Raindrops keep falling on my ski trail, so I did me some talking to the sun…

Raindrops keep falling on my ski trail, so I did me some talking to the sun…

On a rainy Thursday morning, a raucous rabble of birds crowed with delight from the Sawtooth pine tops as the pretty girl from the village sprinkled their breakfast mix of nuts and seeds onto the balcony railing. Her friend, the ski trail groomer Davinius watched from inside as the rain fell down, chewing on a chocolate chip cookie left over from soup kitchen Sunday. “No grooming today” the old pagan muttered as he threw an errant chip and a splash of coffee out the open window and onto the snow below, a small offering to Solis Invictus, the invincible sun god. “Seasons are changing”, he thought, “It wouldn’t hurt to be on the right side of the sun.” On Tuesday, the trail to the lake as far as the bridge junction, Over the Hill, South Loop and Sheep Thrills were groomed for skate and classic.

Soup for the Hardy

Soup for the Hardy

The Park Creek chili feed and poker run and the ski club’s Saturday night silent auction and dinner were well attended and a lot of fun for all involved. However, Sunday looks to be a soggy day for the 14th annual soup kitchen social at the Alturas Lake ski area. After temperatures in the 40’s  and light rain that fell throughout Saturday night, the precipitation turned to a wet snow at about 6:30 a.m. on Sunday. With gusty winds expected through the morning, the soup kitchen site will be moved from its usual hilltop location to the more protected wooded area on Over the Hill Trail at its closest point to the highway. Even so, we expect this will be a soup kitchen for the hail and hardy rather than the meek and mild. Trail grooming and skiing conditions will be less than optimal.

Ski Fest Weekend!!

Ski Fest Weekend!!

On Friday the 4th of March, preparations for the 14th annual Sawtooth ski festival on Saturday and Sunday are shifting into high gear. Trails are lookin’ good, the chili is cookin’, soups are simmerin’, and cookies bakin’. Don’t miss the poker run, chili feed and cookies the at the Park Creek ski area beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday.  Take in dinner, music and the benefit silent auction at the Stanley Community Building starting at  5:30 p.m. on Saturday, and finally, don’t miss the ever popular soup kitchen at the Alturas Lake ski area beginning at 11 a.m. on Sunday. More details can be found on the ski club website at www.sawtoothskiclub.com.

SKI TRAILS NICE

SKI TRAILS NICE

On Tuesday, the first of March, all ski trails to the east of Alturas Lake Creek were groomed for skate and classic. The trails looked pretty good considering the cold morning to warm afternoon temperature swings. Tuesday night a bit of new snow fell, perhaps an inch. More grooming on Wednesday morning should make it all very nice.