Panhandle Nordic Club - Newsletter is called Nordic Tracks (according to our original bylaws)

 

April President’s Message
   from Geoff

 

  *  General Message
  *  Spring Trail Clearing Day
  *  Coeur d'Alene Marathon Station
  *  We Need You to Write the Forest Service --  Please Read This
  *  April 7 - Summer activity planning meeting

 

 

Even though the spring sun has opened up some thin spots where it
can at the Fourth of July area and the pack is too mushy to
groom, a substantial snow pack remains in the mountains above
4,000 feet.

 

The March spate of storms has added to the high elevation snow
pack. Skiers who are looking for backcountry adventure will be
able to find it well into May this spring season.  If you have
always wanted to visit a mountain lake still gripped in winter,
the next couple of months is prime time.

 

Some days should be clear and sunny, the snowpack should set up
well and most avalanche danger should abate.  Still, check
conditions, ski in a group, and carry the requisite safety
equipment. Skis into the St. Regis Basin or to Stevens Peak by
the Boulder Creek route are local favorites. These are on the
website below.

 

The return of spring turns our thoughts to the spring and summer
seasons.  The end of the snowy season alters the club’s
activities, but certainly doesn’t end them until the snow flies
again.  This spring and summer, we have some chores to complete
and the club will have a schedule of outdoor activities planned.

 

 

 

The Fourth of July Area has become a popular destination for
hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding after the snow
departs. It is close to town, we leave it signed for easy
navigation, it has facilities, and motorized vehicles are
prohibited on all routes except Forest Service Road 614. Skiers
have told their non skiing friends and word has  gotten out over
the years.  With the recent high gas prices, it became a cost
saving alternative for many last summer.  These users are our
allies in maintaining and expanding this island of non-motorized
use in a Forest District pretty much given over to motorized use
elsewhere.  Recognizing this fact, the Board has decided on a
spring trail clearing work day on a Saturday in May.  A good
turnout will speed the work necessary to completion.  We plan to
invite the Backcountry Horsemen to help with the work.

 

 

The club will also operate an aid station during the Coeur
d’Alene Marathon on Sunday, May 24th.  For the past two years,
the club has raised funds in this way for grooming equipment.  We
are paid to man the station and to clean up the course after the
event.  Most are finished with the work by a little after noon.
We will be looking for volunteers, who can cheer the runners on
and pass out food and drink items, to come out and help. Signup
sheets will be out for both events at the April meeting.

 

We Need You to Write the Forest Service to Close road 614 to non
authorized motor use:

 

The final chore concerns our continuing dialog with the Forest
Service concerning FSR 614.  FSR 614 is now the Skywalker and
Moonrunner routes that receive a lot of ski and snowshoe traffic
during the winter. Although the club has requested this  road be
closed to motorized use once the snow comes and many of us wrote
the Forest Service during its travel planning effort asking this
road be closed during the winter months, the Forest Service
responded that the travel plan was about summer travel, not
winter travel.

 

As many of you know, four wheelers and a few snowmobilers use the
road during the winter, damaging groomed areas some years and
taking away from the snowshoe and ski experience.  We would like
all of our concerned members and others to write the Forest
Service again and ask that FSR 614 be closed after the snow falls
to all but administrative motorized traffic.  A set of talking
points are posted on the website to assist in your efforts. If we
are to expand into grooming of this central route for other uses,
it will be necessary to preclude winter use by motorized
vehicles.  We would appreciate all the assistance you can give us
to urge the Forest Service to seasonally close this road.

 

 

Having listed the chores, the most important activity of spring
and summer is enjoying the outdoors on hikes, bikes, and paddles.
The club has sponsored a series of outdoor activities for ten
years now.  We have hiked, biked, and paddled some scenic areas
in North Idaho, Northwest Montana, Eastern Washington, and
British Columbia over the years.

 

The April meeting is dedicated to putting together our spring and
summer schedule of hikes, bikes, and paddles that continues this
tradition.  Members bring forward proposals for any hikes, bikes,
or paddles they would like to be placed on the schedule.  After
reviewing them, a schedule is hammered out at the  meeting and
leaders for each are appointed.  We try to schedule activities
every two weeks from late April-early May to a little after Labor
Day.

 

We try to miss holidays, if at all possible.  The activity
schedule is the members schedule and any and all are invited to
help set it at our April 7th meeting.  The summer activities are
a great way to stay in shape over the summer and to keep up with
friends.  I hope to see you participating in setting the schedule
and hiking or biking the trails and paddling the waterways this
summer.