Jeff Huser

Grooming Report Tues. Jan. 10

Jan 11, 2023Jeff HuserGrooming Report

Was a bit breezy and cooler than the weekend today. Fairly large patches of dirt/gravel showing though on the Service Road now, but possible to ski around them for now. Klaus and the lower trails are in decent shape and Joseph on his first outing with the track setter, expertly groomed and set classic tracks where there was sufficient snow. We also put out a few more trail signs here and there. Good skiing to be had on Klaus and the trails down to 10k where it is thinning out but still skiable. The snow fencing we put up is doing its job. The northern section of Klaus is suitable for novice skiers while the south section, now well signed, is more challenging but great fun negotiating the turns and short hills. THINK SNOW!

Big thanks to **Joseph Jaffa-Martinez Forest Service, SRD Trails Foreman** for his skillful grooming!

Glide Wax is Your Ticket to Ride

Jan 8, 2023Jeff Huser2 CommentsNews

Just a note from an author with some experience waxing skis but by no means an expert. Getting a good glide (not just walking) on skis is dependent on a number of factors, including equipment, good technique, conditions and proper ski base preparation. When you can get all that working for you, the XC experience is almost magical. Regular attention to the ski base (tips and tails of classic skis and complete base of skate skis) is very important. Keeping the base clean of dirt, pine sap, old wax, goo, dog poo, etc.. and applying glide wax, will make a big impact on your ability to glide. For centuries now applying a solid wax using an iron, followed by scraping and brushing has been the gold standard and still is probably the best but is also very labor intensive. The relatively recent advancements in spray and liquid glide waxes are providing a viable option to solid wax with the advantage of greater ease of application and are worthy of your consideration. The biggest downside is price, but some of the liquid products are getting less expensive. I apply hard wax at the beginning of the season, then every week, clean the base with a glide cleaner, apply spray or liquid wax, let dry (30 min. or longer or even overnight), lightly brush and good to go. End of season will apply a coat of wax and leave on to protect the base from drying out. Not sure about local availability of liquid or spray waxes, but readily available online from companies like New Moon Ski and Boulder Nordic Sport. There are many online videos on waxing to check out as well.

Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by SNSC. The views and opinions of the author expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of SNSC.

Also great for improving your glide is to attend our ski clinic, tentatively scheduled for Sunday Jan. 22. There you can also talk to some real experts on this subject as well. Welcome your comments and THINK SNOW!

Grooming Report Jan. 7-23

Jan 8, 2023Jeff HuserGrooming Report

Another beautiful day on the mountain, around 21 deg. early AM and by midday warmed up nicely and no wind. Scott and I set off early to groom with the track-setter on Klaus and lower trails and set some classic tracks here and there where snow coverage permitted but not on the Service Road where by late day several areas of earth were peeking though the nearly burned off snow. Skiing on Klaus and the lower trails is good but in the lower 10k meadow also some thin areas and a few rocks. Late morning we were joined by David Dunlap, Jim Dryden who got a feel of working the ATV with the grooming attachment. Ray Iturralde also assisted with brushing down the equipment at day’s end. Lots of skiers, snowshoers out today. Will be getting out again next week to keep the snow we have in as good as shape as possible.

Sandia Nordic Welcomes New Groomers!

Jan 6, 2023Jeff HuserNews

We have added four members to our grooming staff this year; David Dunlap, Jim Dryden, and Ray Itrurralde of Sandia Nordic, and Joseph Jafa-Martinez (SRD Trails Foreman) who all got some machine time yesterday. The expansion of our staff will facilitate our ability to maintain the SNSC trails which are now “official” Forest Service Seasonal Trails. The Klaus trail will now be regularly groomed thanks also to the trail work that members of SNSC, FOSM, VFO and Forest Service SRD staff put in last summer. Thanks to Steve Roholt for his snow shoveling work also. We are working on an accurate map of the trails, including Klaus, and will post maps near the trailheads (Ellis and 10K). Klaus trail begins near the Ellis trailhead as an extension from our existing trail, paralleling and crossing Rocky Point Trail at 2 points as it heads south terminating just to the N of our storage shed near the downhill ski area. The N 1/2 mi of Klaus is suitable for novice skiers, a couple hills and turns on the S 1/2 mi. make that section more suitable for more experienced skiers. There is also access to Klaus from the Service Rd approx. 1/3 mi from the trailhead near the snowboarders area. The snow quality right now is great on Klaus and for most of our lower trails. Coverage is thin near the N end of the lower 10K meadow and the Service Rd, so watch for rocks in those areas. Also stay tuned for info on our upcoming ski clinic, tentatively scheduled for Sunday Jan. 22.

Groomers from Left to Right: David Dunlap, Jim Dryden, Ray Iturralde, Jeff Huser and Joseph Jafa-Martinez. Photo by Scott Dietrich.

Sandia Ranger District Volunteer Appreciation Event Oct. 21

Sep 10, 2022Jeff HuserNewsCross Country Skiing, Sandia

The SRD is planning an event to honor all the volunteers who work with the district including those of you who volunteer to help build and maintain the SNSC groomed trails. More details to follow.

Klaus Trail Work Continues

Aug 16, 2022Jeff HuserNews

Many thanks to all of the volunteers who showed up on Saturday to work on the
South Klaus Trail! Also thanks to FOSM for their support and use of their tools and to the Sandia Ranger District (SRD) for their assistance with the ski trails. We had another fantastic turnout for the second group volunteer work day of the summer. 15 volunteers worked to hand finish an additional 1,000 feet of rough-cut trail that had been leveled with the mini excavator over the past few weeks by Scott, Bruce and Jeff. We will continue leveling S Klaus with the excavator and tackling a technical steep rocky section with help from the SRD. A few weeks down the line there will be another Saturday work session, so stay tuned.

Saturday’s crew included L to R front row: Erik Spoerke, Scott Dietrich, Jenny
Blackmore, Patricia Madden; back row: Dana Price, John Groth, Tom Kirchgessner,
Jeff Huser, Zach Casias, Brandon Smith, Steve Roholt and Chris Laursen. Not
pictured: Lily Spoerke, Chris Mommsen, Ginny Broman

Klaus Trail is shaping up to be a great addition to our groomed trail system

Next Sat. trail work day scheduled for Aug. 13

Aug 2, 2022Jeff HuserNews

With monsoons still rolling in this week ( a good problem to have) we are postponing trail work to Sat. Aug 13. Good progress continues with the excavator on Klaus Trail to the south, so there will be plenty of finish work to do by then.

Please RSVP to Jeff Huser jhuser54@comcast.net and soon Scott will also have the web/ app sign up available. Still in testing mode so appreciate you giving that a go as well.

We will meet up at the Ellis Trailhead parking lot at 0830 Aug. 13, hike in about ½ mile to the work area and work till around 12:30.

PPE requirements include: hardhat, protective eyewear, long pants, gloves, sturdy hiking shoes or boots and bring a long sleeve shirt for when we do brush clearing. If you need a hardhat let me know. We won’t take a formal lunch break but do bring hydration and snacks and take breaks as needed. If you have a hand saw that might come in handy. If you need a hardhat let me know.

The monsoons are booming and blooming. This fall we will also be seeding our trails with native grasses and wildflowers.

Work Continues on the Klaus Trail

Jul 27, 2022Jeff HuserNews

After Saturday’s great work, Sunday the FOSM saw crew led by Sam Beard and including Scott Dietrich, Michael Arndt, Sim Cook, and Cliff Giles continued clearing corridor along a new reroute of a steep section of the old Klaus trail. This week we are continuing with the excavator to level the trail to the south. This reroute section will require a significant amount of leveling, stump pulling and rock work, possibly utilizing some rock cages to create a level base on the lower side of the trail. Likely we will be organizing a Saturday work group for Aug. 6 so stay tuned for that announcement.

Michael Arndt beginning a cut on a cork bark fir with Sam Beard assisting.

Sam, Scott and Michael bucking a felled tree

Scott, Sam and Michael limbing and bucking.

New cleared corridor rerouting a steep section, now ready for leveling.

Klaus Trail Work Report for 7-23-22

Jul 25, 2022Jeff Huser2 CommentsNews

On Saturday we had a great group of 15 representing Sandia Nordic Ski Club, Friends of the Sandia Mountain and Volunteers for the Outdoors up on the cool and shady Klaus Trail for our first Saturday session of the year. We split into two groups with one group doing finish work along a section previously leveled with the mini-excavator. The second group removed old logs and branches piled up along the edge of the trail decades ago done at that time in support of the UNM ski team led by Klaus Weber. Workers included Jenny Blackmore, Sim Cook, Jon Dellios, Scott Dietrich, Paul Gourley, Vicky Kaufman, Glen Koelling, Mike Madden, Chris Mommsen, Steve Roholt, Luke Schnickel, Michael Arndt, Ralph Wrons, Chris Murray and Jeff Huser. Both tasks were handily completed, and we will continue with leveling, and a couple reroutes to make the Klaus trail into a very nice addition to our groomed trail system. Look for more Saturday opportunities in the weeks to come.

Kneeling L to R: Scott Dietrich, Mike Madden, Steve Roholt, Vicky Kauffman, Gita
Standing L to R: Luke Schnickel, Glen Koelling, Michael Arndt, Sim Cook, Jenny Blackmore, Jeff Huser, Paul Gourley, Jon Dellios, Chris Murray, Ralph Wrons.
Chris Mommsen (not pictured)

The new and improved Klaus trail. We plan on completing work to be able to groom this approx. 1 mi of trail next season.

Grooming Report Sat. Feb. 26

Feb 26, 2022Jeff HuserGrooming Report

Sim Cook and I set off to buff up the trails which were still in good shape after Tim and Scott’s work on Friday. Good coverage except for a burned out corner on the S end of the lower meadow. Heather and James did some shoveling there so it is covered again for now. We tested out our baby ginzu today which worked great and is several hundred pounds lighter and less likely to get stuck in soft snow. Scott also helped out with cleaning the sticky snow off the equipment. Probably grooming again next Thursday. Hope you can get out and enjoy some almost spring like weather.