Cabin Creek Nordic Trail Clearing Party & Potluck

10/4 UPDATE:

Big FOOD UPDATE from Debbie (my Kongsberger contact) and Glenn (the Kongsberger Trail Chief):

"Leah Kiviat is making lunch! Pulled beef sandwiches and veggie burgers, pasta and potato and green salads. She is the BEST at cooking fabulous meals for lots of people."

So for us trail workers, for our potluck contribution, please bring appetizers or desserts, and whatever you want to drink.

We have 15 folks so far (from this group, WSTC, and my e-mail list), and ~7 maybes.

Come join us!

Looking forward to working with you up at Cabin Creek Saturday! : )

Sharon

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10/2 UPDATE:

Weather looks great for Sat, we have some fun projects to tackle, and burgers are being provided by the Kongsberger Ski Club!

We have more information from Glenn, the Kongsberger Trail Chief, for our work on Saturday.

We'll be focusing primarily on clearing/cutting brush and digging, and supporting these activities. We'll be on the Amabalis trail (we'll drive to some of the sites over 2 miles up), as well as some of the lower trails, and will also be preparing to build a trail connector.

I've updated the 'wear/bring' list below with some additional items.

We have 13 folks confirmed and ~6 maybes (from this group and another group, and there will others from the various ski clubs).

However, we need more guys and muscles! If you know some guys who might be interested, please encourage them to join us.

Thanks again! Looking forward to working with you Sat! : )
Sharon

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Our nordic ski season is just around the corner! http://img2.meetupstatic.com/981263258369601089/img/smileys/smile.gif To kick off the season, we have an invite to join a trail clearing party & potluck at Cabin Creek (http://www.kongsbergers.org/tails.pdf)! This is a great time to gather with other ski enthusiasts, and start planning for the upcoming season. We'll work on the trails in the morning, then share a potluck lunch mid-afternoon.

This is our opportunity to help make the trails we ski even more enjoyable. We'll be leveling a straightaway and start/finish area along the Berg Loop (http://www.kongsbergers.org/tails.pdf), re-opening a bypass area on the Viking course (http://www.kongsbergers.org/tails.pdf), and cutting back overgrowth on the Amabalis trail (http://www.kongsbergers.org/tails.pdf). These changes will help widen trails for side-by-side skiing, open up trail entrances and exits, level out trails for improved trail grooming, and provide trail bypass options for newer/less confident skiers.

This is also a chance to meet other nordic ski enthusiasts from the Kongsberger Ski Club (http://www.kongsbergers.org/) (sponsors the exhilarating Wed night headlamp race series (http://www.headlamprace.blogspot.com/), and has the beautiful warm cozy cabin on the hill), the Snoqualmie Nordic Club (http://www.snoqualmienordic.org/) (offers super fun and challenging dryland clinics and helpful on-snow ski clinics, a strong junior ski program, and colorful blue & yellow tutus for donning at local ski races), the Washington Ski Touring Club (http://www.wstc.org/) (organizes nordic and AT/tele ski trips, and nordic patrol opportunities, nearly every weekend to local and destination resorts), and the Mountaineers (http://www.mountaineers.org/) (runs excellent nordic and alpine ski instruction series).

Last of all, this will be a very fun and satisfying day -- there are plenty of ways to help out, your efforts will be greatly appreciated by many during the ski season, its a potluck (I've observed most skiers eat very very well), and its free!

So, clear your Sat morning and afternoon on 10/6, and join us and other ski enthusiasts in clearing trails and investing in our favorite sno-park and winter weekend and midweek hangout! Cabin Creek will be SO happy to see us! : )

Schedule:

8:15 am - load cars at Eastgate P&R (WEST side), 8:25 leave for Cabin Creek ~9:30 am - meet in the Kongsberger Cabin morning - work in teams to help clear trails mid-afternoon - share potluck lunch Carpool Location: Eastgate P&R (WEST side of parking structure) 14200 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue (official P&R address) Enter on 140th, instead of 142nd, to get to WEST side of parking structure.

Destination: Cabin Creek Sno-Park. I-90, exit #63. Turn left, go across freeway, and park along the road. Follow trail a short distance, then up the hill (on right) to the Kongsberger Cabin. Sno-Park (http://parks.wa.gov/winter/trails/?TrailType=nonmotorized&Region=3) (click 'Cabin Creek' on the map), and Trail Map (http://www.kongsbergers.org/tails.pdf).

Projects: There will be projects for everyone -- for big muscles and small, adults and kids, something for everyone!

operating chainsaws, cutting down trees, branches lopping branches, trimming bushes tossing lopped branches into woods digging out rocks, moving rocks raking small rocks and debris, picking up trash pulling weeds, transplanting ground cover, gardening restoring trails, widening trails, refining trails Glenn T, the Kongsbergers Trail Chief, is compiling a list of projects and tasks, and will have a lead on each one to make sure we're doing constructive work and making good progress.

Wear grubby clothes, and BRING:

work gloves, heavy shoes or boots, long pants safety glasses (for eye protection from flying debris) snacks and water sunscreen and bug repellent (optional) tools for clearing/cutting brush (if you have any): chainsaws, pruners, pruning saws, long-handled loppers tools for digging (if you have any): pointed-tip shovels, picks or Mattocks, heavy hoes
potluck item - side dish, dessert, or beverage. Note: there is a refrigerator and oven in the Kongsberger cabin. The Kongsberger Ski Club is providing burgers, prepared by Leah Keviat! The rewards are great -- I think Debbie summarizes this best:

'I personally love doing trail work, because in the winter, when you ski past the project you worked on in the summer, you OWN that piece of trail, and it is so satisfying!'

Here is your chance to feel that same satisfaction every time you ski past YOUR project area this winter, and an opportunity to put your personal stamp on making Cabin Creek an even more enjoyable venue for nordic skiing! : )