Cross country ski thread

[Sierra Lady]

When you have a moment and if you're interested, please check out Mammoth Nordic's revamped website.

Brian Knox is committed once again to providing the best FREE Nordic trail experience in the heart of Mammoth Lakes. The trailhead begins near the Mammoth Lakes California Welcome Center on Hwy. 203 at the entrance to town and wanders throughout the Shady Rest campground area.

Mammoth Nordic - Your Club for Nordic Pursuits

Hope to see some of you out on the trails this season!

[Sierra Lady]

Another good storm and Mammoth Nordic may be able to begin grooming and setting track on our free community trail system!

In the meantime, plan on joining us for our 2nd Annual Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival celebrating the human powered experience. This takes place on Saturday, 12/8, 5:30 p.m. at the Inyo National Forest Auditorium in Mammoth Lakes.

Buy your tickets now ($10/per person) since it was nearly a sold out crowd last year!

Info and tickets online here!

Pray for snow!

[SkierBob]

Winter Wildlands Alliance

Skiers, snowmobiles go to court in powder struggle

Becareful what you support, they might be after you next.

[windyscotty]

I love these struggles and user conflicts. I am used to jumping right in the middle but have reservations about this one.

I disagree with the concept that all forests should be managed the same for snowmobiles except for safety and resource damage issues.

It is true that over the snow activities including logging cause less damage, but noise is still a big concern in such a quiet place like the mountains.

Because the forests are all different it is impossible to set the same standards of use for each area. OHV are on roads and trails and restricted to going cross country. It is just the opposite for sleds.

They are not allowed in wilderness areas here in Cali and are under limitations. All the backcountry skiers have to do to get away from the sleds is cross the wilderness boundary and enter in. Where is the beef? Every user group needs to recognize the other and have respect for their choice of how they want to have a good time. As long as nobody is wrecking the land, it is all cool!

The way I try to avoid conflict out in the woods is to stay away from user groups that bother me. Why would someone go to an area to ski where they know snowmobiles go? That is what I don't understand other than a lot of whining goes on by certain elitists.

And by the way, Bishop Creek Canyon is a cross country skiers paradise. No ski area, few people, good snow and every type of terrain.

[Sierra Lady]

In this week's Sheet:

Mammoth Nordic keeps community/kids at the forefront

It’s easy to get ahead of ourselves with worry about the upcoming winter season, and there are plenty of things to worry about: snowfall, visitation, legal judgments, et. al. Mammoth Nordic, however, is taking a different approach, and focusing on the core values of the community.
“Making our town a better place to live is the simplest way to make it a better place to visit,” said Mammoth Nordic Founder and President Brian Knox. “We’re putting an emphasis where it needs to be. An economic upside is just a byproduct. We have to create the killer opportunity in town and give people something to talk about.”
Knox is referring to two things. The first is the club’s continued efforts, in partnership with the US Forest Service, to maintain the Nordic public trails system. The most well known portion is the Shady Rest area, which Knox said Nordic enthusiasts could count on again this year.
When asked if he was looking into expanding the trail system, Knox simply winked, unable to give any details at this time.
“We are working on expansion, but right now it’s really about quality more than quantity,” he said. Knox has been busy preparing the area for grooming this winter. Preparations include locating tree stumps, digging down around them and leveling them off so that the Nordoni grooming machine doesn’t run them over once they are covered with snow.
The second project Mammoth Nordic is proud to kick off this winter is SnowSchool, a nationwide program through Winter Wildlands Alliance. According to Knox, Mammoth Nordic was one of the seven or so founding members of the program, and will be one of about 50 groups participating in SnowSchool around the country.
Mammoth Nordic was ready to implement the program last year, but low snow levels kept it from getting off the ground.
This year, the club is raring to go and just last week received approval from the Mammoth Unified School District Board of Education to begin to design the program, which will provide an opportunity to local first graders to get out on the snow – either on snowshoes or cross country skis. The program will introduce children to Nordic snow sports, as well as teach them about the environment and allow them to goof around and have fun on the snow.
In a letter to the MUSD School Board earlier this month, he elaborated further: “Mammoth Nordic (MN) recognizes the need to actively mint the Nordic sportsters of tomorrow by working with local kids today,” he wrote. “We aim to offer the SnowSchool experience free to all 1st graders; we provide the equipment, warm clothes if necessary and transportation when needed to assure that all local kids have the chance to participate in outdoor winter activities in a non-competitive, safe and fun environment.”
Knox will be sitting down with teachers to map out the program, which will be offered at least one day per week. Children are not required to participate, and Knox will be sending out an information kit before Christmas to gauge interest and hopefully get parents involved in the program as well.
“Our goal is to provide an awesome introduction to the wonder of the winter environment in as convenient a way possible for the District and parents of the kids who choose to participate,” Knox said.
Over the next six years, Mammoth Nordic plans to add a grade level to the program each year in a similar fashion to the way the Mammoth Dual Immersion program has developed.
Each successive year requires additional Nordic equipment in sizes appropriate for second graders, then third graders, etc. so Mammoth Nordic is continuing to fundraise and write grant applications to collect the necessary dollars for the program.
A $2,500 grant from The North Face Explore Fund received this year has been used to purchase equipment for the first graders, and an additional $3,000 from Mammoth Nordic has been used to purchase Fischer Sprint Crown Junior cross country skis, boots and poles for the Adapted Physical Education program run by Jim Tabb.
Mammoth Nordic has also invested in extra liability insurance to meet the requirements of School District policy.
In addition to getting out and getting their hands dirty on the trails and at the schools, Mammoth Nordic members will again host the Winter Wildlands Alliance annual backcountry film festival, for the second year. The festival will be held on Saturday, Dec. 8 at the Forest Service Auditorium next to the Welcome Center as well as one of the major Nordic trailheads in town. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and tickets are $10. For more information, see ad p. 31
If you’re interested in becoming a SnowSchool Coach or Chaperone, email brian@mammothnordic.com.

[Sierra Lady]

In this week's Mammoth Times:

Mammoth Nordic hosts film festival, gets ready for cross country ski season

But the trail-grooming, Knox explained, is only the tip of the iceberg of what Mammoth Nordic is up to.
As a Nordic advocacy group, the foundation is busy establishing permissions for their projects and getting the word out via fundraiser events.

The film festival announced the start of this year’s raffle: a trip to the Sun Valley Nordic Festival, in Sun Valley, Idaho. Holding the title of Nordic Town, USA, the idea is to send the lucky winners on an expenses-paid vacation to Sun Valley, a community with a thriving Nordic trail system and a strong cross-country ski culture.

Last year’s winners won a trip to the Methow Valley in Washington, another epic cross-country ski destination.

We're still waiting for enough snow in town to start grooming the free community trail system out in the Shady Rest area. Pray for dumpage soon!

[TheSnowman]

3 feet in town would be nice right about now.

Brain should also reach out to the local CAVA home schooled kids. We are one of the 40 families in that program, by next winter it will be well over 100 familes. A field trip for the kids this winter would be perfect.

[windyscotty]

Are you talking about a skiing field trip or a hiking field trip? I have the hiking one down in Bishop at the Chalk Bluffs. I took the kids from Crowley twice, and we had a blast! We talked about geology and archaeology while we were out there.

I never did a ski field trip but that would be great fun. I would probably choose to go to Hot Creek.

[Sierra Lady]

Grooming and setting track has commenced on our free community trails out at Shady Rest across from the Welcome Center! Come on out and join in the fun!

http://mammothnordic.com/groomingreport.html

It is ON at the Mammoth Nordic Trai System!
Please come out this Holiday weekend and Get your Stride On!
Please start your Nordic Adventue at the Nordic Trailhead, right from ther front door of the
Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center.
I will be out early all week making sure you have Excellent Conditions for you,
your family and friends!
While we have your attention, please 'Like' us on FaceBook!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mammoth- ... 2640847701

[Sierra Lady]

Brian is grooming and setting track every morning for your gliding fun!


This is why we provide Free Nordic Trails! (story & pics on FB)

https://www.facebook.com/notes/mammoth- ... 1827329447


Stop on by the trail head tomorrow morning (Sat.) for some hot cocoa and cookies before heading out on the trail and say hi!

[Sierra Lady]

What a fun day greeting our users out at the Mammoth Nordic trailhead today! The morning started out cold (21) with light snow, but no wind, then the sun peeked out for a few hours and by early afternoon it began showering again and temps dropped once more. LOTS of snow enthusiasts having fun today from cross country skiers, to snowshoers, to dog walkers to just plain walkers! I was able to assist some folks with their equipment and even show some first-time xc skiers how to do a basic kick and glide. Everyone returned with big smiles on their faces and I even picked up a couple of new memberships and donations!

The Nordoni groomer and track-setter.







Brian Knox, President and Founder of Mammoth Nordic and Master Groomer greets our Town Manager Dave Wilbrecht.




For info about our grand prize of a one-week trip for 2 to a xc ski resort in Sun Valley, ID and to purchase raffle tickets for this grand prize along with many others log on to mammothnordic.com.



















Me, today's trailhead hostess.

[Sierra Lady]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater

Mono County Health Department

Thank you to all who participated in our first Mammoth Moves session of 2013! It was a glorious day (Wed. 1/3) to be out on snowshoes! Brian Knox, Founder and President of Mammoth Nordic, lead our serene walk through the snow, and even provided snowshoes for those of us who do not own them.

Please join us at Roberto's for our 2nd Annual Cinco de Enero! That's January 5th, 2013, 4pm to 7pm.
Last winter we tossed back a few margarita's while waiting for Mother Nature to produce. This year, she is already on the case, which is cause for celebration itself!
No need to RSVP, but come early for a chance to win some cool door prizes!
FYI, we will be selling tickets for our huge raffle...we are giving away another fantastic Nordic Getaway, this year to Sun Valley, ID!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater

http://mammothnordic.com/events.html

[Sierra Lady]

Another gorgeous day at the Mammoth Nordic trailhead. We saw lots of xc skiers today out enjoying the trails. Some even joined us for hot cocoa and cookies!

[Sierra Lady]

It was a balmy 18* when I got to the Mammoth Nordic trailhead this morning to host for a few hours. At least the sun was out and it "warmed" up to 25*. Lots of snow users and most really welcomed the free hot cocoa when they were done skiing.











Brian's Honda...ha!

[Sierra Lady]

Today was another awesome day hosting at the Mammoth Nordic trailhead. I was there from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and greeted approximately 50 snow enthusiasts including a group of volunteers, disabled students and Wounded Warriors from DSES (Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra). Temps hovered around 48 and it never got too warm and slushy. Everyone reported that the trails and tracks were holding up quite well. Even SG got out for his first kick and glide of the season!