Newsletter of the Bitterroot Cross Country Ski Club
Box 431 • Corvallis, Montana 59828
NOVEMBER 2010
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BITTERROOT CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CLUB MEETING
Thursday, November 11 @ 7 p.m.
Presbyterian Church, 1220 W Main Street
Hamilton
Program: MARS SIMULATION
Long-time members Dusty Samouce and Mel Holloway will present “Mars Desert Research Station” a program about their experiences working with the Mars habitat simulation and research that is ongoing in southern Utah.
=============================================================================================TRAIL REPORT
The ski season is rapidly approaching. There was snow on the ground at this writing but don’t make a dash for your “rock” skis yet (there will be time for that). More snow than normal is predicted. Remember there could be hunters in the area until November 28th. Shooting was occurring when I was there on the 24th of October.
We’re getting all of our equipment ready for the season. Nothing had to be added this year and the problems we were having with one of the machines has been solved.
With your help, we plan on attacking the snow again this season as it accumulates rather than waiting until Friday. When you have been there or have information that there is a foot or more of fresh snow, please contact me right away. We will probably not set tracks on these trips, but will continue to groom and set tracks on Fridays, as usual.
The analysis of the raw data we provided to the Region Entomologist regarding the percentage of dead/infected trees has not yet come back to us. As always, we will be continuing to watch for, and remove trees that could be a hazard to the public. Also, we’re committed to do whatever is necessary to see that the Chief Joseph Cross Country Ski area remains safe and open to skiing.
See you on the trails. /s/ Mel Mooers
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SILENT AUCTION — THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2010
Don’t forget to bring your auction item and YOUR MONEY!
REMEMBER THIS IS A FUND RAISER FOR THE CLUB
SO --- DONATED ITEMS SHOULD BE OF GOOD QUALITY AND
NOT JUST SOMETHING YOU’D PUT IN A YARD SALE.
If you did not sign up to bring something and have an item, please call
Kay Fulton (642-3794) so she can get the bid sheet ready, but
DON’T HESITATE TO BRING A LAST MINUTE ITEM TO THE MEETING.
Please plan to take your item home if it is not bid on. Thanks
=============================================================================================SKI TRAIL MAP UPDATE
The 2010-2011 Chief Joe Ski Trail Map is scheduled to be ready for the November meeting. As far as I can tell from the archives, this is its 18th printing and we have now used every paper color option that is available to us! The map is one of our biggest fund raisers and, as I understand it, Mary Ellen Reese was originally the brains behind the concept of selling ads on the back. Although she eventually passed the torch to Michele Thompson she was still helping, as late as last season, by delivering maps to Missoula area businesses. Michele passed the torch to me and did a fantastic job of preparing me for tasks that need to be accomplished. Many thanks to both women for their efforts over the years. I now fully understand what it takes to get this thing produced and distributed, as well as finding new sponsors. Bettie Rhodes has been assisting me (thank you, Bettie!) and we will be busy this month getting the maps delivered.
This year we have 26 sponsors —some are new, most are not and several have been with us from the very beginning. They span all the way from Missoula, up the Bitterroot and over the passes into both Wisdom and North Fork, ID. A big thank you to all of these fine businesses. Their contribution helps to make the map and the Chief Joe ski area possible. Please show your appreciation by using and recommending them.
/s/ Debbie Leick
============================================================================================OCTOBER 2010 MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
October 14, 2010 by Kay Fulton
Vice President Earl Philips called the meeting to order at 7:10 P.M. There were approximately 93 in attendance.
Sign-up for Hut was the major event of the night. The Wisdom Forest Service staff included John Ericson, Arlee Staley and Lori Stevenson, who were doing their usual round trip on the Club’s meeting night to allow members to get one of the prized nights to host the cabin. They explained that nights were allocated for the Club and asked members to refrain from calling in early on the day registration opens for the general public, which was to be October 21st. The sign-ups proceeded throughout the general meeting and program.
Treasurer’s Report: Jeane Lippert reported: Income, $450; Expenses, $1,393; Savings, $7,579.33; Checking, $2,590.91.
Membership: This meeting was membership renewal night so new numbers will be reported at the November meeting.
Upcoming Events and Items of Interest: November meeting, 11/11 - Silent Auction
December meeting, 12/9 - Potluck January 22 - Ski Lessons February 26 - Extravaganza
Trails Report: Mel Mooers reported that there had been 756 volunteer hours just in the last quarter. There were over 30 people at the Fall Clean-up/Wood Splitting & Stacking Day at the Hut (9/11). He also reported on the infestation of the pine bark beetles at Chief Joe and the survey that he and several others did in assessing the problem. Trees have been identified that need to be taken down for safety reasons first, followed by removal of trees that are currently actively infested. It is hoped that the Forest Service will be able to send a “saw team” to help out.
Mel also reported on a new trail that he designed and recently had surveyed. A proposal has been sent to the Forest Service for approval.
Earl reported that the Trails Maps are at the printer now. Debbie Leick, Michelle Thompson and Bettie Rhodes worked with the advertisers.
General Business: Earl reminded everyone that he maintains a “Cancellation System” for the Hut and encouraged everyone to contact him if they cannot keep the date they have scheduled. This allows him to inform all people on his cancellation list about an opening. This process is done via e-mail due to the often- late notice. If you want to be on the cancellation list, contact Earl at skihut@montana.com.
Elections for President and Treasurer will be in December. Earl asked for volunteers for a nominating committee to develop a list of candidates. Paul Sharp volunteered to chair this committee. Please submit your nominations to him.
Earl also reported that he had been contacted by Brian Kevin who is doing an article for the Cross Country Skiing Magazine. He may be using some pictures of Chief Joe and skiers there. Earl will keep us informed.
Kay Fulton handed out sign-up sheets for “Monthly Treats,” “Weekly Toilet Cleaning at the Ski Area” and the November “Silent Auction.” If you didn’t get an opportunity to sign up, please contact Kay.
Kay also showed a BXCSC T-shirt and embroidered hat that used to be available to members when a former shop was in business in Hamilton. Since they no longer exist, the opportunity for such items disappeared. Kay has contacted “EmbroidMe” a business in downtown Hamilton, who will reproduce the emblem on any clothing item, even personal ones, and will make a new “stitch file” for embroidered emblems, which individuals can have put on various clothing items. The Club officers voted to pay the $59 for the new stitch file.
Program: Ginny Deck, Program Chairperson, introduced Patrick Chaplin, a professional photographer, who shared one of his wonderful DVD’s of Montana. It included many places he has hiked, as well as other unique events in Montana. It definitely kept our minds off of waiting to sign up for the hut. Great photos of places we love.
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