Ski Club welcomes volunteers for trail work at Swedetown gorge Saturday, Oct. 11

During a break in trail work at Maasto Hiihto, Sandy Aronson and Gromit the Trail Dog admire the fall colors near Swedetown gorge. Volunteers are needed TOMORROW, Saturday, Oct. 11, to help on the trails. (Photo © and courtesy Arlyn and Sandy Aronson of Trail Mutt Reports)

HANCOCK -- Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club (KNSC) members invite more volunteers to help them work on the Maasto Hiihto trails this Saturday, Oct. 11, and get the trails ready for snow.

Some KNSC volunteers will be working on the Swedetown Creek gorge Saturday. If you can help, meet at 9 a.m. at the Tomasi Trailhead. Wear work or hiking boots and bring work gloves and safety glasses if you have them. KNSC will bring extra if you don't and will supply you with all necessary tools. You might also want to bring some water and snacks for yourself.

"Gromit will be so happy to see you, she'll feature you on her blog!" says Sandy Aronson.*

The work bee is scheduled approximately from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., but your help is welcome even if you can't stay for the whole time. Please RSVP to sandyaronsonpt@gmail.com if you can, but last minute additions are welcomed.

* See more photos of Gromit's recent trail adventures on Trail Mutt Reports.

Volunteers needed for trail trimming at Maasto Hiihto Oct. 6

In September, Gromit the Trail Dog supervises a trail crew of Finlandia students working on the river trail near Swedetown Creek at Maasto Hiihto. (Photo courtesy The Trail Mutt Reports.)

HANCOCK -- Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club (KNSC) will have a trail trimming work bee from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Sunday, Oct. 6. Meet at the Tomasi trailhead at 9 a.m. with sturdy boots and water. Tools provided. If you can't do the full time, come for part of the time. Questions?? Email Jay Green at jbgreen45@charter.net or call 906-487-5411. Moderate or heavy rain will cancel the event.

Snow dog Gromit offers trail snow update

Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club groomer at work along Gromit's favorite Swedetown Creek gorge on Maasto Hiihto Ski Trails. (Photos courtesy Arlyn and Sandy Aronson)

HANCOCK -- Gromit the snow dog reports grooming is taking place on Maasto Hiihto trails but cautions humans to take care and use rock skis.

Grooming goes on at night, too.

"With some white gold falling here yesterday, I sent a pack member out to roll it down," Gromit writes. "He found the trails definitely improved with the modest amount that came. Although they'd still recommend using rock skis out on Keweenaw Nordic's trails."

On Christmas Eve, Gromit reports, "the lake hadn't dumped all that much snow around here so we headed to the North Country Trail near Rockland and brought snowshoes with us in case it was too shallow for skis."

Gromit with Sandy Aronson enjoying a five-hour snowshoe and the view from the North Country Trail near Rockand on Christmas Eve, 2011.

On Dec. 12, Gromit, Sandy and Arlyn took a short drive north of Hancock to do a three-mile hike to the top of a Lookout ridge. "All-paw drive" was needed to get to the top for a view, she says.

Sandy and Arlyn Aronson and Gromit enjoy a view of Lake Superior from their Lookout hike in early December.

Gromit in her element!

See more photos of hiking, skiing and snowshoeing with Gromit in our "low snow" season on Gromit's blog, The Trail Mutt Reports.

Gromit the Trail Dog posts new photos, trail reports

Gromit the Trail Dog pursues Sandy Aronson in the fresh, deep snow at Twin Lakes State Forest on Sunday, Nov. 20. (Photos courtesy Arlyn and Sandy Aronson and Gromit, from Gromit's blog: The Trail Mutt Reports. Reprinted with permission.)

HANCOCK -- Gromit the Trail Dog has posted some new photos from October and November 2011 on her blog, The Trail Mutt Reports. She includes photos of her great romp in the deep snow at Twin Lakes State Forest on Nov. 20 as well as reports of trail work at Maasto Hiihto in Hancock -- helping Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club (KNSC) volunteers get the trails ready for the coming season of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Here are some excerpts from Gromit's report:

Gromit posted this photo on Nov. 5. Trail crew members include, from left, Sandy Aronson, Mark Roberts and Saurav Pathak.

On Nov. 5, Gromit writes, "Today with the irreplaceable help of Saurav Pathak and Mark Roberts, the pack and I cleared the remaining weeds in the Swedetown gorge, plus we cut many limbs and branches that had fallen onto the trail. I myself moved many sticks and saw some very, very friendly people down there. Who'd not want to be in the gorge with gorgeous weather like this!!

"Before we started today, we found the area around the storage building at Tomasi Trailhead to have been "magically" cleaned of debris...many thanks to the magician who made this happen. You may know him: his name is David Bach."

Maasto Hiihto groomer Arlyn Aronson, left, and Jonathon Rulseh with a 12-ft. drag post they planted at the Tomasi Trail Head.

"On Friday this motley crew was at the Tomasi trail head and planted a 12-ft. post there to hold the drag up and off the trail when it's not in use. Please thank Jonathon Rulseh when you see him for his gracious help," says Gromit in her Nov. 12 posting.

On Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Hancock Chalet, skiers learn about applying pine tar to wood skis.

Gromit reports: "With the ski season upon us, Keweenaw Nordic had a Pine Tar clinic for anyone who cared to learn about that process. Since I love all skiers, I was glad to see this class offered. They seemed enthusiastic just like me!"

See more photos and read more of Gromit's comments on her blog: The Trail Mutt Reports.

To learn more about the Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club and Maasto Hiihto Trails, visit their new Web site.