March News / Meeting March 6

[Panhandle Nordic]

To view this on the internet – go to http://panhandlenordicclub.com

 

 

March Presidents Message:

 

Are we suffering deja vue all over again this late winter and early spring? It

seems that last year after some early snow we lost most of it in January through

much of February. Then in late February the skies opened and the resulting heavy

snows lasted well into the spring. This year is beginning to show the same trend

except the snow was scanty early in the season. I for one will welcome a good

late winter and early spring ski season, if only to make up for the deficit we

suffered in December and most of January.

 

Once we were able to close the gate on Skywalker (FSR 614) the groomers have

regularly packed it all the way to Rose Creek Saddle. Initially, it was too soft

to effectively skate ski, but the pack firmed up. A week ago I was able to

achieve a long held desire to ski around the inner circuit, out Skateaway to

Skywalker and then out Skywalker and Moon Runner to Rose Creek Saddle and then

back by the same route. Although I have skied to and well beyond the saddle many

times, this was the first on skate skis. We have received some heavy snow since

then, but when it is again groomed, I encourage others to experience this new

addition to the area and the rolling terrain one can experience over much of the

route.

 

I have also been told by any number of snowshoers and skiers on the Twisted

Klister system how much they appreciate the closure of the road near the bottom.

They appreciate the knowledge that their experience will not be interrupted by a

motorized ATV speeding by as has occurred in years past. The parking lot has

been filled most weekends as has the space at the top of the hill near the base

of Skywalker (FSR 614), yet the area has attained a size that spreads the users

out improving everybody's ski and snowshoe experience.

 

The expanding area has brought new attention to an old problem the club has been

working on for about five years: the need for a new groomer. I am happy to

report that the bill for the groomer we need and the savings and assets we can

tap to buy it are very close. We are within $2,000 of our goal thanks to work

and savings over the years and the reserve of funds dedicated to the Fourth of

July Area we can tap into from the Department of Parks & Recreation.

 

We have a few large ($500) contributions and would appreciate a few more to get

us over the top, but whatever our supporters can afford to make the new groomer

a reality will assure excellent and more reliable grooming at the Fourth of July

Area for years to come. The club is registered with the IRS as a 401(k)

nonprofit corporation, so any contribution is tax deductable. It is not very

often that the leadership asks our members and supporters to reach down and help

us over a big hurdle like this, but now is the time, because the groomer must be

ordered very soon for delivery next fall.

 

The March meeting of the Panhandle Nordic Ski & Snowshoe Club will be held on

Tuesday, March 6th at 7PM at the Fernan Ranger District at 2501 E. Sherman

Avenue in Coeur d'Alene. We will have a short business meeting with election of

the three officers, but devote the rest of the night to awards, some tall tales

(this is the Liars Night) and a program on Idaho's Centennial Trail (not to be

confused with the cda -  Spokane bike trail) which stretches eight hundred miles

north to south across the state.

 

The Ya I Du Ski awards will be made with the recognition of all who recorded

their ski and snowshoe distances over the season.  Get your tallied kilometers

skied or snowshoed to Roberta Truscott preferably before the next meeting.

 

We have traditionally had a few tall tales or outright lies passed off during

past March meetings. Some traditionalist may still show up to ply their

prevaricating trade. The program will be given by long time member and hiking

enthusiast Judy Waring with a little help from her friends. She will speak about

the Idaho Centennial Trail and her experience as well as experiences of others

following the trail across the state.