Trail Watch

The Girdwood Trails Committee salutes its groomers who are once again working tirelessly this winter to give the community a well groomed trail system.

Sean Stash has taken the lead and organized a team of committed individuals who spend many hours grooming and maintaining trails, fixing equipment, and making sure that users may easily walk, snowshoe, and ski on the valley's major winter trails. Other trails are intentionally left alone.

Groomers this year are Sean Stash, Andy Morrison, Eben Stone, Ari Stiassny, Carl Skustad, Mark Jonas, Todd Foisy, Kevin McDermott, Mark Dalpes, and Carol Sanner. The Trails Committee also thanks Alyeska Resort grooming staff for their help again this year.

With the loan of a new snowmachine-assisted groomer from the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club, Girdwood Trails Committee volunteers have been able to set a 15-20 foot wide track that is smooth and even.

Volunteers make four to six passes to get the trails wide enough for skate skiing and multiple users. They make this relatively wide swath so that the original width of the trail can be maintained for skier and pedestrian safety during grooming operations.

This type of grooming typically takes three to four hours, depending on snow conditions.

The new equipment, built by Ben Powell of Anchorage Nordic Ski Association, will soon include a track setter attachment for classical skiing. The Trails Committee thanks the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club's president, Deb Essex, and board for their loan of this equipment.

Unlike a club or association, the Girdwood Trails Committee receives its funds primarily from the Municipality of Anchorage via the Girdwood Board of Supervisors. All other funds are obtained solely through private contributions. Raffles and auctions are the primary ways the Committee earns those funds.

Individual contributions can be sent to the Girdwood Trails Committee in care of Girdwood, Inc. P.O. Box 1102, Girdwood, AK 99587.

The Committee is now considering priorities for summer trail work. Ideas for summer work or other trail concerns are welcome by contacting any Girdwood Trails Committee officer: Carolyn Brodin (Chair) 783-2818, Brian Burnett (Vice-Chair) 754-2536, or Kate Sandberg (Secretary) 344-0116.

Meetings are held the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm at the Girdwood Community Center, and agendas are posted a week prior to the meeting at the post office, Little Bears Playhouse, and library. All interested people are welcome.