The SNOW has Come

Well winter has made an appearance again, finally! The ski trails are being covered up as fast the ski trails are track set. It is slow going skiing, as your feet are constantly searching for the track underneath.

The snow is light and fluffy with a temperature around -12C. A wind is suppose to come around and create havoc later tonight.
There were no animal tracks, like deer or moose, as they are waiting out the  snow storm.

Ah, a bit of winter! Yes!!

Well I had a new Nordic skiing experience this past weekend. I skied the 2012 55km Canadian Birkie, as a sweeper, which I was not physically prepared for. Our speed is only as fast as the slowest skier. There is however, cutoff times at each feed station. If the skier does not reach a station in a particular time, they must quit the race.

Volunteers were at each feed station or at intersections, directing skiers to the 31km or 55km course. It was for some, an all day affair but also enjoyable. When the sweeper reaches a station, the volunteers can then call it a day, pack up, and go home.
Eight hours on skis at slow speeds is really hard on a person.

The weather was -18C, sunny, with a 15km wind at 930am start time, which was certainly cold for those that were not prepared. The tracks stood up well especially considering how little snow there was. The air temperature warmed to about -6C at the finish line.