Welcome to 2020! The latest snow storm did not produce very much but the trails in town got enough for a nice refresh. Sunset Hills has been groomed and is skiing well by all accounts. Highland Glen was rolled and is rough, but skiable. Even if we aren't grooming much, those are still groomed ski trails and are not open to walkers, runners, and bikers. Please be an ambassador if you see them out there, if you feel up for it. This morning, the lower loops at Bridger Creek are getting a touch up and I expect will be decent skiing. Please park at the clubhouse, there is absolutely no skier parking on Boylan Road.
Sourdough continues to improve though the first 1.5 miles are quite thin still. Skiers, please slow down and use caution here, especially on the hill coming down from mile 1. It never hurts to give a verbal "heads up" around the corners and if you see other skiers or walkers who aren't paying attention. That being said, if any walkers/hikers/runners are reading this, Sourdough is a busy trail with a lot of foot traffic and a lot of skiiers; please stay to the right going up and left coming down if you are on foot and leave generous space in the middle of the trail. Skiers, even if they are in control, do not stop quickly (and need space to stop!) and have a harder time moving aside than someone on foot. Everyone needs to be paying attention and doing what they can to avoid trouble. Say hi to each other, make sure people are OK if they fall, and generally be nice.
Above the bridge is full on mid winter ski conditions and we now have a classic track starting around mile 2.
Tomorrow, Saturday the 4th, is the Bozeman Creek Climb ski race. The event is classic technique (even if we cant get a good track set) and starts at mile marker 1 and goes to the bridge or the mile 3 outhouse (for kids). Racers are encouraged to register online but there will be day of race registration at the trailhead. The race starts at 10AM and we are closing registration at 9:30 sharp to give people time to get to the start and get extra clothes into the sleds that are going to the finish areas just before the start.
All racer parking is at the water plant; it is on the left just before the pavement ends on the road to the trailhead. The gate will be open for us and BSF will have vans to shuttle racers from here to the trailhead. Please park and take the shuttle to the trailhead with your gear rather than dropping gear off. There is not a lot of space in the trailhead parking lot.
here are all of the official details:
UPHILL CLASSIC SKI
Start: at the 1-mile mark on the Sourdough Canyon/Bozeman Creek Trail
3.5km: ends at the outhouse. No timing (finish places will be recorded).
6.5 km: ends at the bridge. Timing included.
RACE-DAY SCHEDULE
SHUTTLE TO TRAILHEAD - Park at Water Treatment Plant, 7024 Sourdough Road
8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Race registration and bib pickup at the start line. (Pre-register to speed things up!) Important: on-site registration will close at 9:30 a.m. sharp. This is essential for timing logistics. No late registrations.
9:55 a.m. Snowmobile will depart for the finish. We will take racers' warm-up clothes to the finish area.
10:00 a.m. Race start.
Post-race: put on your warm clothes and ski back down to the trailhead. Please take care to descend slowly on the lower section of trail, as the trail will likely be busy at the bottom. Let’s leave everyone with a GREAT impression of how friendly and courteous ski racers really are :) Hot drinks and awards at the trailhead.
OPEN TO ALL SKIERS:
Recreational and competitive skiers are all welcome, and we hope to see a strong showing from the entire Bozeman Nordic skiing community!
REGISTRATION
3.5k: $5
6.5K: Adults: $15, Students: $10
REGISTER HERE: https://my.raceresult.com/145179/registration?lang=en
Online registration closes at 9 pm the day before the race. Race-day registration available at the start (cash/check only) from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. only. No registrations after 9:30 a.m.!
Race website: https://www.bridgerskifoundation.org/events/bozeman-creek-hill-climb
Hope to see you there!
