Tweeds Muir Ski

Pre Race Stuff

2012-02-29T17:28:00.001-08:00

This is a photograph of a corner of the Meadow Loop track taken as I peaked over the bank at the edge of the road. You can see that it is fairly wide with one track visible. On Saturday I will put in two tracks so there is a passing lane for the fast skiers or if you like to talk to your partner - you can ski side by side. It will still be single lane in the narrow portions but you will survive.

The ex-logger and I packed the start area, brought in some wood for a fire and restocked supplies in the outhouse.

See You Sunday,
Tweeds

Tweedsmuir Ski Race Poster

2012-02-28T20:25:00.000-08:00

Last Week - This Week - Next Week

2012-02-26T19:49:00.001-08:00

Last week this trail was very narrow with a dozen people headed into the trees. This week the track is wide and ten people made the trip around the loop. Next week on Sunday the Annual Tweedsmuir Ski Cross Country Ski Race will happen and many people will rounding the corner. You don't have to dress in red, like this guy, but it would add color to the event.

We had a foot of new snow since last Sunday and the forecast looks like less for the upcoming week. Thats OK because we have lots of the white stuff - just look at the top of the tree on the right. The track should be in good shape, rumor says there will be food on hand on Sunday and the company will be good.

See you at the race,
Tweeds

The Crossover

2012-02-17T19:00:00.000-08:00

The ex-logger can be seen walking on the Crossover linking the Meadow Loop and the Pedersen Trails on the Western side. Dave, on the Interior Roads loader, punched two holes in the 10 foot snow banks on either side of the highway to make an easy crossing. Make sure you take off your skis when you cross the road or they will be scratched from the gravel.

The ex-logger and I tracked the Meadow Loop, Old Highway and Pedersen Trails today. There were a couple inches of new snow so the tracks formed nicely.

The Trails Are Groomed,
Tweeds

Pedersen Trail Breaking

2012-02-12T20:31:00.000-08:00

There were a dozen people cross country skiing at East Branch today - actually I included two snowshoers in the count. It was an overcast grey day with some light snow but all trails were skied on. Six of us skied part of the Meadow Loop Trail and then moved over to the Pedersen Trail. We were afraid the bionic man's hips were going to give out after a fall but he toughed it out and made it back with no mechanical malfunctions.

With 6+ feet of compacted snow, skiing conditions are good on the trails.

Skiing Till May,
Tweeds

Outdoor Class Skis

2012-02-10T20:17:00.000-08:00

The SAMS outdoor class were up skiing at East Branch. They did 7 km on a warm day with temperatures up to 10 C. Despite the sticky snow, the day was a success and all returned home (thanks to Doug on the Bus) with some cross country ski experience.

Go SAMS,
Tweeds

Chilcotin Roadside Lunch

2012-02-08T17:03:00.000-08:00

The four skiers from Tatlayoko had just returned from sking the Meadow Loop Trail and were in the process of cooking lunch at the side of the road on Highway 20 - that is the way it is done in the Chilcotin. There is next to no snow in their area so they took a leisurely drive to East Branch, skied and had lunch. The hot dogs were just the appetizers as there were more goodies in the back of the truck which made me wish I could stay and partake.

The ex-logger and I groomed and tracked the Pedersen Trail today. The portion from the Connector to X-C trail head is tracked for classic while the hilly part near the East Branch Parking Lot is groomed for skate ski because it is better to be able to snow plow down some of the hills.

Enjoying Chilcotin Fireside Cooking,
Tweeds

More Snow Mushrooms

2012-02-07T17:41:00.000-08:00

If you look just behind my truck you will see two Snow Mushrooms. These are a rare species although I did spot another one last year a few miles away from this location. Now that I think about it, we had one grow there this year but the ex-logger destroyed the enormous cap on that mushroom last week.

I skied 12 kilometers today, dug out one of our drags and set some track. The Meadow Loop and Old Highway Trails are in decent shape if anyone is interested. There were two other people out skiing. You will also note that the East Branch Parking Lot has been plowed out.

Enjoying Mushroom Season,
Tweeds

Good Skiing Today

2012-02-05T19:38:00.000-08:00

The ex-logger reports that is was a sunny day at East Branch today with temperatures around -3 C. There were a dozen skiers using the Meadow Loop Trail which was reported to be fast. The weather forecast for the week looks like good conditions with no snow to cover the tracks - that will be a change.

Skiing tomorrow,
Tweeds

Back on Skis

2012-02-03T18:56:00.000-08:00

The ex-logger and I returned to East Branch and found our sleds where we left them. We started grooming with help from our friend Grizzly who writes the Bella Coola Blog. The snow had settled and was not fluffy like it was last week so grooming went well. By the end of the day we had set Nordic tracks on the Meadow Loop and Old Highway trails. We also packed Gordie's Cutoff and most of the Pedersen Trail with our snow machines.

There were two keen skiers out today that were hard on our heels as we groomed. One reported that the tracks were fast which should mean they will set up well for tomorrow. The weather looks stable for the next few days so skiing should be uninterrupted by large dumps of snow.

Skiing Again,
Tweeds

Unstuck But No Trails

2012-01-28T18:19:00.000-08:00

The ex-logger and I dug out the old double track today. A lot of snow had fallen on it but we shovel it out, jacked it up, ran the track, shovel snow under the sled and drove away to high ground.. It snowed all the way from the Gulch to East Branch and back again. We were unable to do any grooming so there are no x-c groomed trails at East Branch at the present time. The track made yesterday is covered with snow as has been the trend this year.

We will try to get a skiable track in place for next weekend and we will keep you updated via this winter blog.

Too Much Snow,
Tweeds

Stuck

2012-01-27T19:44:00.000-08:00

We have had a lot of snow at East Branch this past week as evidenced by the highway at the top of the hill that looks like a bobsled run. The ex-logger and I were breaking out the Meadow Loop Trail, which had at least 2 feet of new snow since we were last there, when I ziged when I should have zaged and got good and stuck. There are a few more detail with some good excuses - at least I think they are good excuses - but I will leave that for later or not at all.

The bottom line is that there is a snowmachine track half way around the Meadow Loop trail but that is it. The ex-logger and I will be up there tomorrow to retrieve our machines and carry on. There will be a Nordic track on Sunday if we are successful but I advise you to check this blog tomorrow night before heading up.

Slogging out on snowshoes,
Tweeds

Lonely

2012-01-22T16:43:00.001-08:00

It was lonely at the cross country ski trails today. I set the trails and no one came. The weather was just below zero, there was very little wind and it was not snowing - so what was wrong? Sure we had a week of cold weather in the Gulch this past week and just had a large dump of snow but there was only two inches of new snow that had accumulated all week at Heckman Pass and it was a comfortable day.

There were four vehicles at the East Branch parking lot and they all belonged to the hard core sledders. The parking lot was not full. Something was going on and I am determined to find out what it was. Was there a party and some of us weren't invited?

Lonely but I'll Get Over It,
Tweeds

Low Sign

2012-01-17T15:56:00.000-08:00

This low sign is located beside the Old Highway Trail just before it joins the Pedersen Trail. It is strange to look down on a sign but that is what happens when you get a lot of snow. The snow level at the Burnt Bridge Snow Pillow indicates there has been almost 9 feet of snow that has fallen this year in an area that is similar to the Heckman Pass Ski Trails. The local gauges show 6 feet of settled snow.

The temperature is showing -25C at the Heckman Pass weather site during the day and that does not include the wind chill so it is not good for cross country skiing at the present time. It looks like it should warm up by the weekend.

Bending Over to Read Signs,
Tweeds

Trails are Tracked Again

2012-01-15T18:15:00.000-08:00

The photograph shows the Alpine on Pedersen Trail when I was making an empty pass to pack the snow before putting in a track. This trail had four feet of snow come down on it since it was last tracked but it settled so the going wasn't bad. The photograph below shows the finished product once a second pass was made with the tracker. It is not wide or perfect but it will set up over night given the colder weather we are getting now.

Speaking of colder weather, it was -18C when I arrived this morning warming up to -14C by 2 pm. There was no wind and it was sunny so all in all it was a great day. I groomed and tracked the Meadow Loop, Rabbit Cutoff, Gordie's Cutoff, The Old Highway and Pedersen Trails. There were 8 people enjoying the cross country trails today with me being one of them.

Isn't Winter Great?
Tweeds

We Have Snow

2012-01-10T17:00:00.000-08:00

The above photograph shows the ex-logger in my track 5 days ago after we had a two foot dump of snow .

The next photograph shows the ex-logger in my track today after we had another 2 foot dump of snow. We did a second circuit of the track with me pulling a drag and the ex-logger pulling the tracker. The Meadow Loop now has a set track and is good to go. The weather looks like it will hold for a few more days. I know of 4 people who will be headed up tomorrow to ski the same loop that 3 skiers did today.

Enough Snow Already,
Tweeds

Horse Corral

2012-01-06T13:33:00.000-08:00

The first photograph of the Horse Corral on the Old Highway Trail was taken at the beginning of November while the one below was taken yesterday. We have had a bit of snow on our ski trails and it ain't over yet.

Until the Snow Melts,
Tweeds

Track in a Trench

2012-01-05T17:19:00.000-08:00

A weather system from the Pacific over the past several days left a good dump of snow in the East Branch Area. There was a couple feet of new snow on most of the cross country ski trails with up to three feet observed on one section of the Old Highway Trail. The photograph shows a track in a trench on the Meadow Loop trail. It is ready for someone to try tomorrow if it doesn't snow tonight.

The ex-logger and I tracked the Meadow Loop and Old Highway Trail today.

In the Trenches,
Tweeds

No New Year Hangover

2012-01-01T17:00:00.000-08:00

The vehicles in the photograph belong to Cross Country Skiers who were out on New Years day. I believe they are people who don't have hangovers but the ex-logger tells me that the best way to cure a hangover is to go cross country skiing and the only hard part is getting out of bed in the morning. This is one of the types of conversations we have when driving to East Branch.

There was no new snow today so the trails that were groomed yesterday were in excellent shape. I broke out the Pedersen trail this afternoon (after skiing in the morning). It was completely covered with snow so I had to follow the little pink ribbons hanging from the trees. It will be good to go by mid week.

No Hangover,
Tweeds

Last Day of the Year

2011-12-31T17:06:00.000-08:00

One person in this photograph tracked 24 kilometers of trail and the other skied that distance. One person in the photograph will be back up at East Branch tomorrow while the other will be headed to "The Big Smoke" to get smarter. I'll bet one person in this photograph will be sitting in a classroom one day next year wishing she was at East Branch with the other person.

There was up to 2 feet of new snow on some parts of the trails today. We tracked the Meadow Loop, Rabbit Cutoff, Gordie's Cutoff and the Old Highway Trail. The Pedersen Trail is still a work in progress.

Won't be skiing until next year,
Tweeds

Boxing Day

2011-12-26T18:03:00.000-08:00

There were approximately 18 people on the cross country ski trails that had up to a foot of new snow on them first thing this morning. I managed to get most of the Meadow Loop Trail tracked before spending 2+ hours stuck in some overflow which meant the skiers had to do a loop that looked like a big 9. I got the machine out thanks to some help from skiers, a come along and a big rock. It all turned out well in the end.

The Meadow Loop and Old Highway trails are now tracked

Not stuck anymore,
Tweeds

Fun Day

2011-12-23T17:14:00.000-08:00

There were 80+ people at the East Branch Ski Hill today participating in the Fun Day. They were snow machining, down hill skiing, snow boarding, cross country skiing, tubing and more. They were young and old, warm and cold, big and small, short and tall - you get the idea. The weather was good, there was a fire in the stove at the day cabin and most people had smiles on their faces.

On the cross country ski front, the Old Highway and Meadow Loop trails were tracked today.

Fun, fun fun,
Tweeds

Pre-Fun Day.

2011-12-21T17:01:00.000-08:00

It was a sunny winter day at East Branch with temperatures starting out at -14 C at 9:30 this morning. The ex-logger and I put in a two lane cross country ski track around the first lake to the west of the day cabin at the ski hill. It will be used on the Fun Day planned for this Friday. The rope tow will be running and cross country ski instruction will be available. It should be fun - hence the name.

I tracked the Old Highway, Pedersen and Meadow Loop Trails. We had up to a foot of new snow since we last tracked on Sunday.

Not a fun day but pretty darn good,
Tweeds

Forest Nymphs

2011-12-18T17:19:00.000-08:00

The foot and a half of new snow drove a couple of Forest Nymphs out of the woods and onto the cross country ski trails. They came up behind me waving wildly for me to move aside the way Forest Nymphs do. Then they skied back into the woods and were never seen again.

The ex-logger and I tracked the Old Highway, the Pedersen and the Meadow Loop trails. The temperature ranged from -14 C to -4C during the day and the sun shone. The trails are in good shape.

Looking warily over my shoulder,
Tweeds

Mid December Grooming

2011-12-15T17:38:00.000-08:00

The photograph shows the ex-logger coming up behind me on Old Highway Trail today. We also groomed and tracked the Pedersen and Meadow Loop Trails. There was two to three inches of new snow in the cross country area so grooming was easy. The trails were in good shape when we left and should set up well overnight.

Groomed out,
Tweeds

Snow Fun

2011-12-11T23:18:00.001-08:00

There were 10 skiers and 3 people on snowshoes at East Branch today. A good day all round.

A man of few words,
Tweeds

Tracked

2011-12-07T17:38:00.001-08:00

A non-groomed trail, such as the portion Pedersen Trail shown in this photograph, was not to be seen at East Branch today. The ex-logger and I groomed and tracked all the major trails including the Meadow Loop which was tracked for the first time. We were greatly assisted by Gordie, Stephen, Bill and Lorinda who broke and packed that trail on Sunday making it an easy trail to work with today.

The Meadow Loop Trail is our personal recommendation for anyone going up to ski in the next day or two. The Old Highway Trail is very hard packed and is good for skate skiers (you know who you are).

Caught up at East Branch,
Tweeds

Revised Map of X-C Ski Trails

2011-12-05T18:04:00.001-08:00

The Shadow Knows

2011-12-04T16:42:00.001-08:00

The Shadow knows it was a good day at East Branch. Fifteen people made the journey from the Gulch to Heckman Pass to ski in the gorgeous weather. The crowd consisted of families with pull behind chariots, some attractive ladies and several old geezers. A small group of skiers gathered at the parking area at the end of the day and ate cake (thank you very much). Several of the old geezers (not me, although I am a geezer) were telling stories to the attractive ladies about days of yore with each one trying to out do the other. Mentally they were no more that 18 years old which gives me an opportunity to tease them later.

On the grooming front, the Old Highway and Pedersen Trails are tracked. Four ski doo-ers, some with Virgin sleds (just bought and ridden for the first time), broke and packed the Meadow Loop Trail for us. This means that we should be able to groom and track that trail this week. All trails will be open by next weekend if I have my act together.

Tired and twisted,
Tweeds

Meadow Loop

2011-12-03T17:25:00.001-08:00

If you look hard you can see my track across one the meadows on the Meadow Loop Trail. I was marking the route so two of my friends can pack it down with snow machines tomorrow. It was a long slog around the 12 km of unbroken snow but worth the effort as no overflow was found. We should be skiing there by next weekend if all goes according to plan.

It looked like a few people were up skiing the Old Highway Trail today. There was a couple of inches of snow on the track this morning but I'm sure they made it work. We will be back up to East Branch tomorrow and will groom the Old Highway Trail and work on other trails, including the one in this picture, as time permits.

Time for a nap,
Tweeds

No Overflow

2011-11-30T16:51:00.001-08:00

The ex-logger skis across a lake that only five days ago was an area with a lot of overflow that required us to pin the throttles of our snow machines to prevent them from spending the winter stuck in the ice. The -15 degree C temperature this morning helped to freeze the water that accumulated over the ice making for a good crossing and making us happy skiers.

We worked the snow on the Old Highway trail several times leaving it in a very ski able condition. The track will be fast tomorrow.

Over-flow-less (sic),
Tweeds

The Genesis Of A New Trail

2011-11-28T17:42:00.001-08:00

There was two feet of new snow at East Branch since the last grooming. It took six passes over the Old Highway Trail to establish a classic ski track. The genesis of this groomed trail is as follows:

An Alpine II Ski Doo

A Virgin Trail

A Non-Virgin Trail

The Alpine II With Drag

A Trail In Drag

A Tracker In Action

A Ski-able Track

Now, lets go ski,
Tweeds

Rock and a Hard Place

2011-11-25T16:03:00.000-08:00

The photograph show the old double track stuck between a rock and a hard place. The rock and the hard place (it was a log) were just under the snow. A rope and "a come along" were used to pull the machine back and we were good to go. Things went fine after that until we hit sections of overflow on two lakes. No one got stuck but the throttles were pinned, water was flying and bad words were uttered.

The bottom line is there is not groomed track at East Branch today. There is a snowmobile track through the foot of new snow on the Old Highway and Pedersen Trails. No grooming will be done tomorrow as there is lots of snow forecast. We will be up again on Sunday to put in a track on the Old Highway Trail but the Pedersen Trail won't be opened until the overflow on the lakes freeze.

Sorry for the bad words,
Tweeds

Snowy Sunday

2011-11-20T14:16:00.000-08:00

There were four people skiing at East Branch today. The Pedersen Trail was tracked so you can make a complete loop using it and the Old Highway Trail. The forecast is for a week of snow so we should have a good base by next weekend.

Come on snow,
Tweeds

Pedersen Breakout

2011-11-18T18:08:00.000-08:00

The ex-logger and I broke snow and set a snow machine track through the Pedersen Trail. Our plan is to do nothing until Sunday and then track it using the old groomer. It won't be a perfect but it will get better with the new snow that is forecast.

We also packed and tracked (that has a nice ring to it) the Old Highway Trail which is in excellent shape. A moose has been in that area and crossed our newly made trail.

The temperature was -17 degrees C when we got to East Branch and warmed up to a balmy -12 degrees C when we left in the afternoon.

Six inches of new snow makes it good to go,
Tweeds

The Regular Crew

2011-11-13T19:39:00.000-08:00

The regular crew of four skiers were on the trail this Sunday. The ex-logger said it was a blustery day with three inches of new snow since Friday. He tracked the Old Highway Trail, skied and said it looked like more snow was on its way - which is good news for opening other trails soon.

You Gotta Love Snow,
Tweeds

Images

2011-11-11T21:42:00.000-08:00

I have been deceptive because although the above photograph was taken beside a cross country ski trail, it was not taken today. The photo is from last week because the battery in my camera went dead. If my battery had not been dead, I could have taken a picture of a truck being towed out of the ditch or an image of a moose and large calf as they headed into the bush near the Old Highway Trail or a picture of the stranded woman on the hill who I gave a ride back to town because she didn't have snow tires on and couldn't make it up one of the steeper grades.

Photoless (sic),
Tweeds

Sunny Sunday

2011-11-06T17:28:00.000-08:00

The hitching post is vacant today but the cross country ski track beside it was occupied by six skiers.

No horsing around,
Tweeds

A Cabin In The Woods

2011-11-04T07:35:00.000-07:00

Mr Steelhead and I went into this cabin on the first of November to retrieve some wood for a door he is building for the structure (The photograph shows the ex-logger back at the cabin several days later). The ongoing project has had some delays but a crew of volunteers got the walls up and put a roof on this past fall. You can read about the project at the Tweedsmuir Ski Club Website.

What does this have to do with cross country skiing, you ask? We pulled a cross country ski groomer into the cabin on November 1st to skid out some lumber so technically that was the first cross country ski trail of the season.

No cabin fever yet,
Tweeds

A Virgin Track

2011-11-03T18:34:00.000-07:00

The ex-logger, with the horse corral in the background, can be seen laying the first groomed track of the season. There was a good foot of snow which arrived over the past week. We didn't ski after grooming so the virgin track is waiting for the first skier of the season. Who will it be?

Back in the saddle,
Tweeds

In the Barn

2011-04-30T16:11:00.000-07:00

Cross country skiing at East Branch is over for the year and the machines are in the barn. I did skate ski a week ago and was able to travel all over the place up until noon before the snow started to get soft and sticky.

It was a good half year of skiing and we have only half a year of summer to put up with before we get to do it all over again.

Until November,
Tweeds

Me and My Shadow

2011-04-19T20:32:00.000-07:00

It was a great morning skiing the Pedersen Trail for the two of us. My friend disappeared every now and then but I saw him at the beginning and at the end of my ski (pun intended). Skate skiing can be done on the hard crust pretty well anywhere. The Pederson and Old Highway Trails are tracked for Nordic. Who knows how long it will last?

Only The Shadow Knows,
Tweeds

Youth vs Experience

2011-04-03T15:25:00.000-07:00

The two young pups may not know it but the more experienced fellows in the back know that some of the best skiing at East Branch happens in the Spring. That was certainly the case today with below zero temperatures, a high overcast sky and a well packed tracking making for a good kick and a good glide. The young kids wanted speed so they were all headed for the hill on the Old Highway Trail. I should have stayed but I skied early and didn't want to be shown up by those four young athletes.

Young At Heart,
Tweeds

April Fools Ski

2011-04-01T16:59:00.000-07:00

We had another 6 inches of snow on the trails at East Branch since they were last tracked and that is not an April Fools Joke - it's true. The ex-logger and I groomed all the trails today. It was like it was the first time out as there was no sign of the tracks because they were covered with new snow. The ex-logger skied 7 km and I manage to do 12. It was a good day - we need all the good days we can get.

Until Sunday,
Tweeds

Warm Days

2011-03-27T18:06:00.000-07:00

There is still a significant amount of snow at the top of the hill as shown in this photograph which was taken just before your drop down into the Gulch. The road is now bare but it has been snowing up to an inch overnight with temperatures at East Branch swinging between -5 degrees C and + 5 degrees and beyond during the day. It is best to ski before 1 pm when the snow turns sticky.

I tracked all the trails today and put in a skate ski lane on the Old Highway Trail which will be nice and firm in the morning. There were half a dozen people up skiing today.

Skiing Into April,
Tweeds

Tracks On A Skiff Of Snow

2011-03-20T18:03:00.000-07:00

There was a skiff of new snow on all the trails today so no tracking was required. The inch of fresh white stuff over a hard compact layer made for a good days ski. The ex-logger and crew made use of the new snow today, if I read the tracks correctly - we didn't meet up. Speaking of tracks, some Rabbits are out and about, a Fox is on the go and a Lynx in the neighborhood.

Until Next Time,
Tweeds

Juiceless

2011-03-18T18:28:00.000-07:00

I skied down the hill to the 7 km mark on the Meadow Loop Trail today hoping that the man in the photograph was there to give me some juice like he did several weeks ago during the ski race. He wasn't there and I was ticked off. He could have made some money from the four skiers that were out today. I am sure that the two athletic young women that were skiing would have bought a cup each and even got one for their dog, Toba. I'll have to have a chat with him.

The ex-logger and I tracked the Meadow Loop, Pedersen and Old Highway Trails today. Skiing conditions were excellent with temperatures starting out at -4 degrees C when we arrived and 0 when we left. It was sunny and as good as it gets. There is a full moon this weekend so if it is cloudless, some of us may try a night ski. It all depends on the weatherman.

Still Skiing,
Tweeds

The Week After The Race

2011-03-14T16:51:00.000-07:00

We had some winter weather with a bit of snow for a few days following last weeks race. I had to leave town but the ex-logger tracked the 7 km Meadow Loop trail this past Friday. The track blew in but the regulars were up on Sunday and made there way around the 7 km loop a couple of times. It was a beautiful day despite the snow getting sticky in the afternoon.

I will groom and track before this weekend.

On the job again,
Tweeds

Skiing Ballerinas

2011-03-08T12:09:00.000-08:00

The two ballerinas took time out from their busy schedule to ski at this years race.

One of the winners approaches the finish line after skiing 24 kilometers.

The fastest man on skis from the Gulch and the winner of this years race overtakes Tinker Bell and friend in his final lap.

Waiting for Racers

2011-03-07T13:43:00.000-08:00

A few of the Tweedsmuir Cross Country Ski Racers are shown waiting for the remaining participants to cross the finish line at yesterdays event. There were overcast conditions with snow flurries for the race but temperatures were just below zero so it was a comfortable day. We were very encouraged by the large number of kids at the race and hope to see them out again next year.

Thanks to all the people that turned out,
Tweeds

Upset at Tweedsmuir Cross Country Ski Race

2011-03-06T20:01:00.000-08:00

Last years winner of the Tweedsmuir Cross Country Ski Race Morgan Boileau, who can be seen directing her new steed, was shutout of the winners circle in a shocking turn of events at this years race. To be fair to Morgan, she shared her piloting duties with her younger brother who was not totally onside with her strategy. This proved to be a fatal flaw and cost her the race. It is probably some consolation to Morgan that under her tutelage, her former steed won today's race in record time.

More Race Results To Come,
Tweeds

Not Square

2011-03-05T19:54:00.000-08:00

This will be one of views you will see tomorrow if you come to the X-Country Ski Race at East Branch. You may miss it if you are one of the heads down straight ahead gaze go for broke skiers but it will be there.

The track is set and we will be up early in the morning in case there are some flurries over night. It was a great day and tomorrow is forecast to be good as well.

Be There or Be Square,
Tweeds

25th Annual Tweedsmuir X-Country Ski Race this Sunday

2011-03-03T19:17:00.000-08:00

25th Annual Tweedsmuir X-Country Ski Race

Sunday March 6, 2011
11 am At East Branch

Entry fee is $5.00
Students Free
Registration at the race
Distances range from 7 to 24 km

Divisions for both Male and Female
12 and under
13 to 16
17 to 39
40 and over

For further information call Duane Pederson at 250 799-5508
Suitable for all levels of Skiers
Sponsored by the Tweedsmuir Ski Club.

Sunny Day

2011-02-25T17:10:00.000-08:00

It was a clear sunny day with temperatures ranging from -12 C first thing this morning to -2 C by 2 pm. All in all it was very comfortable.

I widened and tracked the Meadow Loop trail today and then skied its 12 kilometer length. It is in good shape for anyone who wants to try it out tomorrow. I wasn't in quite as good shape but I made it around without incident.

Will be up again on Sunday,
Tweeds

Determined to Win

2011-02-24T10:46:00.000-08:00

Rumor has it that the second fast man on skis in the Gulch wants to reclaim his title at the 25th Annual Tweedsmuir Cross Country Ski Race that is being held at East Branch on Sunday March 6, 2011 and will be using the following apparatus:

It may not happen but that is the talk at the Round Table at the Coop Restaurant - well that and the usual Cougar sightings, bad jokes and how everything everywhere has gone to hell.

I am planning on grooming the trails on Friday if all goes according to plan. I will leave an update on the Twitter feed just before I leave so check there first before venturing out.

Cool - No Cold in the Gulch,
Tweeds

A Lynx Crossing

2011-02-19T18:44:00.000-08:00

If a Lynx and a Cross Country Skier meet at a crossing, who has the right of way? I did look both ways before I crossed this track but it may have been an old habit from days growing up in Saskatchewan. The railway track that ran through our farm was at about the same angle as this crossing. Our neighbor was driving his combine down the grid road and didn't look left or right when he crossed the track. The once a day train hit the combine leaving it smashed and him wishing he had turned his head to have a gander. How is this related to cross country skiing? I always look left and right when I ski past this spot on the Pederson Trail because even though the track is now covered in snow and a Lynx is not a train, I don't want to be hit by one.

It was a great day of skiing today for the van load of kids and chaperons that showed up. The day started out cold at -14 C but warmed up to just below zero in the afternoon. There was no wind and lots of sunshine. I spent the day grooming and as a result have a skate ski lane on the Old Highway Trail and Nordic tracks on it and the remaining trails. It should be good tomorrow.

Stop, Look and Listen at those crossings,
Tweeds

Snow Mushroom

2011-02-17T18:36:00.000-08:00

This area is well known for Pine Mushrooms in the fall but Snow Mushrooms do appear in a few select locations during the winter. This one's cap grew 2 feet over the past two weeks. Although it is not edible it does serve three useful purposes, two of which are shown in this photograph. The first is that it supports a thermometer, the second is that it provides a location to post a notice announcing that the 25th Annual Tweedsmuir Cross Country Ski Race will occur on March 6th, 2011 at 11 am and the third is as an aerobic goal - I have seen many people running toward it.

The ex-logger and I groomed and tracked the Meadow Loop, Old Highway and Pederson Trails today. Snow conditions were good although there were some flurries making me wonder if the track will still be there in the morning. I'm in the dark about the amount of snow that will occur overnight but my guess is that it will be there.

In the Dark Like a Mushroom,
Tweeds

Chain Off Area

2011-02-13T16:15:00.000-08:00

If you see this sign and are driving on the Highway you can pull over and take the chains off your vehicle's tires and continue on. If you see this sign from the cross country ski trail and you are participating in the annual race, which is scheduled for March 6th this year, you should throw off your shackles and put it in high gear because you are not that far from the finish line and someone may be on your tail - metaphorically speaking that is.

The ex-logger and I got up to East Branch today and tracked the 12 km Meadow Loop Trail. There was a foot of new snow since we were last there. We skied 7 km, after tracking, in great conditions. The plan is to groom on Wednesday as the fasted skier in the Gulch, who is the guy who came in second at the Cariboo Marathon this year, is planning to take some kids up skiing Thursday morning.

Chains off,
Tweeds

Chains

2011-02-12T16:56:00.000-08:00

Most of our trails are away from the Highway but the Meadow Loop trail does go close to the chain up or in this case chain off area. If you see this sign from the cross country trail don't get confused - it doesn't apply to you. Given the heavy snow today you may well have had to use chains on the hill. The ex-logger and I started out for East Branch but turned around as anything we would have tracked would have been covered in snow again.

Snowed out,
Tweeds

PS: The photograph does not reflect what conditions would have looked like to day.

I'm a Jam Tart

2011-02-06T12:27:00.000-08:00

It is snowing right now in the Gulch and as the photograph from the web camera at Anahim Lake shows, it is snowing there as well. Anahim Lake is only half an hour away from the cross country ski trails so my conclusion is that it has similar conditions. I saw the ex-logger drive by my place (in a small town everyone knows what everyone else is doing) so he may have gone up and is slogging through the snow as we speak.

Feeling Guilty for Jamming Out,
Tweeds

Duck

2011-02-05T17:13:00.000-08:00

It was a good skiing day with no wind, eight inches of new snow and a freshly groomed track on all trails. There were six of us up skiing today. It looked like there were at least two people out on Friday making their way through the new snow on the West end of the Meadow Loop Trail judging from the tracks in the snow.

If you are skiing the Pederson Trail tomorrow you will have to "Duck" when you get to this tree. It is all part of the experience.

Duck trail,
Tweeds

Going For One Hundred

2011-02-02T18:31:00.000-08:00

The Bionic Man told me that he is aiming for 100 - he is not talking about living that long, he is talking about skiing when he is a 100 years old. I hope those bionic hips hold out because he will give them a good workout. He keeps on going just like the Energizer Bunny.

Moving On,
Tweeds

Sunny, Cool, Perfect

2011-01-30T17:18:00.000-08:00

The three skiers - Jessie the dog doesn't count as she is not skiing - are just about to make the corner at the 7 km cutoff of the Meadow Loop Trail. We got all of that trail tracked yesterday and after setting up overnight it was in fine form. You could go as fast as your lungs and legs would take you on the hard packed snow. I skied half of the Meadow Loop Trail and then made a cutoff route across the highway to the Pederson Trail and skied back to my truck.

I took lots of pictures in the sunny snowy conditions today because my kid told me some of my recent ones were depressing and wouldn't get anyone to come out skiing. I may sneakily go back and make some changes to my photographs. Don't tell the Blog Police.

Sunny, Cool, Perfect,
Tweeds

Speed Flying

2011-01-23T19:16:00.000-08:00

I tried to talk my son into cross country skiing today but he preferred to do the speed flying that is shown in the photograph of his friend coming down the hill. He'll be sorry that he missed an exciting day of cross country skiing for a more mundane sport.

We tracked the Old Highway, Pederson and the 7 km Meadow Loop Trail today. There were six people out on the trails which set up quite well. A couple volunteers broke out the other half of the Meadow Loop Trail so there is a possibility of getting that tracked if the overflow spots freeze. Call me a coward but I don't want to have the double track frozen in the ice for the rest of the winter.

Good sking to come,
Tweeds

A Change in Snow Conditions

2011-01-22T20:01:00.000-08:00

There was more than 4 feet of snow earlier but it has settled and that is good news. The snow conditions are no longer light and fluffy and are now more dense from the moisture and wind we had these past 2 weeks. The resulting snow was nice and dry in the -1 degree C temperature that we experienced this morning.

The ex-logger and I tracked the Old Highway Trail. The fastest man on skis in the Gultch tried it out and said it was good. A little soft on the first run but it set up nicely after the second. He thought it would be really good tomorrow. We also broke out the Pederson Trail and the 7 km loop of the Meadow Loop Trail. We had 2 feet of new compacted snow since we were last here and didn't have the overflow problems of the past weeks. It was a good day.

The plan for tomorrow is to track the Pederson and 7 km loop and also ski. You should too - ski I mean.

Looking for a good day tomorrow,
Tweeds

How High Is the New Snow Momma? Two Feet High and Rising.

2011-01-16T19:30:00.000-08:00

Apologies to Johnny Cash. This bad boy grader was required on the hill today to get us up to the cross country ski area after the latest snowfall. It rained on the snow on the road all the way from the Gulch to the bottom of the hill so the road was icy in the morning but IRL sanded and it was rough but good in the afternoon.

The Old Logger and I dug out the grooming equipment, shoveled the bank down to the road and managed to break out the Old Highway Trail from the cross country ski trail head to the East Branch parking lot . There was two feet of new wet snow so the old double track had to work hard to make it through. That was all we accomplished today. There is no track but we will be back once the snow firms up.

Now for the good news and the bad news - there is always good news and bad news. The good news is that with the moist snow we should get a decent base once the weather turns cold and not have the problem of all that powder right to the ground. The bad news is that with the weight of the snow we are bound to open some cracks in the ice on some lakes and have more overflow which means we can't track those trails until it freezes. It will be skiing on the Old Highway Trail only for a little while longer.

I like Graders,
Tweeds

2011-01-14T18:21:00.000-08:00

There will be much more snow in East Branch than is shown in the photograph. I was told by a reliable source that our tracks on the Meadow Loop Trail were covered by Wednesday and there has been more snow since then.

On Monday we were up retrieving two sleds that had been left out over night after going through overflow. Chipping the ice out from between the tracks of both machines and making our way to road and then home took all day. I'll spare you the details except to say we were happy to have our machines safely out of the bush and we got our share of exercise without skiing.

There has been fresh snow in the Gulch and at East Branch today. Given the forecast, we will not be grooming tomorrow but will have a trail in place Sunday morning if all goes according to plan. I expect we will have deep snow to contend with but should be able to open up the Old Highway Trail and even more if things work out.

See you on Sunday,
Tweeds

Good Skiing and Major Grunting

2011-01-09T22:27:00.000-08:00

A foot of new snow greeted the six cross country skiers that were at East Branch in the -20 degree C temperature today (8 if you include the two that were being pulled in a sleigh by their dad). Clear skiers were the order of the day. The Old Highway trail was the only groomed trail today but work was being done on others.

The Bella Coola Strong man and the Mayor of Steep Roof assisted in some of the trail breaking. We needed the extra help as there was a total of three feet of powder snow in the Meadow Loop trail area. Unfortunately there was lots of overflow which created problems. The end result is that the Meadow Loop trail is almost all broken out but still unusable due to overflow on some of the lakes. The Old Logger and I have sleds to retrieve tomorrow but nothing that two stubborn people of Norwegian Ancestry can't solve. The Mayor of Steep Roof will also provide his valuable expertise and know how.

Never give up,
Tweeds

Deep Snow, More Overflow, Stuck Again

2011-01-06T19:23:00.000-08:00

The Old Logger and I broke out the 7 km portion of the Meadow Loop Trail. It went better than expected and we only got stuck three times in the three foot deep powder. I avoided the running water in the one creek that flows along the trail by man handing the double track every time it wanted to fall off the powder - Ok, not every time but not bad for an old guy. And guess what - there was no overflow there.

I found it later when we started on the Pederson Trail and got bogged down in 8 inches of the stuff. Two pairs of wet feet and a tow rope solved the problem and the double track is saved from a winter frozen in the ice again. Then it was back to the start to deice the track and front ski and on to the Old Highway Trail where there was a foot of new snow.

The Old Logger got stuck once and so did I but we got a Skate Ski and a Nordic Track established on the Old Highway Trail. When we left for home it started snowing. We will repeat the whole thing over again on Sunday.

Are we having fun yet?
Tweeds

No Overflow

2011-01-02T16:15:00.000-08:00

The photograph shows one of the lakes that is part of the Meadow Loop trail. The snow shoe tracks are mine. I had to go and check to see if there still was overflow on the lake. If you read my last post you will note that I don't like overflow. The good news is that the old overflow is frozen and the bad news is that I have no excuse not to get this trail open and tracked. It is not really bad news but it means I'll have to round up several guys to help because invariably we get machines stuck in the two feet of fluffy white stuff and with mine weighing in at over 500 lbs it is better to have help.

There were only four of us up skiing on Saturday and ten today. Temperature were comfortably at -8 C with no wind.

Temporarily on snowshoes,
Tweeds

Bad Words

2010-12-29T21:09:00.000-08:00

The mission today was to rescue my double track snow machine that I drove through eight inches of overflow on one of the lakes. Overflow occurs when there is a crack in the ice and water flows through the crack onto the top surface where it is insulated by the snow and stays in liquid form. I got stuck by the edge of the overflow and had to be towed out by the Old Logger. The trouble with the double track is that the single front ski gets iced up and won't steer resulting in a lot of cussing. I left it out over several nights before coming back to retrieve it when it was well below zero. We jacked up the back end, chipped out the snow and ice in the track and ran it while suspended and then jacked up the front end and removed all the ice from the single ski and I said things like "Son of a Biscuit!" Several hours later we were underway and grooming trails.

The Pederson and Old Highway trails are now tracked and skiable. There were four skiers out today in the -11 to -17 degrees C weather. It was clear and sunny with no wind which would have made for a brisk but good ski.

Darn Double Track,
Tweeds

PS: My son, who helped get it out, called it operator error or words that effect. What the hell does that strong young punk know?

Boxing Day

2010-12-26T19:41:00.000-08:00

The photograph shows the Old Logger returning to his truck after a days grooming. He had many of his family out skiing but he spent the day working on trails.

We had up to a foot and a half of new snow depending where you were on the Old Highway Trail. A double lane classic track was put today. Just under twenty people were using that trail on the day after Xmas. The Old Highway trail is in good condition and very scenic with all that new snow. The moose was using a good part of the Old Highway trail after the recent snowfall but I did not encounter him in person - just his tracks and just as well.

We broke out the Pederson Trail again but haven't groomed it yet. There was some overflow on one lake that caused some problems so we have to wait for it to set up overnight. We will have to get a crew together to open the Meadow Loop trails which should be sometime in the next several weeks.

Knee deep in snow in some places,
Tweeds

It is Snowing Hard

2010-12-24T19:59:00.000-08:00

The Old Logger drove up the road as far as the top of the hill before turning around this morning. It was snowing hard, visibility was poor and he thought he would would be able to follow his tracks down if turned around when he did. Bad news for today's ski but good news for tomorrow and beyond. We should be able to track the other trails if this keeps up. We plan to go up on Sunday and will keep you posted.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow,

Tweeds

PS: Merry Christmas

The Far Pavilions

2010-12-19T18:46:00.000-08:00

If you look just above the treeline to the right of center you will see them - The Far Pavilions. The photograph does not do them justice. The peaks poke through the clouds reminding me of the cover of the book with the same name. It was worth the ski.

It was -20 degrees C when I arrived at the trailhead at 8:30 a.m. this morning. After a 2 hour ski , it warmed up to -17. That wasn't bad as there was no wind but with the condensation from my breathing my moustache doubled in size. It didn't work that way for other body parts.

Sking for moments like this,

Tweeds

Lunch

2010-12-12T20:23:00.000-08:00

Sunday turned out to be a snowy warm day with no sign of the sun. There were 6 inches of new snow this morning with another inch falling during the day. Temperatures ranged from -2 to +4 degrees C over the day. Three of the nine people that were at East Branch today are shown eating lunch on the Old Highway Trail. There is a good chance there will be more snow falling this week if the forecast is correct. Another foot or so would be all it would take to get some of the other trails open.

Hoping for snow,

Tweeds

Straight and True

2010-12-08T17:28:00.000-08:00

Last Friday's grooming left some portions of the trail with a wobbly track that was due to a flaw in the design of a new piece of grooming equipment that I built. I have to make that clear as there was a comment after my last post that suggested I may have been under the influence, if you get my drift. I swear I was not socializing with Johnny Walker, Mr Appleton or any other spirit before, during or after my grooming - well that is not entirely true as I did have a beer when I got home.

Anyway, I did make some changes to the grooming equipment, tried it out today and the results were good. The Old Highway trail is almost as straight and true as Phys Ed teacher's meter stick.

No moose dodged or seen today,
Tweeds

It Is Back

2010-12-05T18:48:00.000-08:00

There were close to a dozen skiers at East Branch on Saturday and on Sunday it was just under that number. Weather conditions were clear as shown in the photograph with temperatures ranging between -15 to -10 degrees C. That sounds cold but with no wind it was very comfortable.

Oh, and by the way, the moose is back.

Looking for moose,

Tweeds

Friday Grooming

2010-12-03T20:34:00.000-08:00

There is still some road work being done on the hill on the way to the cross country ski trails so you have to stop at the location shown in the photograph to wait. A fire along side the road does not seem like a strange thing in this part of the world and it is a good way to stay warm when it is below zero.

The Old Logger and I groomed and tracked the Old Highway Trail today for both skate and classic skiing. There were signs that people had been up during the week snowshoeing along side the trail. We took our snow machines around the Jack Rabbit trail to pack a track but will have to wait for more snow before grooming as there are still large boulders showing through. The same situation exists for the rest of the trails so the only trail that is ski-able is the Old Highway.

The weather is predicted to be good on the weekend so it looks like a Sunday ski for me.

It is just the beginning,
Tweeds

The Trail Beckons

2010-11-26T19:15:00.000-08:00

The Old Logger groomed and tracked the Old Highway Trail today. He said there was 5 inches of new snow with a good foot in total. He noticed remnants of cross country ski tracks on the trail so some skiers have been using it (you know who you are). The forecast for the weekend is for good weather up top so what are you waiting for? The trail beckons.

Regards,
Tweeds

A New Ski Season

2010-11-21T13:53:00.000-08:00

A new cross country ski season has got underway with the tracking of the Old Highway Trail on November 19th. The Old Logger had put in a track a week earlier that melted in the warm weather. There is no problem with warm weather now as the temperature has been -15 degrees C for the past 3 or 4 days and there is more than enough new fallen snow.

The cross country ski trails were affected by the wildfire that started midway along the Old Highway trail this past summer. The fire burned to the north east encompassing the Forest trail and burnt down the outhouse located at the trail head - it has subsequently been replaced. A small portion of the north east end of the Meadow loop trail was also burnt but most of the track is similar to last winter. There are still new green pine up to 8 feet high along some parts of the Old Highway Trail so with snow hanging from the branches the ambiance is still fantastic. If anything it opened up the view of the spectacular mountains in the distance.

Skiing Again,
Tweeds

It Is Over

2010-05-14T08:55:00.000-07:00

Exactly one month to the day of my last post, I have to admit that cross-country skiing is over for the year. Big Al, the trucker, stopped his semi by the side of the road at East Branch, pulled the tracker down the muddy bank and loaded into the back of his trailer. At 7 in the morning he dropped it off at my driveway and I pulled it into the snowless yard where it sits forlornly waiting for the next snowfall. It is going to be a while.

I had plans to ski into May but work and a broken down trailer got in the way. It would not have been great skiing but it would have been possible. There is another area that is only 45 minutes away that still has lots of snow but I have to admit that there will be no more cross-country skiing for me until November.

Speaking of November, you probably won't see anything written here until then. By that time we will be on the move putting in trails and getting on skis. I can hardly wait.

I love winter,
Tweeds

It Is Still Not Over

2010-04-14T19:45:00.000-07:00

On Sunday the ex-logger and his grandson tracked and skied the trails on the West Side of the road while I skied the Pederson trail on Sunday. It was good in the morning but by noon the snow started to get sticky. It may almost be over but it is not over yet.

Skiing is still in my plan,
Tweeds

Skate Ski Nightmare

2010-04-04T17:01:00.000-07:00

Last night there were four inches of new snow deposited on parts of the cross country ski trails at East Branch. The ex-logger put in a classic track this morning so we were good to go. The photograph shows one of the two aerobically fit ladies that were out this morning. The other female athlete is not visible and the only sign that she was there are the neatly formed skate ski tracks shown to the left of the classic track. I did some skate skiing today but the tracks tell a different story.

Practising the Granny Skate,
Tweeds

It's Not Over

2010-04-02T15:46:00.000-07:00

It's not over until the fat lady sings and there was no sound of Opera coming from the cross country ski trails at East Branch. It was a dull day with snow flurries and three people up skiing but no singing. The Old Highway and Pederson trails were tracked and a skate ski lane was put in on the Old Highway Trail. By the look of the forecast temperatures at Puntzi Lake, there should be some good skiing over the long weekend. I will be going up on Sunday and will track again if necessary.

Humming quietly,
Tweeds

Kids Learn To Ski

2010-03-23T16:40:00.000-07:00

A local youth in action program requested my services today to provide some cross country skiing instruction to ten kids aged 8 to 13. The boys were on snowshoes in the morning while the girls were learning some of the basics of cross country skiing. There was a lunch at noon with a camp fire and marshmallows. In the afternoon, the activities were switched with the girls on snowshoes and the boys on skis. I was surprised at how quickly both groups picked up on the techniques and how fast their skiing improved as the lesson progressed. They seemed to enjoyed the downhill activity the most, although the boys were hard to hold back when I had them race back to the parking lot.

Taking my hat off to teachers,
Tweeds

Crossing Over to the Dark Side

2010-03-22T19:31:00.000-07:00

I confess that on Sunday I crossed over to the dark side and went sledding in the Rainbow Mountains instead of cross country sking. If you look closely at the photograph, you will notice that not only did I go sledding but I wore a Ski-doo helmet while riding a Polaris snow machine. That is not only a bad fashion statement but a reason for banishment in some sledding circles.

On the other side, my cross country ski buddies told me sking conditions were fantastic on Sunday with one saying it was his best day so far. I felt guilty about enjoying my secret activity but did not confess. I would have been banished to a snow purgatory for my transgressions.

Unfaithful Cross Country Skier,
Tweeds

Fat Person Sits on Tracker

2010-03-19T17:24:00.000-07:00

This was my view as I sat on a stool tied to the top of our country ski tracker when the ex-logger and I tracked the Meadow Loop, Old Highway and Pederson trails today. The good news was that my weight made the difference in making a nicely formed deep cross country ski track on all the trails. The bad news, at least for me, was that my weight was that significant in the whole operation. I have been doing everything I can to trim the fat and then I get a reminder that it is still there, based on the quality of a cross country ski track.

I skied the Pederson and part of the Meadow Loop trails today. It was great skiing in comfortable temperatures on a good and fairly fast track. Maybe it was the momentum from all that weight that made for the good glide.

Waddling on skis,
Tweeds

The Regulars In Their Spot

2010-03-14T21:01:00.000-07:00

The photograph shows a scene that takes place at East Branch every Sunday usually between noon and 1 pm. This photograph was taken in January when there was more snow on the road but this exact scene was repeated today at the established time with all the players in their appointed postions. If you don't believe me, I will take a photograph next Sunday to prove it.

It was a good day skiing and the track that the ex-logger created on Friday was in reasonable shape. He is using his litte sled to do the work because his main sled, as well as mine, is in Williams Lake getting repaired. We can't pull the drag so we don't have a skate ski lane in place but the classic track is being maintained.

By the look of the forecast we may get some snow during the first part of the week but the latter part looks clear and colder. That means there is still more good skiing to come.

Don't give up on winter yet,
Tweeds

The Start

2010-03-01T19:09:00.000-08:00

The photographs show twenty-five cross country skiers starting the race held at East Branch this past Sunday. The weather was overcast with near zero temperatures making for a good day. The pictures of this event were taken by Snowshoe Andrew who covered great distances in single strides startling skiers as he documented their progress. The results of his photography will be distributed to the individual participants to be a permanent record of their athletic prowess.

More skiing to come,
Tweeds

Morgan Boileau Wins Cross Country Ski Race

2010-02-28T17:46:00.000-08:00

Morgan Boileau, pictured in her yellow cross country ski sleigh and being held by her father as she receives her trophy, is the youngest person to win the annual Tweedsmuir Ski Club Cross Country Ski Race. Morgan's closest competitor, Doug on Skis, did not pose the threat that she expected when the race began. Morgan said she was relatively happy with race but commented that there were times when her steed did not perform to her expectations and further training will be required.

I will post more race results and photographs in the coming days,

Tweeds

Three More Sleeps Until Race Day

2010-02-25T18:52:00.000-08:00

The photograph shows the compacted start area for the Tweedsmuir Cross Country Ski Race that is taking place this Sunday at East Branch. The timers and campfire will be located just to the right of the grove of trees that is visible in the center of the picture.

There has been just under an inch of snow since last Sunday making the old track is still quite skiable. We will be tracking the entire couse early on Saturday morning.

See you there,

Tweeds

Through the Trees

2010-02-23T17:04:00.000-08:00

The formerly invisible college girls suddenly appeared through the trees, skiing a new section of the Pederson Trail that the ex-logger and I created today to bypass a challenging steep hill. These girls, who are studying Forestry, were right at home gliding through the forest like Jack Rabbit Johannsen skiing 24 kilometers today.

The Pederson Trail is in good shape at the moment with 4 kilometers of classic tracked trail and 1 kilometer of skate ski trail at the East Branch parking lot end. The skate ski section of trail requires you to do some snow plowing and know how to herring bone. One of the regular skiers who was up skiing the Meadow Loop Trail said it was hard and fast with some icy sections. You need to get your wax right for that trail. The girls also commented that the Old Highway Trail was really fast coming down the hill at the eastern end.

Another good day,

Tweeds

The Invisible College Girls

2010-02-21T15:28:00.000-08:00

The above photograph is not the one I took today showing the two college girls skiing the Meadow Loop Trail. They were there but the camera did not cooperate and all I got was a blank photograph. As one of the old geezer's that I usually take a picture of said, "You only take pictures of old geezers skiing - why don't you mix it up a bit?" I tried but being an old geezer, I must have mixed up the settings on my camera.

It was a gorgeous day with warm air temperatures while snow temperatures were below freezing making the track very fast. I had my best time ever, skiing the Meadow Loop Trail in under an hour. The fastest man on skis from the Gulch would probably make it in half an hour given the good conditions.

Speaking of that guy, he told me that he had a bet with Doug on Skis that he could beat him in the race next week while pulling his daughter in one of those ultra light cross country ski sleighs. Apparently there is a wager involved. We will have to wait until next Sunday to see if it is all talk or if it is really going to happen.

Finally, just a reminder that the 24th Annual Tweedsmuir Ski Club Cross Country Ski Race will occur at 11 am Sunday February 28th at East Branch. It is not high pressure. The competitive skiers race and the rest enjoy the day skiing the trail.

I look forward to seeing you at the race next Sunday,
Tweeds

Mr Bike Creates A Grooming Machine

2010-02-19T20:57:00.000-08:00

The photograph shows a double tracked section of the Meadow Loop Trail that Mr Bike and the Bella Coola Strong Man groomed and tracked on Thursday while testing Mr Bike's new and improved drag. The whole Meadow Loop trail is in this condition and was very fast when I skied it this afternoon. I would say the new machine is a success.

The ex-logger and I groomed the Pederson and Old Highway Trails today. The skate ski lane was leveled using the new drag and should set up well overnight.

These trails are waiting for you,

Tweeds

Laplander

2010-02-17T18:20:00.000-08:00

I needed some weight on the tracker today to do a reasonable job on the Meadow Loop Trail as the drag is still under repair. Just by chance a Laplander showed up and agreed to sit on the tracker for weight, but he wasn't content to just sit and ended up standing. In the end he found some skis and tagged along behind. Kids never change no matter how old they get.

We tracked the Meadow Loop trail and then skied it. It is not pretty at the moment but the track is fast. Once the drag is online we will tidy up the trail and get it in great condition for the ski race on the 28th.

Still skiing,

Tweeds

Little Rainbows Through the Burn

2010-02-15T19:53:00.000-08:00

This view shows the Little Rainbow Mountains through a partially burned area from the Old Highway Trail. There are a number of areas where the distant vistas become more visible as a result of the forest fire that burned through parts of East Branch last year.

Sunday skiing was a little slower this weekend with only a few people up top as we like to say down in the Gulch. Portions of the Meadow Loop trail had drifted in since we tracked on Friday so it wasn't perfect but the trail was Ok and it was a nice day. I'm planning to go up on Wednesday to reset the tracks. We should have our drag repaired by the weekend and if all goes well we will have a skate ski lane groomed on the Old Highway Trail.

Skiing for health,

Tweeds

Tracked again

2010-02-12T18:58:00.000-08:00

The photograph shows the ex-logger walking back to get his cross country skis after tracking the Meadow Loop, Pederson and Old Highway Trails. There has been between one and two inches of new snow on the trails since Sunday. We haven't set the skate ski trail as the drag is away for repairs by the very capable Mr. Bike.

I goofed off today and skied portions of the Meadow Loop, Pederson and Old Highway Trails while the ex-logger did all the work. It looked like there were three other cross country skiers on the trail. Snow conditions weren't bad when I skied with snow temperatures just below 0 to -2 degrees Celsius depending on where you were.

More good skiing to come,
Tweeds

Baker's Dozen Plus Five

2010-02-07T19:14:00.000-08:00

The photograph, which speaks for itself, shows two skiers of the baker's dozen plus five that were enjoying a perfect day on the East Branch Cross Country Ski Trails.

Hoping for another perfect day,

Tweeds

That Great Pederson Trail

2010-02-05T18:35:00.000-08:00

It was a great sunny day at East Branch today with temperatures ranging between -2 and +7 degrees Celsius. The ex-logger and I spent most of the day working on the Pederson Trail and made some significant improvements. We kept the same arrangement with 4 kilometers tracked and 1 kilometer, closest to the East Branch parking lot, groomed for skate skiing. The skate ski portion was widened where possible and straighten. We did not have access to helicopter or trucks to haul snow like they do for the Olympics but we shoveled in a lot of snow to improve the grades.

In addition to the Pederson trail work, we tracked the Forest Trail. It had been a long time since it was done but it is now available for those skiers who like the windy trails that are close to the trees.

See you Sunday,
Tweeds

That Darn Pederson Trail

2010-02-03T17:42:00.000-08:00

You are looking at the East Branch Parking lot end of the Pederson Trail which is groomed but not tracked. It is like that for a distance of close to one kilometer which takes you out of the hilly sections and on to the flats where the track starts. You will need to know how to herring bone and snow plow if you plan on skiing this portion of the trail. Hopefully this will solve the face plant problem that one skier had a while back.

The Meadow Loop and Old Highway trails were also groomed and tracked today as there had been between 1 and 2 inches of new snow since Sunday. It would have been a nice day to ski as temperatures were between 0 and -4 degrees Celsius under overcast conditions. I thought I was going to ski a loop but that time consuming Pederson Trail slowed me down, got me stuck and made me mad. In the end, I subdued him and will be back to ski another day.

Pederson Trail fighter,

Tweeds