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| PANHANDLE NORDIC CLUB February 7, 2006 Panhandle Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club Minutes The meeting was called to order by President Jim McMillen. Jim introduced Rich Landers, a writer for the Spokesman Review and author of 100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest. Some of the Nordic club members have either hiked all of the hikes or are working on hiking all 100 hikes. Mr. Landers brought slides of his cross country ski trip to Finland. Every year 100 people are allowed on a trail, which stretches from the Russian border with Finland to the Swedish border. Mr. Landers made this trip a couple of years ago when three sets of 100 skiers were allowed to start. Besides Finns and Mr. Landers, there were people from other countries including a German woman training for the Olympic biathlon. The youngest finisher was an American boy of 10. Mr. Landers said that it is highly possible that a young man may be passed by a 70+ year old female Finnish skier. The Finns are avid skiers. The accommodations along the trail were sometimes primitive and occasionally luxurious. Everyone must travel light as there is no choice about doing all the kilometers for each leg of the race—one must do them to reach the next resting place. Mr. Landers went for synthetic layers topped by a vest with a windbreaker lining in the front. He said that washing out underwear at night was all that was needed. His pack was tiny by American standards. Naturally, winter weather is cold in Finland Finland is mostly a flat country with coniferous trees plus birches, must like Minnesota. Finland is also covered with lakes like Minnesota and the skiers were often skiing over these lakes. While the trail was often level for great distances, there were also challenging hills along the way. The Finns love wintertime and they participate in the same winter sports that we do, such as ice fishing as well as skiing. The Finns are not great conversationalists, but they possessed a well-developed sense of humor and were friendly. Mr. Landers was able to get some good pictures of Finnish children on their way home from school. Not only were there sleeping accommodations for nighttime rest, there were also small fire circles and benches where skiers could make themselves hot drinks. Along the way, volunteers passed out chocolate covered raisins and dill pickles. Mr. Landers was some what mystified by the pickles, but he found that the pickle provided much needed salt and on the one day he did not eat his pickle, his performance suffered. He also found that one bite of an energy bar intermittently served him well. Reindeer, or caribous as they are called in Idaho, are present and reindeer soup was a delicacy offered to the skiers. A large grouse lives in Finland and a stuffed one was on display at the airport in Helsinki. Mr. Landers saw the snowprint of the bird, but did not see one. He also saw the snowprint of a huge rabbit. Snowshoe hares grow to gigantic proportions in Finland, at least by American standards. The club and visitors enjoyed the presentation and gave Mr. Landers a well deserved round of applause. President Jim McMillen then told the group that Rock Soup had been rescheduled to February 19 and that Jackie Beery was in charge. Members and guests can bring a can of something to throw in the soup (it should be already cooked, not raw), or break, or cookies or hot chocolate or any other beverage or dessert of their choice to share with everyone. Members and guests ski out from the hut and come back to the hut to enjoy a meal together and ski out by moonlight. February 26 will be Best Hand Fun Ski. The USFS agreed to let us proceed as long as we call is a “donation event.” The flyers reflect this. A list was passed around and members signed up to solicit prizes for participants. Someone will be needed to take money in the parking lot. Snowshoers are encouraged to participate on the snowshoe track. Geoff Harvey showed the club a picture of the extended area the club would like to see added to the 4th of July recreation area. On warm winters, such as the last two, often there is no snow on the lower course. However, above 3300 feet, there is good skiable snow. Geoff showed a plan that would ask the USFS to gate one trail after hunting season. Also, the snowmobile group would provide a groomer out on the new extended trails for skate sking up to Rose Saddle. The Nordic Club would reimburse the snowmobilers for this service. Eventually, perhaps the trails could extend to Beauty Saddle. For now, the added trails would accommodate snowshoers, people with dogs and skate skiers as well as traditional skiers. An upper parking lot would need to be constructed and arrangements for ITD to plow it would have to be made. Members are encouraged to write to the Forest Service in support of this plan. Glenn Truscott said that it is important that the Forest Supervisor hear comments on the ski area from club members and other non-motorized users. They can write their positive comments about the USFS’s efforts to keep the 4th of July strictly a ski and non-motorized area to: Ranotta McNair, Forest Supervisor Idaho Panhandle National Forest 3815 Schreiber Way Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83815 It was agreed that everyone should try to get a letter to Ranotta McNair in support of the 4th of July ski area and in support of the expanded trails the Forest Service has mapped out on their new map. Trips are still planned to Kimberly and beyond by Ronn and Roberta Rich. Anyone may still join them. Jim McMillen is leading a trip to Roslyn BC and more participants are encourage to come along. Geoff will
be sking starting out on the rail grade from Taft this
Sunday. March meeting is the Lies and Tall Tales coimpetition. Also Get your YAIDOSKI info to Roberta Truscott.
Cross
country skiing in British Columbia |
