S K I T R A C K S
Newsletter of the Bitterroot Cross Country Ski Club
Box 431 • Corvallis, Montana 59828
M A Y 2 0 1 0
==================================================================================
ANNUAL MAY POTLUCK
“XC SKIERS KNOW HOW TO EAT”
May 13
(Thursday) at 6:00 p.m.@
“KATYA MERRELL’S RIVERSIDE PROPERTY
47 Crystal Lane (642-3073)
JUST north of the Earth and Wood Company on the east side of Highway 93. It is 3 miles north of Victor and 3 miles south of the Stevi Y.
WARNING: THIS IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONSTRUCTION SO WATCH CAREFULLY!!
Turn to the east on Indian Prairie Loop Extended --- There is still a sign there in spite of the construction. Continue on the road and turn into the driveway on the right side. Her house is the only one there. Signs and balloons will mark the entrance.
Bring your favorite dish, plate, utensils (
although paper and plastic will be available) Your favorite beverage (apple cider will be provided). Folding chairs (lots of grass to sit on). Hamburgers, hot dogs & chicken will be provided for barbecuing— you cook!!
Come early if you want to take a walk down to the river.
Oh, be prepared for rain!===================================================================================
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
A
s my final message as president of the Club, I want to thank every Club member for making this such a wonderful organization. I am so proud to be a part of a group of volunteers that, for the last 20 years, has contributed much joy, fun and goodness to the public through cross-country skiing. The number of smiles, good times and memories we have given to people and families over the years are innumerable and uncountable. Along the way we have had some great times ourselves and have certainly enjoyed our own ski days at the best cross-country area in Montana.
A
s an all-volunteer Club involved in demanding weekly and monthly efforts, the Club would have fallen apart years ago without a continually evolving core group of people who see that the necessary work gets done.
D
uring my tenure, I have been very fortunate to have a group of folks who frankly made it easy to do my job. In particular, I want to thank Mel Mooers, Earl Philips and Kay Fulton who were always there when something needed to be done. Likewise, I want to thank Ed Hastings, Jack and Barb Losensky, Pat Leonard, Toddy Perryman, Jeane Lippert, Nancy Gresham and Sonny LaSalle for all their efforts and advice that kept the Club running. I can’t say enough about the efforts of the groomers who gave up at least one day a week for months at a time so all of us could enjoy the tracks. I also want to give a much overdue thanks to Michele Thompson for her enormous efforts that spanned years in putting together the trail map.
M
ore thanks go to our special events coordinators for their efforts. The Extravaganza continues to break fund-raising goals thanks to the ticket sellers headed by Carol Battcher and the superb culinary skills of Paul Sharpe. The popularity of our lesson day continues to grow thanks to the coordination of Mel Holloway and the volunteers.
T
hanks to a suggestion by Earl Philips, we will be meeting routinely with the Forest Service twice a year. We appreciate the cooperation and good working relationship we have had with Ranger Russ Riebe of the Wisdom Ranger Station and his entire crew.
I know there are many more folks to thank and I hope to see you at the May meeting to do so in person. It’s been my pleasure to be able to help out over these past three years. If you don’t make the May meeting, I’ll see you on the trails next year.
/s/ George Corn
TRAIL REPORT
T
he final figures are in and if our multiplier is correct, Chief Joe experienced over 5,000 use days this past season! Possibly a record.
There is some concern that not nearly one third of the users are signing in as we had originally recorded. If true, that would really make it a banner year. Whatever the actual number is, lots of people
experienced some great skiing and for an extended period of time. Praises be to Gordon Reese for choosing such a great area to develop the Chief Joe ski area. Thank You!
A footnote
: PBS is airing “The Night of the Grizzly” on May 17 at 8:00 p.m. The story is of two young women who were killed by grizzlies in widely separated parts of Glacier Park. Mark your calendars. Kay’s dog, Amos, is a major player and even I had a bit part (don’t blink or you’ll miss me).
H
ave a Great Summer!/s/ Mel Mooers
BOOK SIGNING AT THE SKI CLUB’S ANNUAL POT LUCK
I will bring copies of my new guide book titled “Bitterroot Mountain Summits” to this year’s event.
Three years in the making, this 384-page guidebook — issued in 5½ by 8½ inch format — was written specifically for use by beginner and intermediate hikers and climbers. Included are indepth descriptions of 60-plus on-trail and off-trail routes to more than 50 selected summits in the Bitterroot Mountains. An excess of 350 full-color photographs and illustrations are used to relay information and transmit the emotional experience of climbing mountains.
Retailing for $34.95, the book will be available at this ski club event for $30. I will sign copies for anyone who so wishes.
/s/ Mike Hoyt
Mark June 10
th on your calendars
Along with plenty of help from “the Mels,” I’m putting together a day for Club members to do some work on the Chief Joseph trails. The goal is to clear seedling trees and other debris from the trails so they can be groomed more easily and at an earlier date. In other words, “we want more days of skiing.”
T
he day will not be all work. Everyone should bring plenty to eat and drink. Snacks and lunch are mandatory. Work is not!
W
e will be walking the trails — groomers’ choice —and cutting branches and small trees from the trails. Several of us have gas-powered saws which will be used for the majority of the cutting. However, if you have hand runers, it wouldn’t hurt to bring them along. Once the small trees are cut, other volunteers can remove them from the trails and toss them aside. The more people we have, the faster the work will go and the more trail we can clear.
B
ring gloves. I have enough ear plugs for everyone who insists on working close to the power tools or is just plain tired of hearing war stories from a bunch of old men!
P
lease send me an E-mail at thephotohiker@yahoo.com if you can help.
S
ee you there./s/ Mike Hoyt
APRIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
April 8, 2010 by Kay Fulton
Vice President Earl Philips called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.
There were approximately 39 in attendance.
Treasurer’s Report :
Jeane Lippert reported: Income, $261; Expenses, $653; Checking $3,886; Savings, $7,534
Membership:
Jack Losensky reported the final membership count at 333.
Trails Report:
Mel Mooers reported that they have stopped grooming but there had been 10 inches new since last Friday. They will close up the cabin on April 19th. Mel raised the concern about beetlekilled trees at Chief Joe. Apparently McDonald Pass ski area had to close because of over 7,000 dead trees and fear of them falling on skiers. He had contacted Russ Riebe with the Forest Service to discuss the concern for CJ. The Forest Service is logging out campgrounds with a lot of beetle kill. There will be a meeting the end of April with FS to discuss this issue and other on-going coordination plans. Sonny LaSalle said that some of the lodge pole in the area are over 160 years old even though they may not be very big around,. He said that one problem is that even though there are many good, sound trees that have been killed, there is no market for them.
Cancellation Program:
Earl reported that he was able to fill 16 of the 18 cancellations this year. He also said that the Blacksmith Brewery that sold the most Extravaganza tickets will take a night at the cabin next season. We were unable to get an opening for them this year.
Upcoming Events:
Katya Merrell has volunteered to host the Annual May Potluck (Thursday, May 13th at 6:00 p.m.) at her home just north of Earth and Wood. Look for the announcement and directions on page 1 of the newsletter. Thanks so much, Katya.
Program:
Scott Battion and his wife, Jenny, presented a slide program about their recent work in Antarctica, the research being done on the AGAP Project exploring the Sub Glacial Gamburtsev “Ghost Mountains” and Jenny’s time at McMurdo Station. It was an amazing program and very educational. Thanks, Scott and Jenny.