Author: Jesse Crocker

Chief Joseph Pass, Thursday 1/11

The ski trails and multi use trails are being groomed this morning.
At 9 am it was 12 degrees at the pass, and it is only forecasted to get colder. Lows for the next few days are well below zero. Be prepared for extreme cold, or maybe just stay home.

Chief Joseph Pass has received 12 inches of snow in the last few days, and all trails are being groomed. But expect soft conditions. Most trails are being groomed with the snowcat from Lost Trail, but the lower ski trails are still being groomed with snowmobiles by our lead groomer, Tony. Hopefully after this storm cycle we will be able to groom all trails with the snowcat and get on a normal grooming schedule.

Today’s grooming, and every Thursday this season is sponsored by Triple Creek Ranch.

Grooming Update

All of the XC ski trails at Chief Joseph Pass were groomed today by our snowmobile grooming crew. The lower trails, Banshee, Joseph Creek, and Middle Fork still have very this cover. They are normally black diamond, but right now they are more like double black diamond. We still need another foot of snow to be able to switch from snowmobile to snowcat grooming, but that may happen by next weekend.

Gibbons pass road was groomed to the pass yesterday. We need more snow to be able to groom any of the other multi use trails.

Early December update

Winter is finally here, and we are excited to bring you some important updates as we kick off the season! With the recent snowfall and exciting developments on the horizon, there’s a lot to look forward to in the coming months.

  1. Snow Conditions at Chief Joseph Pass: We’ve received some fantastic news from Chief Joseph Pass – nearly 2 feet of snow has blanketed the area in the last four days! We’re are planning to start grooming later this week, but that could change because of the weather.
  2. Lake Como Trails Update: Lake Como receiver around a foot of snow, but then it rained on the lower half of the trails. We’re keeping an eye on conditions, but it’s going to take at least one more good storm before we can start grooming. We’ll keep you updated on any developments.
  3. Exciting Trail Changes at Lake Como: This winter, we’re thrilled to reveal some exciting changes coming to the Lake Como trails. Several sections of Lower Road have been re-routed off of the keep trucks off the groomed trails. Stay tuned for more details and updated maps as we start grooming.
  4. Club Meeting on December 5: Join us for a club meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, December 5 from 6-8 pm, at the Rocky Mountain Grange Hall in Hamilton, Montana (1436 S 1st St, Hamilton). It’s a potluck event, so bring your favorite dish to share. During the meeting, we’ll discuss our plans for the upcoming season and provide opportunities for you to get involved as volunteers.
  5. Upcoming Race – Rust Buster on December 16: Mark your calendars for our upcoming race, the “Rust Buster,” taking place on Saturday, December 16, at Chief Joseph Pass. It’s a 10km classic ski race with a 3km option for kids in both skate and classic styles. Don’t miss out on the chance to participate in this thrilling event! You can sign up at skisignup.com/Race/MT/Sula/ChiefJoseph.

As we embark on another fantastic season of cross country skiing, we encourage you to stay connected with the club, participate in our activities, and enjoy the beautiful winter wonderland that our trails have to offer.

Thank you for being a part of our cross country ski club. We look forward to seeing you at the meeting and on the trails!

December Meeting

📣 Attention Cross Country Ski Club Members! 🎿

Join us for our upcoming meeting and potluck! 🍲🤝

🗓️ When: Tuesday, December 5th, 6-8 PM

📍 Where: Rocky Mountain Grange Hall, 1436 S 1st St, Hamilton, MT

Let’s gather to discuss plans for the exciting ski season ahead, sign up for volunteer opportunities, and meet fellow skiers. We’ll also talk about important club updates and bylaw changes.

Your input matters! Share your ideas and help shape the future of our club. 🗣️💡

🍽️ Don’t forget to bring your favorite dish to share!

👉 Whether you’re a long-standing member or new to the club, we can’t wait to see you there!

Reflecting on our past traditions, you might recall that we used to have monthly meetings during the ski season. These gatherings were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we haven’t had a formal meeting since 2020. We’re now planning to switch to yearly meetings every December. However, if there’s interest and willingness among members to organize, we are open to resuming our monthly meetings.

Volunteer work days

Last saturday we had our 3rd work day of the fall, continuing to work on clearing Upper Road (13201) at Como. With the help of 7 volunteers we finished clearing it and should be able to groom it wide enough for skate skiing this winter. Between the 2 days this project took 97 hours of volunteer work.

We will be having 1 more volunteer day at Chief Joseph Pass. Originally we planned on stacking firewood, but the USFS Wisdom ranger district got a crew together and got 5 rows of wood split and stacked in the cabin last week, so we will be working on clearing trails instead.

We could use 1 or 2 more sawyers for the task, it won’t be too much cutting, more like taking your saw for a walk/ride. If you’re a USFS certified sawyer or know someone who is, please step forward.

We may cancel this day do to weather, so check back here that week.

📅 Date: Sunday, November 12

🕙 Time: 10:00 AM

📍 Meetup Location: Parking lot at Chief Joseph Pass

Tasks for the day:
Clearing trails

What to bring:
Dress appropriately for the weather.
Bring gloves, food, and water for yourself.
We will likely have at least 1 group go out on bikes, so bring a mountain bike or fat bike if you would like to do that.

Important: Whether you’re planning to stay the whole day or just for a few hours, your contribution will be invaluable. Our club thrives because of the dedication and hard work of members like you.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment and enthusiasm. Let’s make this season the best one yet!

Volunteer Work Days Alert!

It’s that wonderful time of year when we roll up our sleeves and ensure our trails and cabins are ready for the ski season. We need all hands on deck for our upcoming volunteer work days. Here’s what’s in store:

Lake Como Volunteer Days
📅 Dates:

  • Saturday, October 14
  • Saturday, October 21

🕘 Time: 9:00 AM

📍 Meetup Location: Boat ramp at Lake Como

Tasks for the day:

  • Cutting brush along the trails.

What to bring:

  • Loppers and a pruning saw (if you have them).
  • Dress appropriately for the weather.
  • Bring gloves, food, and water for yourself.

Note: We are in need of more sawyers for the task! If you’re a USFS certified sawyer or know someone who is, please step forward. Tools will be provided, but the more tools we have, the better.

Chief Joseph Pass Work Day
📅 Date: Sunday, November 12

🕙 Time: 10:00 AM

📍 Meetup Location: Parking lot at Chief Joseph Pass

Tasks for the day:

  • Splitting and stacking firewood in the cabin (Our beloved warming hut needs wood to keep us warm!)
  • Clearing trails if we have enough volunteers.

What to bring:

  • If you have a wood splitter, it would be immensely helpful. Please contact us if you can bring one.
  • Dress appropriately for the weather.
  • Bring gloves, food, and water for yourself.

Important: Whether you’re planning to stay the whole day or just for a few hours, your contribution will be invaluable. Our club thrives because of the dedication and hard work of members like you.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment and enthusiasm. Let’s make this season the best one yet!