The walkers have pretty well torn up the grooming that’s been done at the campground. I took a fall when I hit a patch of ice unearthed by walkers this morning. Has it ever been discussed to separate a walking path (for humans and dogs) from a skiing lane? Would the USFS consider this? Seems like there is enough room for everyone. I’m increasingly annoyed by bootracks in the carefully groomed trail (as well as dogs off leash).
separate path?
Dec 6, 2016 | Mendenhall Campground
Hi All, I am one of the many, many JNSC members and other community members who really enjoy skiing along with their best friend, their dog. I think the key issue here is that there are too many of us jammed into a small area, especially when the lake is not skiable. The sport continues to grow each year. I have never been to another nordic area with the density of skiers we have at the campground. I would hate to see the exclusion of anyone (including my four legged pal) at the campground.
Instead, folks should go on the MGRA website http://www.mgra-mgvc.us and ask for more kilometers of trails for nordic skiing, hiking, biking and walking. Through the ongoing MGRA planning process, the JNSC board has proposed to the USFS that a new trail be built on the west side of the Skater’s Cabin Road. There is adequate room for a trail of 6 kilometers or more, and the terrain is outstanding, with lots of low rolling hills. The trail could be built in phases, with concentric loops. Additionally, the JNSC is proposing that the USFS build a pedestrian bridge (of adequate width to accommodate a grooming snowmachine) across the Mendenhall River at the campground to link the two sides of the MGRA. The existing trails on the east side of the river could be upgraded to accommodate nordic grooming, and skiers and hikers could park on either the west or east side and access all of the trails.
To put it in perspective, Homer Alaska, with a population of 5000, has over 70 kilometers of groomed ski trails. They probably don’t have to worry about tripping over each other! Let’s band together and ask for more recreation opportunity on our recreation area!
Signage helps. “The JNSC has groomed a winter walking trail on under Thunder Mountain, access from Jennifer St. or Behind Glacier Valley School. While the Bone and Joint Clinic will be saddened at the loss of revenue from animal skier collisons, they have generously supported the grooming efforts there and encourage you to do so as well. -Note this is not the Juneau Bone and Joint Center- the B&JC is a licensed cannabis distributor. Some of it is a matter of psychology, and access. When the University of Colorado got ready to do sidewalks they looked at where students had created trails in the dirt between buildings, that’s where the sidewalks went. Likewise if the trail is wide people will spread out, and if it is narrow they will walk in a line Let’s identify the areas where we can make it easy for dog and winter walkers (and winter bikers) to access, and funnel them to those spots. And as someone famous said “we make them pay for it! ” I’m only partly kidding, why not have them join the club? Del has had some success grooming diagonal tracks from the lake into the dredge area, and leaving dredge access ungroomed. Where as Marc was endlessly frustrated grooming Dredge Lake diagonal in from the usual road access because the trails were ruined as he groomed.
John, thanks for your comments and suggestion. It would be great to build a skier-only trail loop on the Mt. McGuiness side of the road even if it was only 2-3k long initially. This could be a good joint project with the Forest Service, the Nordic ski club, and Trail Mix.
The campground probably gets the most XC ski use of any trails in Juneau, but if you get there late in the day it can get so tracked up by walkers and dogs that the ski conditions can be pretty poor even though there was a perefectly groomed trail at 9 AM. Then there are the piles of dog poop right on the groomed trail that happen frequently.
Marc, I would also add that the Montana Creek trail gets way less foot and dog traffic than the campground, so that’s another alternative to the campground now that we finally have plenty of snow, if Montana Creek is closer than Eaglecrest for you.
Enjoy the snow everyone.
I suggest that comments about ski trails in the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area be submitted to the USFS through our contractor Corvus design. We are now planning for future facilities in the recreation area and its a good time to submit your ideas and perspectives. Visit the website http://www.mgra-mgvc.us and you’ll find a comment collector. cheers…….John Neary
Perhaps the USFS would consider a small sign politely suggesting that walkers stay here, be it left, right, somewhere. Here at Litho we now print on aluminum and dibond, both great hardened sign materials. I bet we could do it at cost and I could whip up the layout for free. Could the Nordic Club pursue such a possibility with the USFS? I’m at 586-3170.
I understand your frustration, Marc, and I’m very sorry that you slipped on the ice. I hope you are okay. The campground is a designated multi-use area and there will always be walkers, dogs, bikers, etc on the groomed trail. The best way to avoid foot traffic and dogs is to ski on the Eaglecrest nordic trails, where people on foot are encouraged to stay to the side and dogs are not allowed, although people still insist on bringing them on the trails whenever they can get away with it. It’s looking good for the lower loop – we haven’t seen this much snow in years! Yay for winter!