Quartz Creek playground is rolled wide. Get your ski on!

 

Week Two, 01/11/21 to 01/18/21 Challenge

 

 

Russian River Campground or Divide Ski Area at mile 12 of the Seward Highway 

 

Rain, Rain - Go Away, Come Back After the Ski Challenge. Because of the rain and horrendous road conditions, you have a choice of skiing/snowshoeing either Russian River Campground in Cooper Landing or Divide Ski Area at mile 12 of the Seward Highway. 

 

Russian River has a hard underneath layer but a good classic track. Divide continues to get loads of wet snow. Needless to say, the groomers are busy. SNSC hopes this challenge gives you incentive to get outside, (keeping away the weather blues). Please join us in supporting the featured small business this week. After skiing or snowshoeing, remember to put your name on the completion document

 

Featured Small Business of the Week - Sunrise Inn Bar and Cafe in Moose Pass

Like all small businesses, Sunrise has felt the impact of COVID-19 restrictions and have limited their hours to TH - 4:30 to 8, F, Sa, Su - 9 to 8. There are five $20 gift certificates.

Quartz Creek rd dragged today and devil's loop rolled. Skiing is good!

Ed groomed the Russian today and Erik gave the Quartz Creek area a facelift with the drag. Enjoy the snow!

Ed groomed the Russian today. Happy New Year!

The new roller/compacter from CLSCCI helped pack in the edges and knock back some ridges today at Devils.

It also helped pack a steeper cutoff loop across the middle of the lollipop and a gradual mini loop near the bottom of the lollipop for those looking for a shorter segments to add or a way to subtract from the full 2 mile loop.

Temps were not as warm as in town but snow was softening by afternoon. It should firm up nicely tonight.

 

Seward Ski for Small Businesses

A virtual 12 stage challenge with one week to complete each stage. Each stage will be a relatively easy classic Nordic ski that would be appropriate for any skill level. The event is simple. First, register. The cost is free but there is a donation page. Second, ski the stage challenge. Third, let us know you completed the ski so we can enter you in the stage raffle. If you're the lucky winner, you'll be mailed a gift card that supports our local small businesses.

https://runsignup.com/Race/AK/Seward/SewardSkiforSmallBusinesses

Elijah packaged up some fresh corduroy for you to to unwrap at the Russian River Campground. Happy Holidays!

Ed rolled the Russian River Campground and Erik rolled Quartz Creek area today to prep for the anticipated snows to come. Happy skiing!

 

New Territory

    One of the biggest developments for our 2020/21 season has come about through our continuing partnership with the United States Forest Service. 

 

    The Seward Ranger District's vision to improve recreation resources in the area has expanded the areas our volunteer crew can groom snow trails for non-motorized recreation to include an area near the Devils Creek Trailhead. This area was the site of a 2017 timber sale managed by the USFS that also provided significant amounts of cut and decked firewood to the community. 

    

 It affords some great views, good sun exposure during our short days, and now, the opportunity to lay some corduroy down to create some snow trails. 

    We will continue to work the USFS as we determine which routes work best but for now we are following a loop many locals have been skiing since 2017. 

    A big thanks to the Cooper Landing Senior Citizens Corporation for the grant this year which allowed us to purchase a second roller/compactor for the Cooper Landing Community Club's Trails Committee. This roller/compactor will be used here and in the Quartz/Crescent Creek area to help capture any freshies that fall and keep building our base.

    A big thanks to Erik and Alaska Rivers Company for spending the last couple days prepping and packing this inaugural loop. 

So get out there and enjoy our shared resource on our public lands!