Downed Trees Won’t Hinder ‘97 Langlauf Competition

There’s a chance officials could start the 1997 Langlauf cross-country ski race by yelling, “Timber!”

“We’ve still got a lot of work to do clearing trees off some trails,” said Paul Smith, race director. Although hundreds of blowdowns have been removed to open most of the Mount Spokane cross-country ski trail system, three areas remained clogged, Smith said.

At least 100 trees were down on a 1/2-kilometer stretch of a trail called Shady Way.

The trees started falling or breaking off at Mount Spokane about a week after the ice storm blacked out most of Spokane in mid-November.

But whole trees or the tops of trees kept falling through the New Year.

“There were a 100 trees down on Raven’s Glide,” Smith said. “They cleared that, and the next thing we knew there were another 50 or 60 down.” Park workers and volunteers have been cutting the blowdowns into pieces small enough to be moved off the trail by hand or with the ski trail groomer.

“We’ve been able to keep all the trails clear, except for Wild Moose, Shady Way and the Twin Lakes Spur,” said Kary Peterson, Mount Spokane State Park ranger. “We’re still looking for people to help clear trails,” he said. Volunteers should call the park at 238-4258. “But the groomer wasn’t designed to be a skidder,” he said. “We’re going to have to stop using it for that or we’re going to spend all of our grooming money on repairs.”

In some cases, the trees are just allowed to sink into the snow.

“It will be interesting in spring when the deep snowpack starts to shrink. There could be quite an obstacle course up there,” Smith said.

Although a tentative course has been mapped, Smith said he doesn’t foresee having to alter the route the annual Langlauf has used in recent years.

Looking back to last year, the current problems at Mount Spokane seem minor to Smith.

“Last year there was hardly any snow in December and people seemed to get out of the skiing mood,” he said, noting that the field of 260 skiers last winter was down from about 350 in 1995.

Skiers may have to consider sawdust and tree bark as well as snow conditions when they wax their skis on Langlauf. Other than that, the race traditions will be much the same.

A flash of brightly clad racers should take the lead from the mass start, followed by a bobbing mass of skiers in all sizes and shapes.

Some will be wearing wood skis and wool outfits in search of special prizes and and era before Lycra.

A race for kids 10 years old and under will precede the Langlauf. All vehicles will be required to display a Washington Sno-Park permit or reciprocal permit from Idaho or Oregon.

Skiers can get updated Langlauf information three ways this year:

Call Cityline at 458-8800 category 5010.

Download an entry form on the Internet at http://www.eznet.com/ (tild)pegasus/langlauf.htm/

Pre-registered skiers can pick up race packets at Mountain Gear Jan. 31 and get other info by calling 325-9000.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: SPOKANE LANGLAUF CROSS-COUNTRY CITIZEN’S RACE Date: Feb. 2 Distance: 10 kilometers Place: Mount Spokane Registration: $12 until Jan. 24; then $20 up to race day. $5 for kids race. Info: 325-9000. Special rules: No skating allowed. Features: “Woollie Award” for old fashioned cross-country costumes. “Woodies Award” for fastest male and female on wood skis and wearing natural fabrics. Gift awards by drawing with all entrants eligible. Race times: Kids races, 9 a.m., Langlauf mass start, 11 a.m. Awards: 1:15 p.m. near Selkirk Lodge; awards for males and females in 11 age categories.