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There’s a series of albums by Australian artist Tkay Maidza titled Last Year Was Weird Vol. 1 and Last Year Was Weird Vol. 2. I thought it was funny and unfortunate that the titles referred to last year being weird, when clearly it’s 2020 that is the strange one. That is, until I learned that the albums are planned as a trilogy, with Last Year Was Weird Vol 3 still to come. How could this one NOT come out in 2021?

Who knows what else 2020 will give us to reflect on when the calendar changes. But in the present, we have to focus on factors we can control and opportunities we can provide. If you haven’t already checked out our Winter Update 1.0 it might be worth giving that a look for some context. This update will try to clarify aspects of that release, as well as bringing everyone up to speed on where/how certain things have progressed.

When the Range was accessible, planning and sharing program details was easy: BKL, Juniors, and Masters all trained there on Tuesday and Thursdays. On other days of the week, our various training pages (BKL Blog, Junior Training Doc, Masters Training Doc) let people know when and where to be.

The Range is off the table indefinitely, and although this is not the first time we’ve all heard this, it’s the first time we have really delved into other opportunities to take more control of our own fate. We had such a great turnout for our first official Bolton Trail Work day and members have been putting in time there ever since, whether solo or in small groups. Before delving into programming, it’s pertinent to give an update on Bolton first:

Bolton Venue Update

If you are just catching up, we are making big changes at Bolton. The trail known as “Picnic” is undergoing renovations to  become a lighted 1.4km loop with low-snow grooming capability and access.

• We have a large generator, 50 LED lights, special wiring/cables, and hardware either in shipment or stored in a warehouse awaiting setup. Thank you so much to Green Mountain Electrical Supply and MNC Masters skier Nate Laber! The 1.4km loop will be brightly lit by 5500 lumen floodlights strung along the route.
• Tons of MNC folks came out to trim back branches, do some heavy logging, and begin drainage and rock upgrades. Thanks! There will be more details on how to keep helping out below.
• 3 of 4 bridges have been built so far over key river/drainage areas. These bridges are critical because they allow a snowmobile and groomer to access the trail even in low-snow conditions. Previously, the trails had only been groomed when enough snow fell to FILL IN these ditches and streams! You can check out a bridge-build recap here.
• We are finalizing the purchase of a snowmobile and Tidd Tech groomer and tracksetter. This will allow US to choose when and how to groom. That’s right, we have the ability to set our own classic tracks 🙂

How you can help out

We had a few inquiries about general work at Bolton. That’s super cool, and we are excited to make this loop the most perfect 1.4km you could ever ski on. If you’re just in the area looking to contribute, or if you’re looking for an after-work or after-school project, there will always be job to do on this loop. A few key ones:

• Pulling out any rocks you see on the trail…big, small, buried or loose. The fewer rocks, the fewer scratches in our ski bases come winter.
• Digging out drainage ditches. Most all of the trail has drainage dug in alongside the trail, and most of it is filled with leaves, branches, and rocks in weird places. Anything we can do to make a path for water helps.
• Raking, leaf-blowing, and mowing. When all the leaves have fallen, we will do a “final rake” to clear everything off. But every bit helps, even some leaf removal in advance.

Our sport exists in a realm of constantly-changing circumstances in even the best years: variable snowfall, challenging and changing road conditions, frigid temperatures to be exercising outdoors in, and more. We are used to expecting the unexpected. Being adaptable is the norm. 

In the 2020/2021 season, we are all going to need to embrace that adaptability more than ever. Skiers in our area (high school teams, biathlon teams, and clubs alike) are faced with two distinct challenges: the COVID-19 pandemic, and the closure of the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site (The Range) to civilian organizations through at least December 31, and possibly longer. 

Despite these challenges, MNC is committed to putting on programming at the BKL, Juniors, and Masters levels for the 20/21 season. 

What’s a group of skiers to do? Lucky for us, we live in the state with the greatest Nordic skiing heritage and culture in America. Our surroundings provide us with amazing outdoor opportunities in every season, and in the winter months we have places to ski at every turn. With modern Nordic meccas like Craftsbury, and nearby snowmaking hubs like Sleepy Hollow, we might feel like we need to be limited to only a few centers of sport. But this winter might be thought of as a “return to the roots” of the sport, where small nordic centers and paths through the woods will guide some of our training and exploring. 

Our geographical range is expanding…with club members stretching from Fairfax to Montpelier, the group that is “Mansfield Nordic Club” truly encompasses the northern half of Vermont. Between Fairfax and Montpelier lie skiing opportunities at every turn: the flat and twisting turns of Dac Rowe Field in Waterbury. The epic expanse of the Notch Road in Jeffersonville. The majestic views of Trapps. The deep woods of the Camel’s Hump Nordic Center in Huntington. The maze-like twists of Hard’Ack in St. Albans…

Located about as centrally as you can get for our group is another ski area that is working its way back onto the radar: Bolton Valley. 

Bolton has hired a new Nordic director, Terry Solomon, who is keen to bring back regular grooming, early-season access when the snow flies, and events like a weekly race series to Bolton Valley. MNC has been in contact with both Terry and Adam DesLauriers, the owner of the mountain, to create a partnership between the ski area and our club. With what will likely be some of the most reliable snow within the closest proximity to many of our members, we expect Bolton to be filling many of the roles the Range has in the past. We are communicating with Bolton regarding discounted season passes and memberships for MNC skiers. 

So what does that look like on a weekly basis?

Tuesday/Thursday Programming

BKL skiers should plan on Bolton being a hub for the season on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, as well as weekend sessions for racers. With bridge updates on Picnic and Valley loops, gentler and more open terrain at Bolton will be accessible for skiers in addition to the more challenging and hilly trails on the northern part of the trail system. Plans are in the works for methods of having a lighted main area for games and activities. You can expect some adventures on the trails lit by tiki torches as well!

Afternoon Masters skiers should also plan on Bolton being a hub on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

Evening Masters will be based primarily at Sleepy Hollow, where we have communicated with the owners about allowing use of the trail lights from 6-8pm on Tues/Thurs evening. This will allow us similar training conditions to the Range without being too far from that original location. 

Juniors should plan to be flexible! We will likely be dividing our Tues/Thurs sessions between Bolton and Sleepy Hollow, with potential days at MMU.  

Other days of the week

Wednesdays, Fridays, and weekend days will look similar to years past. We have only ever had Range access on Tues/Thurs and this will be no different. 

We will look at snow conditions, grooming status, snowmaking, and group size to determine where our BKL, Juniors, and Masters skiers will be on certain days throughout the winter. However, ALL of these ski days come with the caveat that things are different and require extra attention from all of us:

Health and COVID Considerations for MNC Members and Coaches

Established ski centers listed above will have their own COVID-19 policies in place to ensure safety of guests and users. It is imperative that MNC follow these guidelines to allow the safety of others, as well as to promote our own club’s responsibility and adherence to rules. As the largest group of skiers in Chittenden County (when all ages are accounted for) we pose arguably the greatest risk to these facilities when we arrive to ski. 

• Skiers must expect to have limited-to-zero lodge, changing room, or bathroom access for sessions. The expectation will be to conduct group activities outdoors at all times. 
• Skiers must self-monitor their health on the days prior to, and the day of, training sessions for symptoms of COVID-19 or sickness in general. Members are expected to remain home if any signs of sickness are present. 
• Skiers and coaches will take attendance at sessions, and keep a record of participants, should contact tracing need to be put in effect. 
• Skiers and coaches should be aware of quarantine travel restrictions and the travel map (linked) regarding any trips. 

The best source for information and requirements on this subject can be found in the NENSA Cross Country Promise. 

Please refer to the NENSA COVID Considerations page and fully read/understand their guidelines as well. Many overlap with MNC considerations, and directly tie-in with the specifics of our sport.