The Haines Ski Club will incorporate as a non-profit and plans to post snow and trail conditions regularly on the Internet.
Thirty-five residents turned out Friday at a reorganization of the club which dates to the 1960s but was only loosely organized. Dan Egolf, who has led the group about 30 years, said he was overwhelmed by the interest.
“To have 35 people show up at a meeting that wasn’t about anything controversial, I thought that was pretty great,” Egolf said afterward.
Those at the meeting signed on to committees to address topics including a bivouac hut, avalanche awareness training, ski races and formation of a non-profit. The next meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10.
Egolf said individuals have approached him recently about forming a non-profit, including attorneys who volunteered to help with paperwork.
“If you’re a non-profit, getting funding – and grants – is easier. It’s a big organization and there’s more responsibility to have meetings, but with a board of directors, there should be enough administration to get things going,” Egolf said.
Parent Laurie Mastrella is heading up efforts to bring an avalanche awareness class to town. The class is important not only for skiers but for snowmachiners who use local mountains. Three Guardsmen Mountain, a favorite of residents, is particularly susceptible to slides.
State park ranger Preston Kroes said his agency is considering locations at 25 Mile, Chilkoot Lake, and the Kelsall Valley as sites for new ski-tracking equipment he expects to receive this winter, including two snowmachines, a track-setter and groomer.
Besides a Nordic skiing track, the groomer will set a separate track for dog-mushers, snowmachiners, skate skiers and snowshoers, Kroes said. Such trails may be parallel or separate. “It will probably take a season or two to decide where to keep putting them and where they work best. It’s going to take some trial and error.”
Meeting attendees voiced support for a track at Chilkoot, including on the lake surface. The equipment can be used only on state land.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” said dog musher Jim Stanford. “It’s been 20 years we’ve been asking the state to throw some money at skiing or winter recreation. This is just unbelievable.”
Discussion of a possible bivouac hut generated considerable discussion, including statements for and against erecting a structure on the Mount Ripinsky ridge. Some said that one so close to town would be abused or become a party spot. Other suggested locations included the Kelsall Valley and upper Chilkoot Valley.
“It’s not a done deal that there will be a hut,” Egolf said after the meeting. There are a lot of things to consider.” Egolf said a hut on Ripinsky might work if it were tucked out of view. Resident Aaron Johnson said such cabins are cared for in other parts of Alaska.
“There are towns that do this, outside the culture of what we do here. They make sure it’s maintained. You don’t need regulations if everybody believes it’s a good deal,” Egolf said.
Increased snow loads in recent years, new trails at the Valley of the Eagles Golf Links and Takshanuk Mountain Trail and the surging popularity of snowshoeing and snowboarding have boosted the number of winter recreationists, Egolf said.
“The big snow loads in 2005 make it so going out your back door is convenient. In the alpine, enough trees are buried there’s room to ski up there,” he said. “There are enough people hiking Mount Ripinsky so often, you hardly have to break a trail.”