Novembers President's Message

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Geoffrey Harvey

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Oct 23, 2012, 3:51:50 PM10/23/12

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November President’s Message

The winter 2012-2013 ski season is fast approaching. The forecast of snow in the mountains in late October peaks the awareness. Only a few weeks ago we were traversing the highest ridges in North Idaho on warm afternoons with the huckleberry glowing in its purple fall foliage. The seasons change fast on the high ridges. We all hope for good snow, well groomed trails and memorable skiing. We cannot do much about the availability of snow or the memories you create, but the club is acquiring a new groomer through the hard work of its members and the generosity of several donors. The new machine will greatly assist our ability to groom all the trails on the area and especially the runs to Rose Creek Saddle and Ian’s hut.

The 2012 – 2013 club schedule has been posted on the web site; www.panhandlenordicclub.com. This is the basic initial version. The schedule changes through the season as more events and trips are added by the members. You will note that our first meeting of the year has been delayed by one week to Tuesday, November 13^th. The presidential election every four years necessitates this schedule change. However there are some important dates prior to our initial meeting.

On Saturday, October 27^th, the club is having a general work morning at the Fourth of July Area. We hope to meeting the parking lot and get started working at 9:30 AM. Brushing work is required on some runs as between Peaceful View and the White Knuckles - Swoop junction and at the upper end Jeanette’s Jaunt. Bring along loppers and hand trimmers as well as work gloves to protect your hands. The recent high winds have likely left us a few surprise tree falls along the trails as well. We will be looking for these and the chain saws to deal with them. If you have one and know how to use bring it along. Glenn Truscott will organize our efforts and there will be cider and possibly cookies in the Panhandle Hut to energize workers.

The other two important dates involve the ski swaps. The Spokane Mountain Ski Patrol holds its swap on Saturday October 27^th at the Spokane Fairgrounds off Broadway in Spokane. There is always some cross country and touring gear at this event, but be prepared for big crowds. A week later, November 3^rd, the Lookout Pass Ski Patrol holds it ski swap at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, while Fitness Fanatics holds its event on Trent Avenue in the Spokane Valley. Both open their doors at 8 AM. There are typically bargains at both events but Fitness is solely cross country and back country gear while the Lookout event has the whole array of ski gear and there are consequently larger crowds. The strategy I have used for years is to go initially to the Fitness sale with its smaller crowd and make my purchases there. Then I check out the Lookout sale. By then the buyers’ line is very long. So I check out possible purchases and if I find them I leave only to return after noon when the line abates to make my purchases. Sure there is the chance that somebody who does not mind long lines will scoop up my buys, but cross country and touring gear is the minority of the demand at this sale, so I like my odds and detest the line.

At this writing the program for the November 13^th meeting is still not settled. We are angling for a program on the fascinating work that the Friends of the Scotchman’s Peaks Wilderness organization has been doing to census rare forest carnivores in the West Cabinet Mountains. Hopefully we can get the program for November but if not December. The organization is looking for back country skiers and snowshoe travelers to help in this effort. So an opportunity may be there for folks rugged enough to brave the winter wilderness. Expect an update on the November Program as soon as it is settled.