.

Meet at the campground.  The campground trails are in great shape and ski conditions are very good right now.  The forecast is looking fine for Saturday, with mild temperatures expected.  But we’ll be there rain or shine, so don’t let the weather get in the way.  For any of you who aren’t familiar with the Mendenhall Campground ski trails, take the Montana Creek Road turnoff from the Back Loop Road, and then bear right at the fork in the road following the sign towards Skaters’ Cabin.  The start of the trail is at the gate on the right, past the last subdivision and just before Skaters’ Cabin.  You can park along the road on the right-hand (south) side or in the Skaters’ Cabin lot.  Be sure to leave the left side of the gate unobstructed to allow the USFS access to the road if necessary.  Ski (or walk) on in a couple hundred yards to the first intersection, where we will be gathering at the start of the clinic.  If you come late, ski around the loop until you pick up a group that looks suitable.

This is open to anyone.  We love to stoke everyone’s passion for our sport.  But we also hope you’ll want to support us by becoming a member of JNSC.    With our new lower dues this year, we need to expand our membership base.  Anyone who uses groomed trails or any of our other services should consider joining.  This clinic is a handy opportunity to sign up for JNSC membership, if you haven’t already done so this season.  We won’t be charging a fee, soliciting memberships or advertising at this event, all of which are contrary to USFS policy on their lands.  However, any of the instructors will be more than happy to accept a check made out to JNSC from you for your membership.  If you have a computer and printer, please print and fill out the membership form on our website at jnski.org (click on “Join Us!” in the middle column).  If you can’t print it out, a piece of paper with the name of each member, an email address for club communications, and a phone number and/or mailing address for backup would be sufficient.  Membership is a mere $25 per person, or $10 for age 17 and under.  It’s only through the dues and contributions of our members that we can offer these activities and trails for Juneau.

I hope to see you there!
Bart Watson

This weekend, Feb 21st and 22nd, is Skagway’s first Backcountry Beer Bash!  A weekend of skiing, fun, music and Beer!
There is over 20K of classic skiing trails tracked at Log Cabin and 4K tracked on the Dyea flats.  The snow along the Klondike Highway has setup nice and the backcountry skiing is the best it’s been in years!  Don’t have cross country skis or snowshoes?  Drop by The Mountain Shop.  We are offering $5 rentals for the weekend (depend. upon availablity).

The Skagway Recreation Center is open Saturday from 10-4 and Sunday from 1-7.  The main gym and climbing wall will be open.  Weather depending, the skating rink at the Rec Center will be open (and hopefully frozen).  Skate rental is available.

To highlight our weekend of outdoor fun, The Skagway Brewing Company is importing the Surahoolies from Saint Cloud Minnesota!  The music starts at 9pm.  Come rock out and bring your dancing shoes!  Door prizes provided by The Mountain Shop and The Skagway Brewing Co.

Don’t forget to stop by the store for our “Just Because….” Sale!
20% off the entire store with winter clearance items 30-70% off!!  The Buckwheat Sale has started early this year.  Don’t miss it!
Hours:    Mon, Wed-Fri 11am-5pm, Sat 12pm-5pm, Sun 12pm-4pm. Closed Tues

Let us know if you have any questions and if there is anything we can do to help you get outside and play!

Cheers,
Your Friends at The Mountain Shop

355 4th Ave
Skagway, AK 99840
907.983.2544
packer@aptalaska.net