I must apologize for being so slow getting the club news out this season. It seems like time has been flying by since last spring and I haven’t been able to keep up. So, let me update you on what the club and board members have been doing.
First, I must express our most heart felt sympathy and sorrow to Ron Jones wife, Alicia and their daughters after Ron’s sudden death last month. He will certainly be missed by everyone. He was a great president for our club and helped to take it in a positive direction.
Trail News
We are still about the same place we were last spring, as far as trail easements and development go. All the paper work for easements, we have surveyed and applied for, has been submitted to DNR and are still waiting to be processed.
This year we will be surveying a new route, at the end of the Tolsona Trail, around Moose Lake. There is a portion between Moose and Tolsona Lakes that runs through private property, so a new route is needed to get full easement to that trail. Corky has been working with DNR on the route and they have settled on one and we will have surveyed this winter.
Currently the Lake Trail has been staked down to Lake Susitna and from all reports there are no pressure ridges and the ice is smooth. That still doesn’t mean it can’t change at any time! Always be aware of hazards and be conscious when traveling on ice and the trails as well.
If you would like to get trail reports for Lake Louise on a weekly basis, you can listen to KNBQ valley radio on Wednesdays. Corky has been sending an update every Tuesday to the station and they have been reporting it on their weekly trail report. He also sends one to the Mat-Su Borough website and the Wolf Pack website (Lake and Ice Conditions). So far not much has been done on trails because of lack of snow or cold weather.
This year we have been awarded $21,003 grant, from Snow Track, for grooming our trails. I might add this grant money comes from a pool funded by snowmobile registrations. This is one reason to keep your registrations current. We will also be applying for some additional monies from the Mat-Su Borough as well, to aid in our grooming and trail improvements.
Grooming
We all know the catastrophe that happened last year with Big Foot. For that reason, we felt it prudent not to begin grooming with Big Foot till January. With a shortage of snow and some needed track maintenance on Big Foot, we haven’t really been ready to groom till now.
With any piece of heavy equipment, there is always maintenance to be done, Big Foot is no exception. Other than the normal oil and filter changes, we discovered 10 of the track grousers were cracked and needed repair. The grousers were removed and have been since, welded and put back on last week. Thanks to volunteers, Corky, John Hicks, Tim Sutter, Doug Dawson, and Harry Holt.
Shortly before Christmas, Corky borrowed a truck and trailer from Bill Kramer to haul our damage groomer back to Harry’s shop in Palmer. Harry and Corky traveled to the lake one day and with the aid of Doug Dawson and his back hoe, loaded the groomer onto the trailer for the trip back to Palmer.
Upon closer inspection in the shop, the damage wasn’t as bad as would be expected, looking at it last year, at this time.
Harry has been working on it the past 3 ½ weeks, cutting out and replacing a number of bent sections. Randy Arndt and Harry also have straightened out a number of sections buy using a jack and strong back. With all the repairs done and help from volunteers, Luke Ludvik and Barry Simpson, the groomer is now sporting a new yellow paint job as well!
Harry and Barry plan on towing the groomer back to the lake, this week sometime, and it will be ready to put it work.
So far the only trail groomed with Big Foot has been the Crosswind Trail. When our own groomer arrives, we plan to start grooming more and more to get all the trails in shape, quick as we can.
We are always looking for volunteers to help groom. If you would like to partake, get a hold of Corky at the lake, (Cranberry Cottage) or 250–2098.
Wolf Pack Clothing
During our annual meeting, last spring, a committee was formed to come up with some new style Wolf Pack clothing. The committee has met several times, in the past few
Months, to come up with some new styles and items. With their own experiences and suggestions from members, they are beginning to narrow down a new look for the Club. Some of the new clothing will include, long sleeve t-shirts (xxl sizes), vests, knit hats, and other similar items. Hopefully the debut of the new items will be during Wolf Pack Weekend, March 6.
Another cool thing in the works is a web store. When all set up, we will be able to order merchandise through a link from the Wolf Pack website. The committee is working with the clothing distributer right now, so stay tuned.
Wolf Pack Weekend
Looking at the winter schedule I see Wolf Pack Weekend, March 6 is less than 8 short weeks away. As a reminder, Wolf Pack Weekend is our main fund raiser for the year, so now is the time to start thinking of putting together a basket for the auction or devoting some time to help organize the event. Right now, we need folks to help by soliciting their companies, business, and friends, for donations, to help support the efforts of our club. If you need a Tax Exemption form, contact me at hholt@gci.net or my cell: (907) 232-9080. In past years we have had many generous donations of items we either auctioned off or gave away as door prizes.
We also need help organizing a kid’s ride and any other event you can think of that would be fun to do during the daytime.
If you can help, contact any one of the club board members and they will gladly help you out.
STAY TUNED
Hopefully this gets everyone updated to what our club is doing. I’ll continue to update as the season unfolds. Look on the Wolf Pack website for a complete winter schedule!
In the mean time….ride safe…ride smart….and wear your helmet!
Dues Are Due
Once more, dues are due again. Many folks, last year, paid for multiple years which helped alot. If you aren’t sure if you are paid up or not, Corky will be happy to look it up for you, if you ask him. Dues can be sent through the mail or be paid online at: http://www.lakelouisesnowmachineclub.com/. Dues play a big part in allowing our club to further its activities and develop the trails we all enjoy.
News Flash!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Some low life SOB stole Ryan Jones’s truck and Alicia's snowmachine trailer. On the trailer was his machine and both of Alicia’s, they were taken out of Alicia's driveway. Luckily Ryan’s truck and Alicia’s machines and trailer have been recovered in Kenai. That still leaves Ryan’s snowmachine missing.
Ryan gave us this description of his stolen snowmachine. 2004 Polaris 550 RMK Trail. It has a “vertical edge” decal on the cowling. Handle bars have been raised without the cover installed. If anyone hears of or sees his machines call Ryan at 509-834-0411.
Starting the New Year