Conditions: Saturday 02.28.2009 3:10 pm Temp +24 F insignificant powder on frozen icy base. Sunday outing will be on snow shoes.
 |
| From Snow Pics for Canaan Institute Outdoor BLOG - BikeSki Group |
Despite the vast patches of brown, mushy grass in town with occasional remants of snow plow piles of 
white, there is still full coverage at Hammond Hill. While Brenda reported that conditions were near perfect on Tuesday, I can’t say the same for tonight. You could still get a good ski on soft snow in the woods, but the open trails were setting up after being in the sun all day. Brenda, Pam, Steve, Mike, Raylene, Cindy, Marilyn and 3 dogs skied up the sauna trail, down R1. When we hit Red Man run, Marilyn was havin sock malfunctions and turned back with Mike for a fast ski down Red man. The rest of the group took y5 to y7 and got in about 15 minutes after we did. They said it was good in the woods except for one bare patch at the bottom of y7. Pam has been coaching through some more interesting photo poses. Notice that we spelled out M-I-K-E with the skis. With temps forecast upwards of 50 on Friday but around freezing on the weekend, conditions may suffer.
Nadia, Marilyn, Pam, PJ, Joan, John, Mike and I headed out for a cold, yet fun ski last night. Conditions were 
absolutely perfect; it was one of the best nights of skiing yet this season due to a 2-4+” layer of fluffly powder that fell onto the hard-packed base the last couple nights. On nights like last night, I am always reminded of a paint-by-number painting my sister did when we were little girls, of Bambi in the snowy forest, because the snow was overlayed with a layer of glitter-stuff in the painting, and that is exactly how the snow looked, all glittery and sparkley.
We headed up sauna trail to do the lollipop route, which I haven’t done in quite some time. We broke trail until we reached the snowmobile trail, then broke more trail going up old FLT, and then headed back via R2, which had already been broken in by other skiers. The snow was perfect. We didn’t stick, but there wasn’t much sliding, either, going up the hills. Skiing felt somewhat effortless, as many stretches just required a double-poled push and you were off! Yet, going down steep hills was highly-controllable because of the perfect amount of fluffy snow to catch the ends of your skies on. Due to this, we came back to Mike’s via the Sauna trail, which we haven’t done in quite some time. It was difficult to quit skiing, but unfortunately most of us have to work the next day and can’t afford to spend all night out skiing. Bummer. I don’t know that conditions will be quite this fantastic for quite some time with the current weather prediction for Friday. Get out there while you can!!!
Still lots of snow at our place which adjoins Hammond Hill State Forest, although I grow weary of trying to convince folks!! We have a 1-2 foot base with 2-9 inches of powder. Less powder on the trails of course, but plenty of base. Another 2-4 inches of fresh fluffy stuff Monday am. MORE Tues am!! This is nuts!
 |
| From Snow Pics for Canaan Institute Outdoor BLOG - BikeSki Group |
Sunday, Five of us (Steve, Raylene, Tammi, Brenda and myself) skied a long loop up sauna across porcupine ridge, up FLT to to Radio Tower where we saw Stu, down Dan Karig … across on Y4 then over to mogle (water bar) trail, to blue and home on snowmobile. We also saw Eric and Gillian and their new baby! I was experimenting with taking a video as I was skiing. Steve and Tammi were in front of me, coming down snowmobile to Canaan …
 |
| From BikeSki Outings |
From http://www.cycloblogger.info/ Today was a day to eat Chili. Ithaca celebrated the 11th Annual Great Downtown Chili Cook-off and WinterFest. It was also a great opportunity to promote bikeithaca.org, an effort initiated by Andrejs Ozolins to encourage cycling and other green means of transportation in the Ithaca area. Early in January I made the suggestion to have a table at the Cook-off and soon many more people were involved. The result was great! We had a myriad of information not only for cyclists but also for motorists and the public in general. My main contribution to the table was the article on winter riding. FULL STORY AT http://www.cycloblogger.info/
MORE BIKE RELATED COOK OFF NEWS HERE http://bikeithaca.org/
We were thinking what a great winter it has been. Many, many outings, sometimes in sub zero weather with no gear failures, not even a headlamp! Well last night, Murphy noticed us and attempted to make up for it …
Six of us gathered at the workshop, got our gear together, adjusted our headlamps and layers then started to 
head out. We had Tammi, Pam, Anne, Dan, myself and David who was a few minutes late. David was excited to test his new back country, light weight tele gear …
We crossed the long skinny 10-feet-up-in-the-air snow covered bridge (you can see it it the snow pics). And started a meandering route up the hill across the private land (our ‘back forty’) … David stopped to adjust his new bindings … I waited … he said “no worries, I’ll catch up” …
At the top of the ‘back forty’ hill near the sauna we paused for a bit. Anne took this as opportunity to help Tammi with her skis. The temperature had dropped considerably and her wax wasn’t right. Anne applied some softer kicker, so Tammi could make it up the big hill with out total exhaustion. David finally showed up as we were wondering where he might be. He was wearing different skis! His new gear had failed him … well the bindings were not adjusted right … rather than trying to do that in the 18 degree cold and dark, he put on his other pair of skis.
We all started up the big hill … David was fussing with his 2nd pair of skis as we headed up. Same conversation occured “I’ll catch up” I gave it no further thought - he always does.
At the top of the big hill we paused where we usually do before the long flat haul along porcupine ridge. I counted the headlamps … hmm one missing. David again. OK, let’s wait (we always do, it is sort of our group motto) … we waited and waited … no headlamp .. we waited … we grew impatient (well I did) … We decided to ski back a little an holler … no answer. I dug out my cell phone and called him: just voicemail. We talked about it some more and decided we would all ski back and find him … hopefully not lying in the woods with a busted leg!
We found him at the top of the back forty between the igloo and the sauna, walking. His 2nd set of skis had failed, he was walking home. He had tried to call me but could not get a signal and then lost his cell phone in the snow. [ that reminds me; we should carry more of those walkie talkies I have for BikeSki)! ] … David was ready to give up skiing … not just for the night “for good” … but we convinced him to walk back to the workshop where I found him a pair of skis that fit his boots.
No one wanted to climb ’sauna hill’ twice … so we went up Canaan Road and climbed Y7 and came back down the same way just for the fun of it. The skiing was excellent!
So now we have had all our gear failures for the ski season in one night all on one guy … better luck next outing David, if you are still skiing?? -m
We have more fresh powder! A group of us skied last night and it was awesome! More powder this morning. Get out and ski!
 |
| From Snow Pics for Canaan Institute Outdoor BLOG - BikeSki Group |
From Andrejs at http://bikeithaca.org/
I’ve looked through the various compilations of tips and especially appreciated responses to my previous posting of this. It’s really good to get feedback on something like this that tries to systematize a lot of unconsciously followed rules.
My thinking is that this can’t be a compilation of all principles; I want to address specifically the things that make the coexistence of bikes and cars problematic. So, the emphasis is on tips regarding sharing. I know there is much more that can be added, but this seems like a core that would make each faction more intelligible to the other.
What do you think?
/a
TIPS FOR MOTORISTS SHARING THE ROAD WITH CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS
Look and notice — As motorists, we’re conditioned to watch for large objects, such as vans and tractor trailers. Make a conscious effort to notice cyclists and pedestrians until it becomes second nature.
Share the lane — Don’t assume cyclists should hug the edge of the roadway. It’s safest for cyclists to stay on a predictable course about 3-4 feet from the curb or parked cars. This allows them space to avoid road hazards and to be more visible.
When you pass –
Don’t take offense – most cyclists, just like most motorists, are not there to inconvenience other users of the roadway. Cyclists have a right to use the road; even on roads with bike lanes, they can legitimately need other lanes in preparation for turns or to pass obstructions. We all need to share the road.
——————————
TIPS FOR CYCLISTS SHARING THE ROAD WITH MOTORISTS
Look and anticipate — As cyclists, we’re inherently less visible than the cars and larger vehicles that motorists habitually notice and respond to. So, we need to ride in a way that we can be safe even if we aren’t seen. E.g., don’t squeeze to the right of cars where they can’t see you and would hit you if they turn right.
Act like a vehicle –
Be conscious of how you are perceived — Be aware that motorists, just like cyclists, can get very impatient following slowly behind another vehicle if they think it is needlessly detaining them. You do have the right to be using the roadway, but try to pull off now and then to give motorists an opportunity to pass. If you are riding side by side with other cyclists where it would be safe for a motorist to pass, quickly form a single file to let cars pass; it’s a perfect sharing situation and the less irritation is engendered in traffic, the safer we all are. We all need to share the road.
Bike Ithaca has a table assigned for Saturday’s chili event. “We’re not far from Cayuga St, maybe somewhere around Autumn Leaves bookstore (number 55 in the map below). They’re providing us with a table and a couple chairs. The event runs from 11:30 until 4:00 pm, so I’m planning to be there around 11:00 to see if we can set up and Brenda has volunteered to be there first shift with me. All of you who have things to put on the table, you’ll either have to show up with your stuff before 11:30 or get it to me or Brenda before then. The weather will probably have a lot to do with how long anyone can mind the table — two shifts of 2 hours would be reasonable if it’s halfway decent. Anyhow, let’s hear from anyone else if you can participate in this. I’ll add more info as it materializes.” MORE HERE http://bikeithaca.org/
Still plenty of snow. The warmer days and cooler nights are causing the base to crust up a bit … so the downhills are bit scary. Steve, Dan, Bianca and I did a loop to the radio tower last night. There was still enough powder stuff on the frozen base for a nice glide on the flats.
 |
| From BikeSki Outings |
Having a whole day to ski I decided to venture off my usual routine and drove to Bear Swamp. I saw only two other skiiers, there was a ton of snow, it was cold and crisp but not crusty..so much fun to see some different trails. I parked at the Iowa Road spot and it was an about an hour drive from downtown Ithaca. The trails were all well marked and lots of nice loop options! Back to the kitchen!
Laurie Roe
We have some fresh powder at Hammond Hill this morning. Nice hi-density stuff. There are a few wet spots on the trails but overall plenty of base still. Air temp now +26 F Go ski! :-) To clarify. Yes, there is plenty enough base and fresh powder to ski on. 0-24 inch base. 2-4 inch fresh powder. See PHOTO
 |
| From Snow Pics for Canaan Institute Outdoor BLOG - BikeSki Group |
Recent Comments