Touring News
Touring Update: DIY Rat Ponds Still Available, Rosie Creek Success
The Do-it-Yourself Rat Ponds Tour is still holding up. The cooler temps are really helping to keep the course in shape. Get more information on how to do the tour here.
Rosie Creek Tour Report
The Rosie Creek Ramble Tour, which happened February 26, was a big success. Here’s a quick report from tour leader Steven Hansen:
Two Rivers Elementary School Ski Trails Tour Set for March 20
What: Two Rivers Elementary School Ski Trails tour
When: Sunday, March 20, 2022
Start time and place: 3PM at Two Rivers Elementary School (After parking, walk around the loop to the ski trails on the upper level. Parking at actual trailhead is limited.)
Google Maps link to Two Rivers Elementary School: https://goo.gl/maps/Q81bLVLZCmY2NCTd6
Estimated tour time: 45 minutes to an hour (but you can go farther on your own if you like).
Short description: The tour will be 5k long and will take 45 minutes to 1 hour on the intermediate-level trails. Collect another FNSB Trails Challenge sign along the way!!! The trails have been groomed for skating and are in excellent shape. There are a few small sticks along the trail, as happens in spring.
Dogs are allowed on these trails, but since we will be in a group please make sure they are friendly with other people and dogs.
Leader: Contact Charlotte Porter at 907-888-6121 with any questions.
Tour Report: Tour de Pearl Creek Sees Fresh Powder, Groomed Trails
Here’s a ski tour report of the recent Tour de Pearl Creek by tour leader Joel Young:
It was a great day out in the Pearl Creek Community Nordic Park on Sunday the 27th! Trails were freshly groomed Thursday evening by Sam Dashevsky (thanks Sam!) and a layer of fresh powder instead of freezing rain greeted us on Sunday morning. We started as a group of four but finished as a group of five after a late arrival followed our fresh tracks to catch up! Signs of moose were about but no sightings fortunately.
We started on the north side of Herreid Road and completed an Outer East Loop out to the power line on the north end and then back around past the Pearl Creek Farm Cabin on the West Outer Loop.
Next, we took our time exploring the various outer and inner loops on the south side of Herreid. We went down Fox Trot up the Old Ski Field. Then it was Commuter Trail down to Thrill Hill up Rabbit Run back to Puffin Loop to Shaun’s Trail. We finished out on Castor Trail and up to the School Field. In total it was about 4 miles and two hours of ski time. I attempted to provide some history of the area as best I knew and will study up more for the next tour!
Here are some pics of the tour. Look on the Skarland and Pearl Creek Trails Facebook page under the files tab for a map pdf of the trails and a pdf file to ‘Parrish respecting our routes’ for history of Skarland Trail and trail development in the Dog Patch area of which Pearl Creek Park is a part.
Happy skiing!
DIY Skiathon Set for March 5 and 6
Come out and enjoy a tour (or a race) of the University of Alaska Fairbanks trails.
What: Skiathon tour or race of the University of Alaska Fairbanks trails. Choose your own pace and time. Classic ski only (to do the whole course).
When: March 5 and 6, 2022
Start time and place: Virtual event: Your choice on start, March 5 or 6; start place on the wide power line just downhill from the UAF Ski Hut.
Estimated tour time: 2-3 hours
Short description: Course will be marked and tracks set by Friday evening. Ski the course when ever you wish and send in your time to Stan. Cost is $15 (fundraiser for UAF trails). Map and registration will be on the UAF Trails Club website. See course map here.
If you are having trouble accessing the online registration form, you can also access it on this page. (Look in the March listings). You need a University of Alaska online account. (They are free. You don’t need to be a student or UA employee to have one.) Or, if the online registration is too daunting, the good old paper registration is available at Beaver Sports.
No temperature cutoff
No dogs allowed on the UAF ski trails
And while cross-country skiing is fairly safe, please remember to be Covid-aware. Try to keep your distance and mask if you can’t.
Leader: Stan Justice (stanjustice@acsalaska.net)
Report: Skarland Ski Trail Tour Sees Great Conditions
Report from tour leader Joel Young:
Great day out on the Skarland Ski Trail tour. Nine of us started from the UAF Ski Hut on recently groomed trails with a nice layer of fresh powder on top. The temps hovered just above zero, making for ideal classic skiing conditions. Some of us were well familiar with the trails, while one of our party had never skied on Skarland or UAF trails!
Breaking trail we all stayed upright on the various downhills as we made our way around the loop and back to UAF. Once back on campus we were diverted off of the original route by a moose but pleasantly rewarded with a nice long downhill to the T-Field.
New acquaintances were made with a shared love for amazing classic trails. It was all smiles back at the ski hut with endorphins high and satisfaction from both the conditions and scenery.
Looking forward to another tour next year! 
Ski Tour de Pearl Creek Set for February 27
What: Tour de Pearl Creek
When: Sunday, February 27, 2022
Start time and place: 10AM at Pearl Creek Elementary school bus turn around
Google Maps link to start place: https://goo.gl/maps/PQ8yso9fHkytNFb57
Estimated tour time: 2+ hours
Short description: If you have never been on the Pearl Creek trail system or just want to get to know the trails better, then this tour is for you. Easy to moderate skiing on mostly flat classic only trails.
Temperature cut off will be -15 at the Fairbanks International Airport (NWS website https://www.weather.gov/afg/)
No dogs please.
And while cross-country skiing is fairly safe, please remember to be Covid-aware. Try to keep your distance and mask if you can’t.
Leader: Joel Young, 460-4367
Ski Tour of Rosie Creek trails Set for February 26
When: February 26, 2022
Start time and place: 10am, Rosie Creek Trail, Beaver Pond trailhead (see directions below) Google Maps link to trailhead: https://goo.gl/maps/ZgrA4sLL5Y2SXN9Y9
Estimated tour time: 1.5 to 2 hours Description: This is a great beginner tour, fitness wise. Also good for people who haven’t been on this gem of a trail system before and would like an introduction to it. The Rosie Creek trail system in the Tanana Valley State Forest extends for many miles, so we won’t be doing all of it, but you’ll get a good introduction and a great ski!
To reach the tour start: Take the Parks to Cripple Creek, proceed a few miles until the road is no longer paved, then take a right onto Rosie Creek Road. Drive another mile or two to the trail system entrance on your right. Park on the side of the road. The drive takes just over half an hour from downtown.
No cancel temperature.
Friendly dogs allowed.
And while cross-country skiing is fairly safe, please remember to be Covid-aware. Try to keep your distance and mask if you can’t.
Steven Hansen, (907) 799-5627, or stevenseanhansen@gmail.com.
Ski Tour of Skarland 12-Mile Set for February 13
What: Skarland 12-Mile Loop Tour
When: Sunday, February 13 2022
Start time and place: 10AM at the UAF Ski Hut
Google Maps link to UAF Ski Hut: https://goo.gl/maps/tpNYfNYJaxYPwCae6
Estimated tour time: 4 hours
Short description: Complete Skarland loop 12-mile classic ski tour. A fun moderate ski tour requiring intermediate to advanced classic ski ability.
Starting at the UAF Ski Hut we’ll head past Ballaine Lake to connect to the Pearl Creek trail system. From there we’ll climb up and around the hills above Ballaine Road, following the Equinox trail system back to UAF via the Musk Ox Farm.
Expect moderate climbs and descents, hopefully on groomed tracked trails. There will be several road crossings. Be prepared for variable waxing temperatures and bring sufficient water and snacks.
Temperature cut off will be -15 at the Fairbanks International Airport (NWS website https://www.weather.gov/afg/)
No dogs please. We’ll be skiing on groomed trails, through residential areas, and crossing roads
And while cross-country skiing is fairly safe, please remember to be Covid-aware. Try to keep your distance and mask if you can’t.
Leader: Joel Young, 460-4367
Moose Mountain Sunrise Tour Lacks Sunrise, Has Wonderful Ski Conditions
This year’s Moose Mountain Sunrise Ski Tour (MMSST) was very popular, attracting 32 adventurous skiers. Unfortunately, the skies were very cloudy with light snow falling, so it was impossible to actually witness the SUNRISE, but we’re all sure it came up at about 11:00 AM.
Even without the sunshine, this new section wanders through the 2011 burn and treats all who travel through it an amazing contrast of white snow and burnt black tree trunks. The many twisted trees and countless burls and irregularities make this trail quite the enchanting experience. A sizable rock outcrop halfway through this trail appears to be a group of sleeping mammoths, suggesting a great name for this trail: The Sleeping Mammoths.
Keep the Saturday before Christmas next year open for the 6th Annual Moose Mountain Sunrise Ski Tour, and maybe the SUN will join us, too!
A view from the trail WITH a sunrise!
Rat Ponds Virtual Tour Ready to Use
Stan Justice reports that the Rat Ponds Tour is ready for ski tourists!
The Rat Ponds ski tour has set tracks, some arrows on red pie plates, and interpretive signs. Some places the tracks are nice, in other places tussock tops are showing. At the N end of the peat mine I was not able to groom the steep climb out of the pond – it developed a vertical drop at the bottom. If you go left when you drop onto the first peat mine pond it will take you back to 19.8 ADMA which will take you back to the golf course.
Find a Word document describing the tour, with graphics, here: Rat Ponds Ski Tour 2021-22
One version of the tour can be found on Trailforks.