Fairbanksans are now into their second week of skiing. Both Birch Hill
and the UAF Trails have been groomed and are receiving heavy use.
Skiing started up in Fairbanks on Tuesday the 19th, and has been
improving steadily since then. Widespread snowfall has left all ski
trails throughout the area in good shape.
For the first 2-3 days the skiing at Birch Hill was thin, but still
pretty good, due to the fact that the snow that fell was high in
moisture content and was denser than normal Fairbanks snow. The first
tracks were laid on the 21st, after only 6″-8″/15cm-20cm of total
snowfall, and by the weekend of the 23rd-24th things were in good shape.
Only the very top edges of a few waterbars interrupted the continuous
white of the snow cover.
After receiving 6″-8″/15cm-20cm of fresh snow from Tuesday afternoon
through Wednesday morning (26th-27th) the conditions have improved
further. When grooming from the latest snowfall is completed, Birch
Hill users will be able to enjoy mid-season conditions.
The Canadian Team had planned to come to Fairbanks, but with their early
snowfall in Alberta it didn't make sense to spend the money to come
north.
Temperatures have been in the upper 20's to upper 30's. All my classic
skiing so far this winter has been on hairies. Wednesday night the
mercury dropped into the upper teens – the coldest temperatures so far
this winter – which was perfect for solidifying the snow into a durable
base. More snowfall is predicted for this weekend.
Skiers anywhere who are looking for great training at sea level should
come on up and enjoy the conditions. The week-long Audun Endestad Ski
Camp will be beginning this weekend. Participants in the camp will have
perfect conditions for working on technique and fitness.
The 10,000 square foot Birch Hill Cross Country Ski Center (BHCCSC) is
open noon to 9pm on weekdays, 8am to 6pm on Saturdays, and 11am to 6pm
on Sundays. The BHCCSC and features large bath and changing rooms,
spacious wax room with full ventilation system, and a 3000 square foot
assembly room with radiant heat in the floor.
Of Birch Hill's 30km of trails, 11km are lighted and the lights are now
on until 10pm, seven nights a week. Come on up for the best
early-season, sea level skiing in North America. Take a live look at
Birch Hill ski conditions at:
http://www.nscfairbanks.net/gallery/webcam.html
You can see the current
weather conditions at Birch Hill at:
http://www.nscfairbanks.net/weather/currentdata.html
Saturday afternoon at 1:00pm the competition season kicks off with the
annual Halloween Race, a 5km mass-start skating race organized by Sally
Endestad. Those who wear costumes receive a 30-second head start.
The Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks kicks off their 2004-2005 ski season
with the annual NSCF Ski Fest at the UAF Student Recreation Center
Saturday night, October 30 at 5:00pm. Dinner is free for NSCF members
and begins at 6:00pm, with drawings for great prizes beginning at
7:00pm.
