Condtions as of Friday, 6 Feb:

   A few discussions have been taking place concerning the
possible conditions for next weekend's Snowgaine.  An already
thin snow cover has been zapped the past couple of days with
spring like weather cycles (warm sunny days, cold freezing 
nights) with the same expected for at least a couple more days.
Organizers were beginning to panic UNTIL a few controls were
placed out recently.  The following is a CC of a message about
these conditions.
 
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>   Oh heck, I wasn't going to talk about the Snogaine but I will
> anyways. It looks like even though there isn't much snow, this
> could still be very challenging.  I don't know how it is down
> there but up here all the snow has basically turned to ice.  
> You couldn't stop on a downhill with skis even if you fell. 
> And the uphills are just as bad.  I think a snowshoer with
> cleats will have a distinct advantage next weekend unless
> things change.
 
   Almost better than that.  We're quickly losing the stuff in the
open (or any place with direct sun) so conditions will be open
grass (mud, depending on the time of day?) fields, hard pack ice
changing to some soft packed trails as the day's temps rise, a 
few inches (6"?) of stuff on some wooded slopes and as much as
knee deep stuff on windward wooded slopes in other places.   
Went out with Pete & Shawn to set a control Fri and it was quite
interesting to scream (I was actually screaming) down an ice
snowmobile trail then to jump off & slog around in enough stuff 
to keep the skis on as long as you're heading down but a real pain
if you gotta go up or if the skis are off.   With the control
placement "modified" from last year and constantly changing 
snow conditions it won't be quite so easy to choose what type
of foot platform to use this time.
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                 Get those entry forms in!

   Mailing entries probably won't be recieved by us if sent after
Tues. but e-mail or phone entries will be accepted up to Fri. 2-13.
Sooner will be better for us, will guarantee all team members a
pre-marked map and will assure the purchase of enough food
stuffs so don't dally.
   An updated snow conditions report will be posted Tuesday 
10 February and again Thursday 12 February.
 
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