We will try to update mushers on the trail status and conditions in a timely manner so mushers will know where we are with the trail and subsequently, the races. As we get closer to the scheduled dates, updates will be posted more often.

7:00 PM, January 22, 2010

With the races a week away, everyone is wondering what condition the race trail is in. After a 20-day self-imposed bannishment from the trail during the Chinook, it is finally cold enough to take a serious look. The picture on the right is a before and after picture of the Starting Gate, a fairly good representation of how much snow we lost to the Chinook.

The pictures below show various locations on the trial. Some places still have a fair amount of snow although hard-packed and icy. Other places have melted down to bare grass. We are still hoping for a little snow over the weekend.

9:30 AM, January 11, 2010

There is light at the end of this Chinook tunnel. With close to two feet of snow on the level as we headed into this Chinook last Thursday, I was confident the race trail would endure a little warmth. In fact, a little warmth was exactly what the doctor ordered to settle the sugar snow. Over the weekend the temperature never dipped below +3 at night and daytime highs houvered around the +7 mark. At 7:45 this morning the temperature was +12. The two feet of snow we had last week has shrunk to a scant blanket over most of the valley and the topography is getting browner and browner with each passing hour. And the forecast is anything but promising. I haven't been on the trail since last Wednesday and won't go on it to evaluate until this heat wave passes. Rather than working on the race trail we are just waiting.

7:30 PM, December 30, 2009

This was a big day in preparing for the races. Race Marshall Jerry Kaita and Trail Crew Head Rodger Logan set snow fence on the Start and Finish Gates and moved two shelters to the Staging Area. For Trees Company delivered firewood for the open fire pit and a dusting of fresh snow fell. Trail grooming started at last light just as Jesse Byiers took to the trail with his 4-dog team. Pictures were taken in very low light conditions which accounts for their poor quality. Very little is left to be done before Mush Rush.

6:00 PM, December 20, 2009

After four days of day-time high temperatures above the freezing mark, it is nice to be back on the negative side of zero. The trail stood up very well to the melting temperatures losing little if any condition whatsoever. Snow accumulations off the trail shrunk in the heat, however, there is still at least a foot of snow on the level. It has snowed again today, just a dusting really but the forecast is calling for more over the next few days.

Kevin Sparham (Calgary) hit the trail with his 4-dog team early in the day beating the new snow so running on a fairly freshly groomed trail. For their first time together in front of a sled, his four dogs did very well. Rob Fradette hit the trail late in the day after the trail had a covering of new snow. He and his 3-dog team appeared to enjoy the outing. The trail will be groomed tonight, by the light of the moon, to hold the fresh snow on the trail. Depending on how much snow we get over the next couple of days, the next update may be delayed.

6:00 PM, December 16, 2009

The cold snap we were caught in came to an end in the wee hours of this morning. Temperatures houvered around the freezing mark for most of the day, perfect weather for trimming shrubs on the trail. With all but a few shrubs now gone, the trail is ready for dog teams. About an inch and a half of fresh snow collected on the trail since the last grooming so as the daylight faded away, the entire 4-mile trail was groomed and packed. Rosebud Run Sled Dog Society Board member Kirsten Phillips was on the trail mid-afternoon cross-country skiing and commented about how fun the trail is. She seemed most taken by the bridge. As temperatures are to be on the positive side of zero over the next few days, the trail will be closed to recreationalists until the temperatures dip again. With the next update, I'll have pictures.

10:00 PM, December 11, 2009

Sorry ... no pictures today. It was snowing while the dogs were running and my digital camera doesn't like being wet. Rochelle ran the 2-mile trail Skijoring this morning, ran the 4-mile trail with sled this afternoon and Dena ran the 4-mile trail with sled and our local reporter. Rochelle says it's a fun, fun trail. Dena suggests that the trail is race ready right now. Once we get the shrubs in the trail trimmed off I will be more inclined to agree with her. Amid the dogs running the trail we dressed the Start and Finish gates and set the remainder of the trail markers in place. Snow fence is laid out for both the Start and Finish gates waiting to be strung up. Everything is coming together nicely.

9:00 AM, December 11, 2009

With fresh snow overnight and a beautiful day for working on the trail, the trail condition continues to improve. Shrubs in the trail still need to be trimmed and trail marking needs to be improved in a couple of locations along the trail. Today should mark the first day of dogs on the trail. Everyone is anxious to try it out. Dena will be running the trail with the press for promotional purposes and to identify any problem areas. It is going to be a great day.

11:00 PM, December 9, 2009

Although considerable work went into the trail over many days in the fall, December 7th marked the first day of grooming. Following a ferocious blizzard over the preceding weekend that left most of the snow in huge drifts, there was enough snow on the flats to start packing the trail. Over the last three days countless trips around the 2-mile and 4-mile trails are starting to produce results. Drifts were crowned and a couple of minor changes in the trail route were made to bypass some rough stretches and increase the trail length. As of this writing new snow is falling promising continued improvement in the trail condition. The forecast gives us cautious optimism and hopes that the trail will see padded feet this coming weekend.