by DK | Mar 18, 2016 | .
On March 17th, the feast day of Patricius Magonus Sucatus, all ski trails at Alturas Lake, except North Cabin, were groomed for skating and touring and pesky snow snakes were driven from the area. The trail from the bridge to the lake was still rough but skiable. No classic tracks were set. At Park Creek, Lupine and Skyrocket were groomed for skating and touring and Camas and Shooting Star were groomed for skate and classic. Friday morning began with below zero temperatures and a clear blue sky. Once things warm up after noon, additional work on the trails will hopefully result in improved conditions for the weekend.
by DK | Mar 15, 2016 | .
With consecutive snowfalls of 8, 12 and 4 inches since Sunday, our powder monkey groomers have been rolling and tumbling through the drifting snowfields at Park Creek and Alturas lake compacting the pow pow. At Park Creek, the Yankeeforker rolled Lupine, Shooting Star and Camas trails on Sunday and Monday. Luckily a falling tree, a potential widow maker narrowly missed the Park Creek grooming equipment where it was parked for the night. Our ever-ready woodsman, the heroic Robertus was heading to the scene on Tuesday morning to remove the offending lodgepole. At Alturas Lake, Davinius rolled everything except for North Cabin on Sunday. All trails are snowbound once again and a bit more rolling is planned for Tuesday. As snow continues to fall, in the short term, expect poor visibility and limited, soft trails. But we are anticipating that by the weekend, blue skies, sunshine and happy times will be our skiing companions once again.
by DK | Mar 13, 2016 | .
It’s not time to hang up those skis quite yet! On Saturday, the day of week ruled by Saturnus, the Roman god of time, Over the Hill and the ski Trail to Alturas Lake were groomed for skate and classic. On Sunday, the 13th of March, the day of the Monkey Festival, Kasuga Matsuri, at the ancient Shinto shrine next to the Kasugayama Primeval Forest in the land of Nara, Japan, we plan on turning loose our own powder monkeys to knock down the 8 inches of snow that fell Saturday night at the Alturas Lake and Park Creek ski areas. With another foot of snow predicted to fall on Sunday night, more monkey business may follow.
by DK | Mar 10, 2016 | .
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.
by DK | Mar 6, 2016 | .
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.
by DK | Mar 4, 2016 | .
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.
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