S K I T R A C K S
Newsletter of the Bitterroot Cross Country Ski Club
Box 431
! Corvallis, Montana 59828J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 8
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The program for the January 10 meeting will be about wolves in Montana presented by Liz Bradley, a wolf specialist with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The meeting will be at the First Presbyterian Church, 1220 West Main Street, Hamilton, at 7:00 p.m.
/s/ Robert Schumaker
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President
=s MessageT
his is a short message because I am going skiing and I hope all of you are as well.Many thanks to the grooming crew for doing such an excellent job this month. Thanks, also, to Tony Neaves and Annie Crichton for running the time trial Dec. 16th. The course was enjoyable and the efforts of the grooming crew on the morning of the event were much appreciated. The 10K course was over our regular trails. A map detailing the route is posted on the bulletin board in the cabin so anyone can try it.
Thank you, Dave and Dianne, for arranging our December program on the geology of Glacial Lake Missoula. It was certainly one of the most interesting and entertaining Club programs I have attended and from comments, I know all in attendance felt the same way. It was extremely fortunate that it was so good because otherwise we would all have been asleep after eating that sumptuous potluck with the killer dessert tray. Thanks to all who cooked and cleaned. I=m already looking forward to next year=s.
S
ee you on the trails./s/ George Corn
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Trail Report
: There has been an additional 12 inches of fresh snow this past week and the total is now 46 inches. We groomed and set tracks on all the trails Friday, 28 December. The new snow is very light and skiing is very good.HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
/s/ Mel Mooers, Grooming Team Leader
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Skiing Lessons
C Free skiing lessons for beginners or new skiers who wish to improve their skills will be held at the Chief Joseph Ski area on January 26th beginning at 1:00 p.m. sharp. Those wishing to attend should arrive in the parking lot no later than 12:30 in time to get their skis on and proceed to the Picnic Meadow area along the Continental Divide Trail.Those who have helped instruct in the past are encouraged to assist again this year. All levels of instruction are needed from very beginning to intermediate. Contact Mel Mooers or George Corn.
/s/ Mel Mooers
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This article appeared in the Missoulian newspaper.
A
New Parking Place for Skiing to Hogan Cabin@WISDOM
B There=s a new place to park if you want to go cross-country skiing to Hogan Cabin from Highway 43, west of Wisdom in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. The Montana Department of Transportation put in a new area for trucks to put on snow chains last summer one-half mile west of Cabinet Creek. The area is much safer for both parked cars and for snow plows and designed with skiers in mind, officials said.The Forest Service is marking the new ski route from the chain-up area to the Shoefly Trail which goes to Hogan Cabin. Officials said the new route is one-half mile longer than the old one. For more information, call the Forest Service in Wisdom at (406) 689-3243.
/s/ Robert Schumaker
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Bitterroot Cross-Country Ski Club Extravaganza
For the past 14 years, the gourmet cooks and pastry chefs of the Bitterroot Cross-Country Ski Club have prepared an epicurean extravaganza atop the Continental Divide for four lucky people. The early Extravaganzas were prepared at the May Creek Cabin on the Beaverhead National Forest. Dutch oven masterpieces, with
appetizers, wine, and desserts were the initial fare. The May Creek Cabin was rebuilt by volunteers from the Cross-Country Ski Club and is now a Forest Service Rental Cabin.
The Extravaganza has been held at the beautiful Gordon Reese Cabin for the last seven years. This Cabin is located on the Continental Divide within the Chief Joseph Cross-Country Ski area near Chief Joseph Pass. All proceeds from ticket sales benefit volunteer trail grooming expenses. The trails are free and open to the public.
The dinner and night at the cabin for four will be Saturday, February 23, 2008. Tickets will be on sale until February 1, 2008, and the drawing will be on February 1, 2008. One does not need to be present to win.
Raffle tickets ($1.00 apiece or 6 for $5.00) for this extra-ordinary dining and skiing experience are available at Bitterroot Cross-Country Ski Club meetings (last one being January 10), Chapter One Bookstore, Gas & Grub, Slope & Spoke, and Valley Bike & Ski in Hamilton, and Caffee Firenze in Florence. For mail order tickets or more information, contact Linda Stoudt at 777-5958 or Earl Philips at 961-0101,
philips@montana.com.Menus for recent Extravaganzas have included:
Appetizers:
Lemon Basil Hummus w/assorted crackers and crudites
Crab cakes w/Norwegian Aquavit Gelee
Assorted Cheese with cornichons, olives and croccantini
Entrees:
Coq au Vin / Puree de Pommes
Vegetarian Lasagna
Tuscan Chicken
Desserts:
Maple Pear Upside/Down Cake
Industrial Strength Chocolate Cheesecake
Heart Shaped Chocolate Genoise with Rum Almond Buttercream
& Chocolate Ganache
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DECEMBER MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
December 13, 2007 by Ginny Deck
President George Corn called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
. The POTLUCK dinner meeting was held at the First Christian Church in Hamilton due to an oversight by the Presbyterian Church who, by the way, refunded the Club its rental money for this date.Forest Service Travel Plan Presentation by Adam Rissen: George introduced Adam who, as a member of the Bitterroot Quiet Use and Restoration Coalition, outlined that organization=s recommendations which include limiting the use of motorized vehicles year round in the National Forests. He offered brochures and a newsletter for members to review. The plan designates routes for motorized use both summer and winter. A map will be produced to show areas that will be open. He urged people to write letters to the Forest Service to let them know about areas where protection of quiet use should be maintained. He said that we need to get involved in the process now. January 31, 2008, is the deadline for letters to the Forest Service. Write to Dan Ritter.
Appreciation: George thanked Nancy Gresham for taking over the e-mailing of the newsletter. Her e-mail address is nancy@importswest.com. Let her know if you didn=t get your newsletter and/or if you want to start getting your newsletter via e-mail.
George also thanked the Groomers for all of their hard work recently in getting the area ready for the season. Mel Mooers also thanked the ASnow Shoe Groomers@ who helped tromp out some of the lower trails. He presented them with ski club mugs.
Membership: Barb Losensky reported that our membership now totals 292.
Extravaganza: Linda Stoudt reported that raffle tickets will continue to be on sale until February 1st. DON=T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!!
Treasurer=s Report by Jeane Lippert: Income, $3,860; Expense, $2,670.92; Checking, $4,216; Savings, $3,208.
Trail Report by Mel Mooers: Mel reported that we have gotten the grant for $13,000 for the new snow machine. He thanked Gordon Reese for being the instigator and author of the grant. This amount will include gas money. In order to get the new machine now, a couple of people have donated money. They will be reimbursed when the grant money is received. He also reported that the hazard trees that were cut down are still on the ground. Since the Forest Service will not be able to collect them, they will be prepared for firewood next summer.
Tony and Annie are coordinating a 10K ski race at Chief Joe on Sunday. It will be a fun event with no fees.
There was a discussion about a family who was hosting at the cabin after the first, deep snow and they couldn
=t get out because the road crews had been unable to plow the parking lot in time. Earl Philips advised people that they should be prepared for such events. There is some extra food at the cabin in the cupboards upstairs and in the basement, but come prepared.New Business: Election of officers was held. Since Mel is head of the grooming crew, he will no longer be the Vice President. Earl Philips was elected to take his place. Congratulations, Earl! Kay Fulton has agreed to serve another term as secretary (Really?? I wasn
=t there!)A New Program Chair is needed for next year since Bob and Barb Schumaker are retiring.
INSTRUCTORS FOR THE JANUARY 26TH LESSONS DAY. CONTACT MEL OR GEORGE ASAP
THE POTLUCK WAS FANTASTIC, AS USUAL!
Program:
Following the meeting, Norm Smyers, retired U.S. Forest Service Geologist and current President of the Glacial Lake Missoula Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute, presented a fascinating program which included slides and maps on the Ice Age Floods affecting the states of Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. The Ice Age Floods Institute is promoting a coordinated park system involving the four states. They hope to include interpretive centers for tourists.________________________________________________________________________