WINTER SPORTS -- The Panhandle Nordic Club's annual Rock Soup event is set for Saturday at Fourth of July Pass nordic trails Panhandle Hut. Although the snow is thin on the trails, there's plenty for skiing.

"The ski up Skywalker from Skateway to Twisted Klister and beyond is great," said club spokesman Geoff  Harvey, after checking out the trails this weekend.

A few places weren't so good.  Read on for Harvey's full report. 

"The The report from the Inner Core at Fourth of July is not good, but not as bad as one might expect given all the rain. The swoop and area up by Peaceful View were left pretty threadbare by the rains of last week and then that little outrage on Friday afternoon. To add to this problems a four wheeler decided to drive in skateaway and the high road to Peaceful view leaving these runs a rutted mess.  The groomers did their best on it, but it will take some accumulation of snow to make it right.

"The four wheeler turned into the area and did not proceed above Skateway.  I skied Makin Tracks and New Shoe, soon to be Joe's Trail to the Snowshoe Hut and then back up Twisted Klister finding good snow and coverage all the way.  So if skiing at Fourth of July this week or before a good snow, I suggest getting up high as quick as possible to find the good snow.

"I skied off Fernan Summit Sunday morning up onto Huckleberry Mountain.  One has to dodge snow machines to do this.  The best bet is to go early and when and if you hear them coming step aside until they pass.  After all the groomed area up there is done on their dime. Out in the bush above 4,000 feet, the elevation of Fernan Summit, there is over four feet of snow little affected by the rains of last week.  It is untracked off the beaten path. 

"Hopefully the sky will bless us above 3,000 feet with snow this week and we can improve the coverage at Fourth of July."