Grooming Report Sat. Dec.2

As detailed in our SNSC Google group e-mail, with this last storm of around 26-28 inches of powdery snow we got underway with grooming, but much work remains to get the trails fully groomed and classic tracks set. Klaus and the trail down to Aspen loop are well rolled out. We rolled out the service road multiple passes but is still soft with lots of foot traffic, so probably the service rd. will be pretty choppy until we get back to it. The Sandia ski area, in past seasons, has nicely groomed the service road but we were told they are busy getting lifts fixed so don’t think we can count on that this season. We will get back to grooming in the next several days so stay tuned. Plan is to have classic tracks set by next weekend. Here is Scott’s Dec. 2 video grooming the Klaus Trail

Klaus Trail

Ski Trail Work Day Sat. Aug. 12

Hello all,

Over the last 2 months, Scott, Bruce and I have made good progress; leveling out the south section of the Klaus trail, and below bunny hill,  rerouting the sharp downhill turn above the upper 10k meadow and also, with permission and guidance from SRD, and Russell Berman, we have made a new connection linking up to the upper Challenge Trail which we also plan on grooming to create a new upper loop option from Ellis.  All of these  improvements will make for safer, more enjoyable skiing next season.

We now need your assistance with finish work on these sections and we are planning to have  a trail work day Sat. Aug 12.  Details on meeting time and place to follow.

Please RSVP to me.  Tools will be provided thanks to FOSM and SRD but you will need your personal protective gear, including hard-hats.  Let me know if you need a hardhat as well.

Hope to see you Saturday Aug. 12

Jeff

Jhuser54@comcast.net

505-228-9150

Grooming Report Mar.29

Probably our finale for a season which is closing out with a mountain of snow. Scott and I, later joined by Ray, set out to groom after an hr. delay of the tram. Still good quality and quantity (depths to 5ft) of snow. Warmer temps by midday led to soft sticky conditions in the sunny sections. Klaus trail and down to and including the upper meadow, were groomed out with the baby ginzu (no classic track set). Intentions were to groom to 10k but the sticky snow by mid-day forced us to abandon that plan. Todays winds may have led to some drifting in the open areas. Big thanks to our new groomers this season, Ray Iturralde, David Dunlap and Jim Dryden and also to Steve Roholt for his assistance. Cheers to a great season!

Klaus looking good!
Snow Marshmallows- NO! Ice Boulders rolled down from the Service Rd.
Scott and Ray calling it a day – and a season!

Grooming Report Sat. Mar. 18

At least 12-16 in of fresh powder is closing out the season with a bang. Snow is a bit dryer than the last few rounds but did pack down pretty well with the roller. Scott and I headed down to 10K, with Scott scouting ahead to keep me from making any wrong turns in the deep snow. Lower trails and Klaus compacted well and should firm up overnight. Ray then hooked up the tracksetter; nicely setting tracks on the Service Rd. which also should firm up overnight.

As Scott mentioned, the Tram will soon be plowing the Service Rd to allow work crews access to begin work on the tram. Several seasons ago after the plowing, we did try to groom the Service Rd along the side, it was not successful. Thankfully we have Klaus and are planning on grooming Sat. Mar. 25 for the last hooray of the season.

Mid March, Really!
Ray tending to chores

Grooming Report Wed. March 1

Greetings, We had a very productive day on the trails today. Scott, Steve and I were joined by SRD Forest Service personnel, Joseph Jaffa-Martinez SRD Trails Foreman and Jeffrey Cervantes. Jeffrey will be completing his FS required ATV training this month and Joseph has been doing grooming this season and was very active on the mini-excavator work last summer on Klaus. The trails had a hard crust in the AM so with the ginzu groomer attachment we de-crusted and smoothed, while Steve and Scott pruned low branches and shoveled along Klaus. As a storm with possibility of snow coming tonight, we did not set classic tracks. The classic tracks set by David last weekend on the Service Rd. are hanging in there. Great skiing to be had and even a dusting of snow will freshen up the trails nicely. Plan is to groom again on Saturday and also set classic tracks, weather and road conditions permitting.

Jeff H, Joseph and Steve on Klaus trail (not pictured Scott and Jeff C).

Joseph, my how you’ve grown since Jan!

Grooming Report Sat. Feb.18

Great to see so many skiers out on such a splendid day! The grooming crew had all hands on deck with Jim Dryden, David Dunlap, Ray Iturralde, Scott Dietrich and myself taking care of bid’ness. After getting a bit lost on the lower course on Thursday, got back on on track with scouting help from Scott and completed roller compacting throughout the trails. Still amazed at the amount of snow, occasionally stepping off the ATV and sinking up past my waist. We should be good through March! Jim set classic tracks on the Service Rd and the trails should be great for Sunday and Monday…. Probably will be back at it next Wed. and set more classic tracks.

Grooming Report Thurs. 2-16

Steve, Paul and I took the tram today and were greeted by massive amounts of fresh fluffy snow, 2+ ft. deep on average, with 3+ ft. drifts. Some of the most challenging grooming conditions I have encountered. To keep from getting stuck, first used just the ATV with no attachments and then came back over with the roller, so was slow going. Got the Service Rd and and Klaus trail compacted, which are still a bit soft but looking decent. On my ATV only outing to the lower trails, drifted snow abounded. Got down through the upper 10k meadow but below that encountered an area of obstruction with branches and possibly a buried downed tree and could not continue to the lower 10K meadow. Had intended to roller compact down through the upper meadow, but identified a mechanical issue with the ATV hitch and opted to call it a day. Great to be back on the grooming detail after a tussle with Covid. Thanks to Scott, David and Jim for their fine work the past 2 weeks. DOT was busy plowing and sanding most of the day and the highway is now open as of 4pm today and the Ellis parking lot is plowed. We will be back at it on Saturday.

Paul and Steve getting a good workout on shovels.
Klaus after pass one. Got snorkel?
Service Rd. after pass 10.

Grooming Jan.14, and other info

Scott, David and I completed grooming of the trails Saturday with assistance from Steve Roholt on the shovel. Despite lack of new snow, trails groomed up well except for burned out areas on the Service Rd. and lower 10k meadow. Set classic tracks where snow permitted. Highway was clear as of Saturday. Sunday through Wed forecast for snow (yea!) and winds (boo!) so we are planning next groom for Thursday Jan. 19.

Also our XC clinic is planned for Sunday Jan. 22

Clinic Information:

January 22nd, 2023 Meet at 9:45 at the gravel pit area (park at Ellis and go up the service road a quarter mile). If location needs to change due to conditions, we will notify via email. Clinic instruction from about 10am – 11:15am. Must have your own equipment.

Options:

– Kids age 5+, Classic Technique, led by Jon D & Liz Q

– Adults, Classic Technique, led by Steve R

– Adults, Skate Technique, led by Karl W

Please RSVP for the clinic via this form and then email sandianordic@gmail.com with the signed waiver attached. The clinic is free for members –

Also there may still be spots available for the 19th Annual Snowshoe Race hosted by The Friends of the Sandia Mountain to be held Saturday Jan. 21 see FOSM Sandia Snowshoe Classic for details. 

David Dunlap, one of our new groomers, getting some machine time.
Snow still decent (upper meadow)