Monday, March 18, 2019

March 18th Skiing

Believe it or not, skiing is still viable at the golf course. Doug is done grooming for the season, so the track isn't super but it's still quite remarkable for mid-March. The classic track is pretty much gone, but you can scoot around off the groomed area and explore the golf course that way. The skate track is hard packed with some ruts, but since Doug groomed on Saturday it's not crazy icy. Yet. Most of the track is still skate-able, and if you're out when the crust is hard enough, you may have the option for crust-cruising off the track.

Skiing is definitely an adventure in these conditions. You'll want to skirt around or step over grass, take it easy on ice patches (which will be soggy in the warmer part of the day), and maybe walk over the exposed-cement bridge that leads to the Cow Pasture. The track virtually disappears on the south-facing hills of the Clover Leaf, so just be careful where you go. Watch out if you find yourself breaking through the track so you don't catch a tip (speaking from experience...). 

Have fun!







Saturday, March 16, 2019

Grooming Report

This is pretty unbelievable, but Doug just groomed this morning (March 16th!? WOW!). Here's his report:

I groomed for the last time this morning. The skate track is quite good except for a couple of grass patches and three or four ice patches. It will be good until around 1pm and then the warmth will take over. It's been a great season and a lot of fun. Have a great summer.

A ginormous great big thank you to Doug for grooming so much, and for all the work he and Randy both put into making the golf course a Nordic Ski dream each winter.

As always, if anyone would like to donate, there's a donation tab on the homepage here - but absolutely no obligation. We will use the donations for a gas card for the grooming equipment.

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Track Report

The skate track is skiing really well. It has icy patches and some bare grass, and is a little bit rutted, but for March 13 it is almost unbelievably good. The classic track is struggling to hold up on parts and pretty good in other areas, but it’s mostly there. I expect our track will hold on for another couple of days, and will certainly ski better if you can get out during the coldest part of the day.


Monday, March 11, 2019

Tune-up Report

Doug just reported:
The skate track tuned up nicely this morning. The ice patches smoothed up and as a whole it should ski well. We're getting some places on the edge of hills where grass is poking through, so our days are numbered. Have a great time!

Thank you, Doug! It's unbelievable that we're still skiing this late in the year. Once our track melts off, there's still plenty of skiing at Kelly Canyon, Teton Canyon/ Teton Valley, Island Park, West Yellowstone, and Jackson Hole. What a great place to live.

Saturday, March 9, 2019

Grooming Report

Doug just finished grooming (a HUGE thank you!). He notes that the track will be soft and the wind is blowing things over in a couple of areas. However, for March it is great and we are still open for business (of course, there's no trail fee...). :)
Have fun!

Thursday, March 7, 2019

Track Report and February Precipitation Recap

Skate skiing was excellent yesterday morning and the classic tracks looked pretty fair, but I suspect it is all mashed potatoes now with the rain we've had.  However, it looks like we'll get snow overnight tonight and again tomorrow night, and be below or near freezing so don't store away your skis just yet. Remember also that there are plenty of other venues within an hour or two's drive if you'd like to get some good spring skiing in.

Lee Warnick sends out an interesting monthly report on the precipitation in Rexburg.  You can subscribe to his Google Groups "Rexburg Weather Group" group.
With his permission, I'm copying his email here:

FEBRUARY 2019 PRECIPITATION

Precipitation: 1.92 / 246 percent of average

Snowfall: 20.2 / 223 percent of average

2019 annual precipitation (2 of 12 months): 3.16 / 176 percent of average

2018-19 water year precipitation (5 of 12 months): 5.81 / 117 percent of average

2018-19 season snowfall: 65.0 / 132 percent of average

     • This, indeed, was a noteworthy month. This precip total was the 2nd most in February in Rexburg weather history, behind only 2.00 inches in 1986. Snowfall was 3rd most in 48 years and about 2 inches from the all-time February monthly record. 
     • But the number that jumped out most was the 21 days of measurable precip. This broke the all-time monthly record of 20 days, set in May 1991 and May 1995. Notably, those months respectively left 3.46 and 3.65 inches of precip across those 20 days, almost double what we received in February. (Also, May provides 31 days of opportunity instead of 28!) Our February precip came in seemingly constant but generally light doses from wind-whipped, fast-moving systems. If it seems you were clearing your driveway and sidewalk depressingly often: The 20.2 inches of total snow were spread across 17 days of measurable snowfall. 
     • One more metric highlighting our Seattle-like February: On only 3 days did precip not fall from the skies (21 days measurable, 4 days trace) – the 1st, 12th and 21st.  
     • My gut is telling me that we probably did break the February precip and snow records. While I was on a trip the last week of the month, I received photos of an impressive snow dump and descriptions of around 6 inches of snow. When I looked at data from the remote station at the airport, which I use as my official source, that kind of precip wasn’t reflected, not even close. In the days after I returned, I noticed the airport station wasn’t always recording quite what I was observing and what my home station was recording. As temps warmed to the upper 30s and low 40s, and then the sun came out, it melted a large backlog of snow and ice in my rain bucket. The moisture content was 4.09 inches! No doubt some of this dated back to January, but still . . . Do our brains and eyes tell us we experienced an unprecedented February? Yes. Officially? No.


Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Track Report

Fantastic news from Doug. He said:
The track is running fast smooth today until the warm weather hits,  better get out an try it out, may be the last good day.

Thanks, Doug!

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Grooming Update

Randy took out the Razor for one pass with the groomer yesterday on the skate track (thank you!). Unfortunately there’s nothing we can do with setting the classic tracks at this point. The season is winding down! There’s still good potential for crust cruising.