Kids take off for a race during one of the annual Barneløpet ski events at Maasto Hiihto. This year's Barneløpet has been postponed to Sunday, Feb. 21, because of weather predicted for this weekend. (Photo © Keith Meyers and courtesy Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club)HANCOCK -- Families with young children and teenaged skiers will once again make a colorful sight on the hills surrounding the Hancock Driving Park for the start of the 14th Annual Barneløpet* on Sunday February 21. Originally scheduled for this Sunday, Feb. 7, the annual children's ski event at the Maasto Hiihto ski trails has been postponed to Feb. 21 due to expectations of dangerous wind chills.
Co-sponsors of the event are Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club (KNSC), Sons of Norway Ulseth Lodge 5-670, the City of Hancock, Steve Zutter of Edward Jones and the Portage Health Foundation. Registration is at the Four Seasons Chalet beginning at 1 p.m. on the day of the race (Feb. 21). Races start at 2 p.m. at the Maasto Hiihto cross country ski trails on the north side of the Hancock Driving Park.
The Barneløpet, a Norwegian word meaning "the children’s race," is open to youth ages 3 through 17 and their families. The event is hosted by Sons of Norway, KNSC, and the City of Hancock.
"This is a special day for youth and their families to spend some time skiing and having fun together," says Wayne Stordahl, longtime member of the local chapter of Sons of Norway and KNSC board. "Cross country skiing is a popular family activity in Norway and we want to encourage that here, too."
Parents are encouraged to ski with their children during the Barneløpet. (Keweenaw Now file photo) Stordahl adds that another reason for hosting the Barneløpet is to spotlight the great cross country trails in Hancock. He says that the KNSC maintains over 26 kilometers of "striding" ski trails, with grooming services from the City of Hancock.
Four courses will be groomed for the event. Relatively easy one-, two-, and four-kilometer courses will be open, as well as a more difficult six-kilometer course, which includes a descent into the Swedetown Creek gorge, though the traditional trail has been rerouted due to flood damage closures. Skiers can "stride" any of the four courses based on ability.
All youth who finish their course will be awarded a colorful Norwegian Olympic-style enameled medallion. Due to the pandemic the Chalet is closed this season though portolets will be on site.
A Barneløpet registration form can be downloaded at https://keweenawnordic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Barne-registration_2021_V3.pdf
If possible, please bring a completed registration form with you to the event.
UPDATE: Skis for younger skiers without skis can be reserved by calling 482-0292 no later than Feb. 17th.
For additional information, contact Wayne Stordahl at 906-482-0292 or John Diebel: john.diebel@sbcglobal.net
*Pronunciation guide: Barneløpet = BAR-nuh-lop-it
KNSC acquires new grooming machine for Maasto Hiihto
To help keep the reputation of the Copper Country as a world class destination for cross country skiing, the Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club (KNSC) has acquired a new grooming machine through a funding partnership with the City of Hancock’s Recreation Millage Fund, Portage Health Foundation’s Small Grant Program and Community Foundation of the UP’s Upper Peninsula Sustainable Forest and Wildlife Fund.
The new grooming machine acquired by the Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club is pictured here on the Maasto Hiihto cross country trails in Hancock. (Photo courtesy Michael Babcock, Portage Health Foundation) Planning for the replacement of the all-terrain utility vehicle used for trail grooming and off-season maintenance on the Maasto Hiihto ski trails in Hancock began late last winter as the previous machine was beginning to show its age.
"Reliability and operator safety are key considerations as most grooming is done in the pre-dawn hours, often in some pretty heavy weather and remote areas without cell service," said John Diebel, KNSC treasurer.
John Diebel, KNSC treasurer, is pictured here with the new grooming machine. (Photo courtesy Michael Babcock, Portage Health Foundation) Financing of the machine was not easy but made possible by a number of community players with an interest in maintaining quality ski trails for outdoor recreation and community health during long and snowy Keweenaw winters. The City of Hancock through its Recreation Millage Fund provided $8,750; Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club $8,709; the Portage Health Foundation $3,000; and the UP Sustainable Forest and Wildlife Fund $1,500. The balance of $35,000 for the machine and track pods came from the sale of the old machine jointly owned by the City and KNSC.
Colin Pekkala, experienced head groomer for Maasto Hiihto, operates the new grooming machine in just about any weather. (Photo courtesy Michael Babcock, Portage Health Foundation) Diebel, who also serves on the Hancock Recreation Commission, also noted, "Through this cooperative effort the City acquired a $35,000 asset for $8,750 -- which is a very effective way to leverage the Recreation Millage Fund."
Ski, snowshoe and snow bike trails have played an even more important part in community health than usual this winter as various restrictions brought on by the pandemic have greatly increased the demand for outside activities that can be performed safely. Sales of annual passes to local ski trails are surging, Diebel reports.
The new machine was delivered in mid-September, wired for equipment control, had the track pods installed and went into service in early December on the Hancock trails.
Learn more about the Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club at their Web site here: https://keweenawnordic.org/.
