Jeff Huser

Ski Clinic a Success!

Jan 24, 2022Jeff HuserNews

The combination of superb weather, decent snow conditions, great turnout of SNSC members and skillful instruction by Jon Dellios, Karl Walczak and Lis Quinley was the formula for a very successful clinic. Skiers ranging in abilities from beginning to advanced were all striding, gliding and skating with noticeably greater proficiency and enjoyment by the end of the clinic. For those of you who missed the clinic or wish to continue to improve your technique, Jon Dellios has availability for additional private lessons ( www.sophrosynenm.com sophrosynenm@gmail.com ) . Thanks to all who attended and for your support of SNSC.

Jon and Liz instructing on classic technique

Grooming Report Mon. 1-10

Jan 10, 2022Jeff HuserGrooming Report

Powered up by Sim’s wife’s tasty muffins we gingerly groomed out the Service Road but opted not to groom the lower trails. While there is still decent coverage, some areas are thinning. Until we get more of the white preciousness, it will be a delicate balance of grooming just enough without disturbing too much of the base which could lead to increased sublimation. For a Monday, quite a few skiers were out enjoying the calm sunny day with temps in the low 30s.

Sim Cook, the newest member of our grooming team, getting it done.

Grooming Report Wed. 1-5

Jan 5, 2022Jeff HuserGrooming Report

With Scott at the helm of the ATV, we set off today to smooth out the trails and set classic tracks with the Ginzu. Sunny beautiful day, temps around 30, just a mild breeze and the 1-2 ft. of base groomed out nicely. There are a couple exposed rocks, one up top near Challenge Tr. Trailhead and one in the upper 10k meadow SE corner and a med. sized log partially exposed just above the upper 10k meadow. Bunny Hill, the cuts through the aspens, and the other sections you all worked so hard on this summer, make for some fun skiing and are much easier to navigate. We are planning another grooming round this Friday to buff for the weekend. Enjoy and Happy New Year!

Scott making it smooth on a section just below the upper meadow

The new section through the aspen grove – soo nice!

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO17E04e69mMbnLtknbkejAm95ltBYxJOWI_T0fLPTeFsAKMiat7ePV2rcfNWQvZA/photo/AF1QipNXPFpU7oGEw2H07IdG-bnsh6-Q0-zvakPQhA0?key=RXk3ZTgwTDZVN0gzNUZxUjV3anA1WFZFRE9RZW9R

Ski trail work report for 10-9-21

Oct 11, 2021Jeff HuserNews

A super nice fall day on the mountain and a great hard-working group digging and pulling stumps and doing finish work at the Bunny Hill reroute. The crew of Scott Dietrich, Steve Roholt, Sim Cook, Tim McDonald, Liz and John Quinley, Bill Stanley, Pat and Mike Madden, Bruce Hansche, Jon McCorkell, Eric Spoerke and Michael Arndt and myself utilized the SRD griphoist device to pull stumps clearing the way for leveling and finish work. We will now get a couple skid steer sessions in and then have a hand finish work day possibly on Saturday. Oct 23.

Jon, Steve, Sim and Bruce setting up the griphoist

Bruce expertly pulling out a big one after rigging a 2:1 cable

Tim leading the crew back home , heavy equipment and a broken wheelbarrow

Seems like the workers look younger each year,

Great Progress Continues on the Sandia Nordic Trail Improvement Project

Sep 29, 2021Jeff HuserNews

Throughout the summer and now into fall, hardworking volunteers from Sandia Nordic Ski Club (SNSC), Friends of the Sandia Mountains (FOSM), and Volunteers for the Outdoors (VFO) in conjunction with Russell Berman, Trails Foreman SRD and under the direction of Kerry Wood, Trails and Wilderness Program Manager, Cibola NF have completed over 500 hours of work on designated re-routes of the ski trails. Some sections required tree cutting, expertly performed by the FOSM saw crew led by Sam Beard. Volunteers then cleared the new corridor of saplings and brush and significantly sloped and rocky sections were made level by Russell Berman on the SRD skid steer and followed up with hand finish work. All this making for some beautiful new sections of ski trail.

Through fall, we will be focusing on a significant re-route of a difficult to ski section, aka Bunny Hill, which we plan to complete before winter. Work will continue next year on other sections of the ski trails, including Klaus Trail, to make for safer, more enjoyable skiing. Thanks to all the great volunteers and the Forest Service for making this a reality.

FOSM sawyers Sam Beard and Michael Arndt cutting new corridor

Report on Felling Trees along Sandia Nordic Ski Club Groomed Trails on June 9, 2021

Jun 11, 2021Jeff HuserNews

Sam Beard, June 10, 2021

On Wednesday, June 9, 2021, five FOSM volunteers felled trees along segments of planned Sandia Nordic Ski Club’s groomed trails that will be constructed later. Michael Arndt and Sam Beard had hiked the trails with Jeff Huser and Scott Dietrich on Sunday, June 6. The trees to be felled were marked with a blaze in the bark. This trail system is located between 10K South Trailhead and Ellis Trailhead. The sawyers and swampers were Dennis Crowther, Jerry Carroll, Cliff Giles, Sim Cook, and Sam Beard.

Ski Trail Work Off to a Great Start

May 31, 2021Jeff HuserNews

Saturday, a hardworking group of 7 set off on our first of many Saturdays to clear corridor in trail sections flagged by Kerry Wood, Forest Service Wilderness and Trails Manager. Weather at 10K was pleasant with still some moist ground here and there. Within 3 1/2 hrs. the crew consisting of Jenny, Vicky, Barry, Paul, Mike, Steve and myself, made quick work clearing small trees, brush and stumps completing the first 3 of the 9 sections designated for reroutes. So nice to be out, vaccinated and mask-less enjoying great company and our beautiful mountain! Our next scheduled ski trail work day is scheduled for Saturday, June 12, meeting at 0800 at the Ellis Trailhead. Hope you can make it out for that day or June 19 and 26.

A few small aspen giving way to a safer ski line.

Grooming Report Thurs. 3-4

Mar 4, 2021Jeff HuserGrooming Report

Snow is showing its age but we still have decent coverage with only a couple bare spots on the lower 10k meadow and the N connector heading down to the lower 10k meadow. Rest has ok coverage and Scott and I freshened up all the skate lanes with the Ginzu and redid a bit of the classic track on the Service Rd. As we left around 11:30, light snow was beginning to fall which will help a lot. So keep the bikes in the stable for now and get out and enjoy what may be the last decent week on the mountain. Plan is to groom at least the Service rd. again on Sat.

Grooming Report Thurs. Feb.25

Feb 25, 2021Jeff Huser1 CommentGrooming Report

Warm weather and blowing road dirt has taken its toll on parts of the upper and lower 10k meadows. Still great in the trees. Scott and I regroomed which freshened it up and there is still ok coverage but definitely thinning in the lower 10k meadow. Classic tracks from last week still in good shape and the Service road is nice but gets soft by mid-day. Plan is to regroom at least the Service road on Saturday AM in preparation for the kids ski clinic taught by Jon and the adult skate clinic taught by Karl. Think there are slots still available.

Mommas don’t let your babies grow up to be snowboarders.

Grooming Report Sun. Feb.21

Feb 21, 2021Jeff HuserGrooming Report

Not sure there’s a need to post a report as it seemed like every XC skier in ABQ was on the mountain today enjoying the sunny day, great snow with only occasional wind gusts. If you noticed 2 skin- suit clad skiers flying by, that would be World Cup level skiers, Jessica Yeaton, last year’s Birkie winner and Karl Walczak doing their virtual Birkie race today on our trails. Just another day racing 43K at 10,000 ft. Amazing! Trails groomed up well and classic tracks set on the lower meadows and Service Road. Planning to groom on Thursday, weather permitting. Great to see everyone out today!