Springtime in Anchorage?

Greetings from the 49th state, where I'm visiting Anchorage for the 2008 Junior Olympic cross country ski championships. That's one of the views from the venue, Kincaid Park, above.

We have five skiers from the Copper Country Ski Tigers race team who have qualified (Kai Sharp, Jay Woodbeck, Olivia Orr, Madelaine Shoup and Ruth Oppliger, as well as Ski Tigers alumnus Mariah Featherly).

Teresa Shoup and Jan Woodbeck are here with me (we're the parental contingency).

The Anchorage Convention and Visitors Center says there are more than 100 miles of groomed trails in the city. That's, what, 175km? But there isn't much grooming going on right now, with temperatures around 40 today (Saturday, March 8). They are shoveling snow onto the race courses, but the media relations person told me today that the races will go on.

I visited Kincaid Park, the JO venue, today, then skied the trails at the Hillside area, across town from Kincaid. Hillside is at a slightly higher elevation and actually had snow yesterday when it was raining in town. I shopped Alaska Mountaineering and Hiking and purchased three different kinds of klister. Rex Yellow was the choice for warm weather and wet snow and that's what I used. I actually got great kick on tracks (when they were there) that were icy and a skating lane that has a hard base but various between icy and soft on top. Not your ideal conditions.

That photo to the right is the Kincaid chalet.

Tomorrow (Sunday) is the parade of athletes and opening ceremonies. Races start on Monday.