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Posted March 14, 2013:
Rosie Creek trail tour Sunday

We’ll tour flatlands on snowmachine-groomed trails suitable for one- or two-dog teams and narrow skate skiing.

ASPA members free; nonmembers $5. Membership forms will be available on site. Stay home if it is colder than -10 degrees at 11:30 am (call 458-3745 ext 1113).

To reach the trailhead, turn left onto Cripple Creek Road off the Parks Hwy (a mile or two past Ester). Take the first right after the“pavement ends” sign onto Rosie Creek Trail. The trailhead is on the right 1.1 miles in. Park on the side of the road. Please be ready to head down the trail by 1 pm.

For more information, contact Janna Miller at 479-5585 or janna@alaska.net.

Posted March 6, 2013:
Trail Tour Sunday March 10

Since we’d blocked this weekend off for a cabin trip but were unable to get one, let’s do a White Mountains day trip this Sunday!

Meet at the mile 28 Wickersham Dome trailhead off of the Elliott Highway at 1 pm. Because we will be far from town, participants should bring enough gear with them to be smart – a backpack with extra clothes, snacks, water, dog treats, etc should be part of everyone’s plan for the day. Skijorers can go as far as they want, but I anticipate an hour out will be the limit for most of us. I’ll be sure everyone is back before I leave.

Trails are generally in great shape and wide enough for skate skis; however, there are big hills, trails can be rutted by snowmachines, and there can be very icy patches. Choose your dog power wisely! Snowmachines, bikes, mushers, and all sorts of things can be going on around us so be ready to share the trails. Skiers without dogs are welcome to join as well.

Though temperatures are unlikely to be too cold, -10 at the airport at 11:00 will be our cutoff.

It would also be great if people emailed me ahead of time if they are going so I know who to look for.

Questions?
Call Sara at 479 0456
stabbert@hotmail.com

Posted February 26, 2013:
Trail Tour Sunday March 3

Be ready to go at the boat launch on Chena Pump Road at 1 pm on Sunday, March 3. I’ll check the trail later this week but generally the Tanana is good skiing this time of year. It’ll be an out and back so participants can go as far as they want before turning around. Bring a wind layer as sometimes you get surprised by the breeze when you turn around!

This tour is free for ASPA members; non-members $5.

Questions?
479 0456
stabbert@hotmail.com

Posted February 18, 2013:
13th Annual Birch Hill Skijor Races

ASPA’s 13th Annual Birch Hill Skijor Races
Saturday, February 23,
Registration 9:30-10:00, Racing starts at 10:30 am.
Features one, two and three dog Interval Start classes (4 or 6K), and 1-dog 7.5K and 2-dog 9K Mass Start classes, followed by a Fun 2km Relay Event. Preregistration recommended. See alaskaskijoring.org

The race trail and format will be the same as it was last year. The Interval Start classes will start the day’s events, going 4K and 6K. The one-dog class will go 7.5K and the 2-dog class will go 9K. And we’ll follow those up with a short fun relay event (about 2km).

Don’t worry about being in a mass start race. Number of teams is small, most dogs love it, and there’s so much room at Birch Hill that it is easy to stay clear of other teams.

Signup will occur from 9:30-10:00 am followed by race meeting and start of interval races at 10:30 am. Mass start races will begin at roughly 10:55 am (75K) and 11:00 am (9 K). Relay races will follow the return of most mass-start teams.

Because of the cost and labor of grooming and setup, we’ll make a weather call the evening before the race and will announce a cancellation on the hotline and website.

We can’t run the race without volunteers, so CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING OR RECRUITING A VOLUNTEER to help.

Contact Jim Herriges (herriges@gci.net or 455-8007).

Posted February 15, 2013:
UAF West Ridge Skijor Race

Skijorers are preparing for the one time per year they get to run their dogs on some of the top ski trails in the country. This years races are also a primer for the World Championships which are taking place on the Salcha Ski Trails in March.

Coming up this weekend is the annual ASPA West Ridge Ski Race on the UAF Ski Trails. There are 3 distances, 1 mile, 4.5 mile, and 9 mile for 1 to 3 dogs.

The race will start on Saturday Feb 16th at noon. Registration must be completed by 11:30 and early registration is encouraged. You must be a member of ASPA to race and registration forms are available at the start or online. Entry is $10 if registered early, $15 on race day Contact Brian Charlton at bcskijor@yahoo.com for more info. Temp cut off is -30 at 9 am.

Posted February 15, 2013:
Cache Creek trail tour Sun 2/17

We’ll go about 10 miles on a beautifully groomed, narrow trail. Be ready to head down the trail at 1 pm.

The course is too narrow for more than two dogs and skating will be a challenge.  If your dog(s) is a consistent puller this method will work fine.  Classic skis are recommended otherwise.

Turn left onto Cache Creek Road exactly 8.5 miles down Murphy Dome Road.

ASPA members are free, nonmembers are $5. If it is colder than -10 at 11:30 Sunday morning (458-3745 ext 1113 weather number), stay home. For more information, contact Janna Miller at 479-5585 or janna@alaska.net.

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