Cross Country Skidays
Bloomington Indiana 2003 / 2004

Monroe County's Karst Farm Park.  Staff photo by Chris Howell from an article about this web page published in The Herald Times online and printed  on Feb. 15, 2004.

November was very warm until the last week of 2003.  The week before Thanksgiving saw some light snow fall.  One morning left enough snow covering to make me think that it might be worth taking the old skis out to add some new scratches, but really there was not much chance that it would have been worth the effort.  I have started this entry on December 4th 2003.  We are supposed to have 2" of snow in the next two days, so here is your (and my) warning.  Get those skis, boots and poles ready. We got some cold days, but we didn't get snow  until Saturday December 13th. Sunday December 14th we had a 3 inch  blanket of snow.  This was plenty to make  this reporter of Skidays in Bloomington know that it is time to get out and test the "waters" despite a very sore shoulder from a  bicycle accident from the prior Sunday.  On arriving at the IU golf course, I met a skier returning from his car.  When asked about the conditions, he commented that he hoped my skis were slicker than his.  The dreaded sticking snow to the bottom of ones skis on the first snow of the winter.  I wished I had transported my skis on the roof of my car rather than inside, so they would have been colder, but I put them in the snow to cool while I changed into my ski boots.  I took off gliding down the hill thinking that I did have it figured out.  Then I hit a wet low spot and things got much worse.  I managed to keep the snow off the bases of my skis by pushing down hard and staying on the tops of the rises, rather than the valleys, but soon it seemed just not worth it and I headed back to the car in short order.

The Greene County Road from my home to Monroe County's sanded pavement would have been a better ski spot on this day.  In fact pulling in my drive way, my car skid (skied) into my truck.  Two not so hot Sundays in a row to tell you the truth, but the small dent in my truck is not too bad.  Skiable snow before December 25th is a good start for a good ski winter.  We will get out early on Monday morning, hoping that the ground will have frozen under the snow tonight.  The temperature at our country home was 22ºF at 8:45 PM Sunday night.

Monday December 15th was much better.  I did not get out until about 2 PM or after and the snow was melting fast on the roads.  I was skeptical that conditions would be improved, but my old rule that melting snow is always skiable proved true again.  Actually I was amazed even areas of high grass that had very green, not frozen blades of grass showing had a good (not great)  glide.  I was able to ski in the tracks of other skiers from Sunday probably who likely did not get as good as glide as I got from their tracks left behind.  It was a good or better in the open fields to set out on ones own making new tracks.  In a few areas I had to press down hard on the centers of my skis to keep them clean of frozen snow, but never did I have to stop and scrape them.  The nature trail worked much better than anyone would have believed given the trail nearest Endright Road was almost melted of all of it's snow.  Still there was just enough coverage to offer an almost uninterrupted glide.  The rest of the nature trails were in pretty good shape with lots of useable set trails or room to make new ones.  All-in-all a fun outing.  I love the rhythm of skiing.  I had hoped to get out Tuesday morning, but raising temperatures and rain took away all the snow.  Two skiable days so far.  Last year we had 9 skiable days by now.

Friday December 19th, we enjoyed a tour of the nature trail at Karst Park.  If you come here to see if the conditions are favorable for skiing, we would advise a early Saturday try.  Thursday saw flurries all day and into the night.  The ground was mostly green, but by Saturday morning our Greene County yard was definitely skiable with a good dense snow of just enough depth to cover the grass about 90%.  Driving into Bloomington showed mostly Grass and little snow in most locations.  I arrived at Karst at about 2:30 PM and thought twice before even trying this "snow".  There was a lot of green grass showing.  Greene grass doesn't hurt your ski bottoms, but it is pretty slow.  This was moderate as I skied from the parking lot, but as soon as I arrived at the nature trail, I was having FUN.  Really beautiful and good glide with the exception of the front trail up by Endright road again, but today was better than Monday. An actual snowfall was coming down while I was on the nature trail which added to the light coverage and the ambiance of winter. Anyone who reads this and doesn't check it out, will not believe that the snow has stayed there.  I believe it must have to to with the protection from the wind afforded by the trees of the area.  On the way back from the soccer fields by the fairgrounds, I used the walking trails that were mostly very skiable too, but you didn't get the sensation of good winter conditions as you looked from side to side.   There was no sign that any other skiers had tried Karst Park this time.  Not a great day, but no problem calling this skiable either.  Just very limited opportunities.

Saturday December 20th,  The temperature was warmer on the thermometer than it seemed on this day and on Sunday.  The snow remained unchanged in volume but was even a little better  because of freezing over night.  This was a sketchy time for counting ski days, because there was just too much in the way of bare areas.  I could have skied Sunday morning, but instead road around Lake Lemon on my Cannondale R4000.   The temperature was in the forties,  but there was no snow melting to the sides of the roads.  By late in the day the temperature was surely removing any question if this snow was skiable.  I did not count Sunday in this years total.

2004
No Snow until Sunday January 25th, We got 5 inches in 5 hours or so starting at noon.  The ground was  frozen and the conditions were almost white out as I went out at 4:30.  The road conditions were very unsafe as I drove to the IU Golf course.  For a time I thought that I was the only skier out.  The parking lot had more cars than ever, but it seemed to be snow boarders over in the area of the driving range.  After some time I saw a few ski tracks, some fresh and some that had been covered with snow already.  On my arrival back home, a neighbor was skiing down the Greene County road that I live on.  Greene county does not put down sand or salt usually, so a times the roads can be the best place to ski.  My outing at the Golf Course wore me out as I skied to the lake and set tracks for tomorrow.  The weather is predicting temperatures that would melt this snow on Monday or the days to follow, but if I expect that as is often the case, the weather people have forgotten the effect on air temperature of a thick blanket of snow.  I predict several days of skiable conditions.

Monday January 26th,  I didn't get out until after 6:15 pm.  It is late enough in the winter that there was still some lightness to the day.  I skied from the parking lot of the Grandview school next to Karst park, entering into the Karst park Nature trail area from that side.  All day the temperature had rose to probably about 37ºF. or so.  The snow was wet, but starting to refreeze even as I skied.  Most impressive was the fog that was quickly developing from the coldness of the night air on melting snow.  The world was white!  I lost my perspective at one point from this uniform lack of shading, as I was dropped down a slope, I nearly fell from no visual sense of it.  This and the almost whiteout conditions on Sunday in the snowfall both reminded me of my initial learning experience of skiing alone on top of a mountain at Beaver Creek Colorado in a white out with the trail quickly disappearing.  Bloomington seemed much safer, but it was fun to remember that decades old experience.

Tuesday January 27th,  We got a lot more snow, maybe 3 inches bringing us up to 7 or 8 on the ground.  Schools were closed all day.  We have enough snow to ski anywhere.  If you have never gone to Knaw Bone X-C ski camp or the Hoosier National Forest skiing, this would be the week to do it.  Skiing in the woods of the region with enough snow to protect your skis from fallen limbs is the best.  On this day, I got out with friend James Rosenbarger.  We did basically the same loop at the IU golf course as I did on Sunday.  The snow was faster, but blowing and new snow meant that we were mostly  setting new tracks for others again.  I hope I will find the time to check out some in the woods skiing before this snow moves on.  The temperature was 5ºF this morning, so we are not too worried about loosing our favorite sport anytime too soon.

Wednesday January 28th,  There  was a two hour delay for the  students and teachers.  This day was lost on me as I try to record this on Friday evening.  Fighting I-69 before I went to work, I showed a 14' banner that I produced to the Chamber of Commerce.  More snow on this morning again made the drive in somewhat challenging.  IU played Purdue in B ball and won on this night, but that meant that I wasted this beautifully skiable day.

Thursday January 29th,  I stayed home all day notifying INDOT that they forgot to include the Wapahani Mountain Bike Park in their $12 million study to build an unneeded and unwanted $3,000,000,000.00 highway to where no one wants to be.  Starting 2 days before Christmas we were given until this Monday to comment on  3000+ pages of skillfully written lies and distortions.  Am I resentful to be missing this great snow season...you bet.  I did get out right here at home for another evening ski outing.  I really don't prefer evenings, but it was OK.  I skied around our property, about 3 acres of it, then I went back in the woods on neighbors land.  That was cool, I haven't done that much in recent years since the land has started to be divided and sold.  The snow is plenty deep for the woods.  I skied right over a log laying across the path that was at least 6 inches in diameter.  The quality of the snow this evening was the best,  ever so slightly crunchy, but not enough to slow you down or grab at your polls. 

Friday January 30th,  The 30th?  Darn I'm late filing a tax form again, maybe I can still get it out.  That kind of a day, the coldest of the year, but the sun was out.  What was supposed to be used to write final comments to the I-69 study was spent looking for our cat that went out and disappeared in the sub 0º F. temperatures.  I felt very guilty all day for leaving him out for an hour while I went over to the neighbor's for breakfast.  I thought of skiing to breakfast and didn't.  Where did this day go.  No skiing on one of the most beautiful skidays in Greene County/ Bloomington history.  Hope you got out.  Oh yea, we did get another inch Thursday night.  This winter started slow, but wow!   If you have a digital camera, please send me a ski picture from this area from this snowfall.

Saturday January 31st,  Fighting I-69, I didn't get away from this computer.  The temperatures were the coldest of the year.  On my thermometer, I saw -3º F.  I heard later from someone that it got much colder than than.  It stayed really cold all day.  If you got out in these beautiful conditions, send me your report.  I would love to be posting the reports of persons who are getting the most out of these greatest of Bloomington Skidays.  I shoveled snow off of our porch roof, so the next layer that will soon slide off our metal roof will not collapse our porch....Never had to do that before.

Sunday February 1st,  I let another day get away by  starting my comments to the I-69 Study.  These days melted into one wasted wonderful ski paradise only  appreciated out the window and with the pushing of wheel barrels full of wood from the wood shed every other day.  No loss of snow, it is deep and beautiful.

Monday February 2nd, Today the Comments to the boondoggle were due.  Mine totaled 53 pages.  I was so happy when I drove from the post office to the IU Golf Course at 5:45 PM.  It was raining and 33 or 34ºF.  Snow is always fast in the rain.  I wasn't properly dressed, I had on my ultra insulated jacket over a flannel shirt.  It was too warm to zip up the jacket or put up the hood, so I skied with out gloves or hat, with my jacket open.  Heading out to the cross country running track, I got in the runners tracks.  Those folks have pounded down a 3-1/2 to 4 foot wide area that was great.  As I flew along, I imagined myself a runner in an IU meet.  Going all the way back and returning on their tracks on the other side, I cut off to the west to often used trails in the main golf course.  Realizing that it was starting to get dark and that the rain had gotten much harder, I headed back to the car.  When I got back, I was soaked and my hands were cold.  It is sad to see the loft of this snow going, but I expect to ski for at least a few more days.

Tuesday February 3rd, Light snow and 32ºF.  Last night wife, france, had gotten stuck in the drive way with her Honda Civic that has 4 snow tires.  It takes quite a bit to stick that car.  I got it in the garage, after much digging of wet snow.  This morning, I could not get it out of the drive as the deep snow is like a 6" or 8" deep slushy.  I will be driving her to work and about today on her birthday.  My little Geo Tracker with the ski bag on top will do just fine.  I hope to check out some ski spots as I go to BHSN, Jackson Creek, back to Jackson Creek and then Home early.  On this morning, I reminded readers of this page, " Remember, snow on the wane never sticks, all skiing is water skiing."  I predicted, "today will be great fun if one stays in tracks or finds those well packed walking and running trails ."  In fact by noon the temperature was dropping the snow was compacted but got a light dusting of new snow on top. Winter, I love it.

Wednesday February 4th,  Cold temperatures had returned and I decided to return to the woods here in Greene County (west of Bloomington 11 miles).   Despite less loft, all the trail was covered and it was FAST.  I am not really up to it right now.  I scared myself on one downhill section where I was in the tracks of four-wheelers that had been playing in the woods.  It was a glare ice down hill.  One log crossing almost sent me airborne.  I made it, but decided to make my way back through the ticket of the woods rather than the trail.  That turned out to be less fun, till I used a new driveway of virgin snow down a big hill.  It reminded me of the cat trails in Colorado where the downhill grooming caterpillars make there way up the mountains.  Great fun controlling my speed and turning with snowplow technique.  This is the year to get out in the woods.  If you get a chance, do it.  Don't worry a little snow on top of the ice and it doesn't have to be wild.

Thursday February 5th, Our driveway, shared with 4 other homes, is glare ice from melting and refreezing.  france spun 180º on the way out to the road, so I had chauffeur duty again today.  This got me out to Karst Park at 8:30 AM.  We started getting snow about 6:45 AM and it covered everything with a new 1-1/2 of snow.  Fantastic snow,  the best of the year, maybe the best ever  reported here.  Ski anywhere, anyway.  The speed and control of this snow had me skate skiing on my worn out wax less and long in track skis.  Then on the N. E. most section of the nature trail, I took the smallest, newest walking trail through the tight thicket of trees.  I was actually snowplowing off speed in there to make turns.  That is flat ground.  For folks who have never skied in the woods, if you get out to Karst, that little section could give you a taste of in the woods skiing.  By afternoon the temperature was above freezing and rain was ruining the powder, but this snow has balls and it will fight through this assault to live on.

Friday February 6th,  My bet is the grumbling will reach a roar in Hoosierland.  Any snow that stays around this long, is hated by 99% of hoosiers.  Get out this weekend and ski-joy it.  Not knowing what the weather reporters are saying, we would guess that next weekend has a 50/50 chance of being skiable or bikeable.  The temperature was 30º and ski overcast at 8 AM.  Wear your waterproof pants today, you might get wet as you speed across the hoosier hills. Some of my most favorite ski outings have been in the rain, it's always worth doing.

Saturday February 7th,  On the way to work, the radio was giving the weather for the week.  Everyday through next Friday, a chance for more snow and cold enough temperatures.  Today, I hit Karst park again.  Only evidence of one skier out and too many foot tracks in the nature trail for my liking, but still very nice and good glide.  We got perhaps an inch of snow throughout this day, but it blew off in the open fields.  Even the blown clean, frozen snow, for the most part had enough texture to make stable skiing conditions.  There were a few glare ice conditions that required extra care to keep ones feet aligned.  This snow has been so great, that we are becoming jaded and taking it for granted.

Sunday February 8th,  18ºF at 9:30 AM , and heavy overcast.  We had hoped to take pictures for this web page yesterday, but the batteries in the digital camera had too little charge.

Monday February 9th,  If you have shopped at Bikesmiths for a few years, perhaps you member Adam Hale?  Adam was on the Solar Bicycle Team in 1999, the year that our two boys teams finished in a photo finish so close, we returned from Japan, before we learned which of our two teams had won the world championship.  Adam is cheering on his team mates in the linked picture.   Today he came back to Bikesmiths to visit. A serious hiker since his BHSS graduation,  he is the caretaker of the highest residences in the North Eastern USA, Mount Adams.   He has been living in a cabin on top of a mountain a days hike from the five highest points in the N.E.  He enjoys the constant roar of the winds, digging out signs and being host to hikers as he maintains the shelters and trails.  Five hikers have lost their lives and Adam has one sorry looking frost bit toe.   The interior temperature of his cabin has ranged from 40º to -17º all winter.  We visited and I didn't get out to ski  after work as I had intended.  Here in Monroe and Greene counties, by our standards,  temperatures were a little warmer and the sun has returned, but the snow is surviving fine, thank you. 

Tuesday February 10th,  At 9:30 AM, I met with Chris Howell a Bloomington Herald Times Photographer at Karst Park.  It seems they are going to do a Sunday outdoor story on Cross Country Skiing in the area.  I showed Chris around the area as he snapped a few shots.  The sun was so bright, I wore my yellow cycling sunglasses.   Monday night, Adam urged that I not be a bad example by wearing cotton, so  if you don't recognize me in the glasses, fleece and Ultrex, in the pictures in the paper, look again.   The snow was compacted from the warmer air, but the texture of the surface was enough to create a stable feel.  If one owns skate skis and has them waxed, these last several days have been excellent skate ski conditions.  I can not help but practice the skate technique even on my old waxless touring skis on these days.  We still have plenty of snow, but the grass is showing in some spots.   People are calling for ski equipment now, and we can't put together a full set in any size.  I am trying to contact a wholesaler to establish a dealership for NNN bindings again.  If you don't get it together this year, don't wait another year to buy into this inexpensive sport that is such great exercise fun this time of year.

Chris Howell/ Herald Times shot of these feet and my shadow,  Feb 10, 2004

Wednesday February 11th,  I was taking this snow for granted at this time.  Not making time for even a short jaunt out.  The day started out cold and frozen, my guess would be that the conditions were rather glassy, during the day the temperature got to well above freezing but not enough to really cause the snow to turn to liquid, but we did loose volume.

Thursday February 12th,  I got out for a quick ski at Karst park.  We have lost enough snow that I had to look ahead a little way to be sure that I would not dead end in grass.  Actually the ground was still 85% snow covered.  The temperature was such that snow which still had not been compacted would give way and my skis dropped down 3 inches or so.  Most places were pretty fast and control was good, but at the farthest trail back on the Karst Farm nature trails was solid ice and required getting off the edge to pass by.  The walking paths provided the  best skiing.

Friday February 13th,  Thursday's tracks were good skiing except where I had dropped in the snow depth on the previous day.  There, colder temperatures had frozen the snow and for some reason the ski grooves cut were not as wide as my ski boots.  I found that making new trails worked best.  The nature trails are still all skiable, but the bare ground is moving in along the sides.  Everything was less beautiful, but still good fast snow for exercise skiing.  The control from lack of power was not good, but not bad either.  I will be out of town on Saturday.  If you would send a ski report, I would be happy to post it. 

Saturday February 14th,  Valentines day, we went to Louisville to see an interesting art show---dishes of all things.  Anyway, I missed this ski day and driving back up Hwy 60 and US 37 from Louisville, one would have thought, no-chance that there is any snow for skiing left in Bloomington.  In fact as close as Bedford, there was no snow left, except for small piles from snow plows.  Much of the land outside Bloomington still has some snow cover, but it looks like much less than 1/2.  Sunday's outing proved that Monroe county cross country skiers were out on this day enjoying great snow coverage that still had some depth and lots of glide left.

Sunday February 15th,  SCARY FAST!  That is how I would describe today's snow.  I got out at 8:30 AM, expecting an article in today's Hoosier Times/ Bloomington Herald Times would bring more hits to this web page than ever before.  My obligation to those who visit this website has been a great motivation to get me out to try the snow when anyone in their right mind, would expect it fruitless.  I will classify this as the most surprising day ever.  I decided to go to the IU Golf Course remembering other times in the past when the area behind the IU Foundation was good skiing this late in a disappearing snow.  I drove past Karst Park and I would say that Karst still is about 75% snow covered.  Given an overnight freeze and a air temperature of 25ºF even at 8:30 AM, everything white would have been very skiable.  I didn't stop, but went directly to my usual starting point at the IU Golf Course Club House.  There was snow similar to Karst park and frankly given so much grass showing, it did not appear too inviting.  Though I had no doubt that I could have found skiable snow there, I decided to turn back and drove my truck to the parking lot behind the IU Foundation.  WOW!  over 95% snow covered.   Conditions were similar to skiing on a downhill slope.  Almost immediately, I was snowplowing left and right to keep my speed under control and picking my path through the wooded area found there.  Before I turned 50, I would have let'r rip and gone for it, but wiser and assumed more brittle, these days, I kept my speed down.  This snow is fast and this is the place to go today.  If you are inspired, it should remain skiable all day.  Every year I remind:  Please respect the golf course.  golfers pay significant fees to use this space.  It is a privilege that we are allow to use it.  STAY OFF THE GREENS.  Any raised flat spot should be assumed a green or a tee.  Tees at the IU course have a red poll identifying it as a tee and giving the par number.
Get out early now.  Skiing now should be done by the temperature.  If it is white it is skiable.  There is still lot's of white.

Monday February 16th,  The only place that I know of that is still beautiful to ski is the area behind the IU Foundation.  It is still 90 to 95% snow covered.  I went out at 12:30 PM and the temperature was just warm enough to add stability to the compacted snow.  I did one of my longer ski outings of the year.  I would have liked to have stayed out longer.  I noticed good glide even on some of the up hills, which is rare for me.  Lot's of practice of snowplow technique opportunities, but not so hair raising as the totally frozen snow on Sunday.  I did have to look ahead for pathways through areas of no snow on the fringes of the best of the still snow covered area.

Tuesday February 17th,  Written before leaving for work, the temperatures overnight surely have left skiable snow if exercise and fun is more important than absolutely beautiful snow conditions.  If you enjoy skiing, this might be your last opportunity.  Maybe....perhaps...

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