January 2011

Full Moon Ski

The Beartooth Ranger District will join BRTA in hosting the “Skier’s Full Moon Ski” on Jan 21 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Ray Masters, co-author of Skiing Red Lodge, will share stories of local ski areas. Relax by a warm fire with a bowl of chili or hot dog, cornbread and hot cocoa.  Contributions of cookies or desert goodies are always welcome. Bring your own preferred beverage.  Don’t forget to dress warmly and bring a headlamp for this popular winter event.  Hope to see you there!

Kids Ski Lessons

“Nordic Kids” lessons are scheduled for Jan. 22, Jan. 29, Feb. 5, and Feb.12, 2011 from 1 to 2:30 PM. at the Red Lodge Nordic Ski Center. This program is sponsored by BRTA and is conducted by volunteer instructors and support staff. If you are interested in helping with the classes, please call Glenn Schnell at 307-272-1565 or email Elise at ehfouts@msn.com.

Adult Ski Clinics

Learn to Cross Country Ski clinic is scheduled for Jan. 29 at Red Lodge Nordic Center, 10:00 am; classic and/or skate styles. Cost is $10 plus $5 Nordic Center trails fee. Contact Grant to sign up after Jan. 20, before Jan. 27 (425-0130; telemark@imt.net). You must preregister. Bring your own gear.

Upcoming Events

Ice Moon Ski February 18: Join us from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm with Beartooth Ranger interpreters and a bowl of chili.

Red Lodge Nordic Festival February 19: Cross country ski race registration is at 9:00 am with races starting at 10:00.

Winter Wildlands Backcountry Film Festival February 25: As part of Red Lodge Mountain’s Winter Carnival, the BRTA is hosting this festival at 7:00 pm at the Elks Club in Red Lodge.

We have more information on our website www.beartoothtrails.org

Nordic Center News

The Red Lodge Nordic Center at Aspen Ridge Ranch is having another great year with 1,000 sign-ins since opening Thanksgiving week! Snowfall has been more than adequate, and our dedicated grooming team has worked hard to provide first rate trails, knowing expectations are high. We especially want to reward our Billings friends, who bravely dodge the deer on their drive to Red Lodge. New snow fence techniques have improved coverage and eliminated a lot of sweaty, snow shovel work to fill in bare spots.

Mother Nature, however, does not always co-operate with the groomers, and all too often sends high winds that immediately cover their good work, or she’ll allow temperatures to rise leaving us with un-workable snow. The grooming team makes daily assessments of conditions and groom whenever conditions allow; that includes days of below zero wind chill, white-outs and heavy snowfall. Note that our grooming team is made of unpaid volunteers. The $5.00 daily trail fee defrays maintenance, oil and gas costs for our snowmobiles and equipment.

For up to the minute grooming reports, skiing conditions and event details, check our website: http://www.beartoothtrails.org/. Please note that snowshoes and dogs are not allowed at the Nordic Center. For trails to enjoy those activities, contact the Beartooth Ranger District at: (406) 446-2103.

By the way, since the groomers are at the Nordic Center anyway, most will “test” the conditions after grooming, getting in a “first tracks” run.  Often, on very cold days, skiing conditions are awesome, but they are surprised to find an empty parking lot. So, cowboy up, put on an extra layer, some face protection and get out there for some of the best ski days you’ll ever have.

Member Spotlight

This month, we feature Mary Johnson. She is a board member and a newly retired speech pathologist.  We asked Mary how she got involved in BRTA. Here’s what she had to say:

“My involvement with BRTA came on the heels of Bob (husband) responding to an article in the CC News requesting grooming help. At that time, there was a loosely organized board that was starting to gel. When board members were gathered, Bob and I comprised one member as Bob spent much of spring and fall in North Dakota (where we farm) and couldn’t attend meetings. So I did!  I found the people to be absolutely wonderful, fun, funny, hard working, open minded, and they do what they say they will do!  Our involvement with BRTA is one of the reasons I’ve found my obsession; skate skiing.  Now, you’d probably think that with all that time at the NC, I should be getting pretty good at it.  Oh, not so!  But I really have fun! Having a connection to one of the groomers, I find I frequently ski on freshly groomed snow and what could be better than that? Skiing in YNP and coming upon geothermic ponds, geysers, bison, wolves, and gorgeous surroundings comes close!”

Thanks, Mary, for telling us a little bit more about you. Look to future newsletters to hear more from our members.

Community Pint Night

It was a great turnout at Sam’s Taproom Dec. 28 for Community Pint Night! BRTA earned $63.50 from beer sales plus $72.00 from outright donations. Thank you for participating, and THANKS Sam and Lindsey for donating to our community nonprofit organizations!

Feature of the Month: Wilderness First Aid

by Grant Barnard

Wilderness First Aid is a term used for medical care in any area that is two hours or more from advanced care (911, ambulance, Emergency Medical Technicians, Advanced Life Support, etc.) We who recreate in the backcountry (rivers, mountains, winter, summer, etc.) often find ourselves out there where an accident or a minor condition could become a serious situation if appropriate prevention, care and evacuation don’t happen in a timely manner.

Training is available for those who work or recreate in the backcountry from Wilderness Medical Associates, Wilderness Medical Institute, and Aerie Backcountry Medicine. These professional companies (Google them on the web) offer Wilderness First Aid (16 hrs. + CPR), Wilderness First Responder (40+ hrs), and Wilderness EMT classes on a regular basis throughout the U.S.

They teach scene assessment and decision-making, patient assessment, liability for caregivers; caring for traumatic injuries, medical emergencies, and environmental emergencies. A large percent of skills is prevention. You will also learn what to carry in your first aid kit.

What would you do if your partner broke a femur at Quinnebaugh Meadows?  Or you got bucked off your horse onto your head at Fossil Lake?

We would be doing our friends and family a favor if we all spent the money and time on training in Wilderness First Aid methods. Check out those websites.

Forest Service Updates

Call or stop in at the Beartooth Ranger District office in Red Lodge for current information on trails and roads in the Beartooth Mountains, 446-2103.

The West Fork Road is gated for winter use until April 15. Winter use includes just about everything except wheeled vehicles (if you encounter wheeled vehicles, report it to the Forest Service). BRTA will groom the road when snow conditions and our availability of volunteers and equipment allow…hopefully once a week. Beware that the road from Silver Run turnoff to the gate (½ mile) is not plowed and can be difficult in deep snow; the same goes for the Lake Fork road from Highway 212 to the gate at Lions Camp.

Quote of the Month

“Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look what they do when they stick together.” – Verna M. Kelly

Always consider yourself welcome at BRTA monthly Board meetings, second Wednesday, Red Lodge Area Community Foundation at 6:30 pm., or call your favorite Board member to learn what’s up with BRTA.