AN asked for the meeting to discuss the upcoming ski season and share our priorities for the ASP ski program.

John is agreeable to posting on a regular basis to the AN site about immediate and anticipated grooming activity.

The Cat will return to service sometime around 1/18. All track wheels will be replaced at a cost to the park of about $5,000. Tracks and old wheels have been removed and the Cat is ready to be worked on as soon as the new wheels arrive. We asked John to address grooming equipment maintenance in the Fall.

Initial grooming was done with two Scandics. The roller performed well and was able to be pulled by one sled. However, on two hills the Scandic had difficulty. We shared strategies on how and when to use the single tracksetters to compliment the Cat grooming or lieu of the Cat. We are reminded that both the Scandics and the Cat are nearing the end of their useful lives. John reiterated that, if AN can purchase a new Scandic, he will assure us that it will only be used for grooming operations and the park will assume full responsibility for maintaining it. He recently was quoted $10,500 for a new Scandic. We expressed that we are not in position presently to purchase a Scandic and asked that the park not back away from funding the capital needs of the ski program despite our interest in supplementing the capital needs.

We asked that Snowsnake be groomed as wide as possible to allow extra width for downhill skiers to snowplow without ruining uphill tracks. We also asked that grooming be continued as long as coverage remains, especially since the single tracksetter(s) can easily be used late into the season.

The Warming hut will be opened daily at 8:00AM by park staff and closed late in the day by park police. The Bova gate requires a new lock to prevent snowmobilers from opening it and accessing the trails.

John advised that Chad and Pat Dove are the only staff available for grooming and Pat is a part-time employee. No budget impacts are know by John that will prevent the park from providing the same level of grooming as last year. Chad remains enthusiastic and flexible about his grooming duties and we reaffirmed our appreciation of this and willingness to assist in any way possible.

The success of this site depends on timely trail reports by skiers like us! To post your trail report or review recent posts by other skiers, click above on the title to this post. When submitting a trail report, be sure to include the date and trails that you skied, condition of the tracks, etc.

2/1- A Dickson

Last weekend’s snow is fast melting. While there was enough snow to track on Monday, rain and warm temperatures are likely to obliterate any chance of skiing this weekend. High pressure is going to sit on the region for the next five days and no new snow is predicted until next week.

Please come forward with your financial support. Visit the CONTRIBUTE page to learn more about the equipment we hope to purchase and how to make a tax-deductible donation.

Contributors to the campaign have offered their perspectives on this fundraising campaign. Click on this post heading to view their insights.

ALLEGANY NORDIC MAKES FIRST EQUIPMENT DONATION TO PARK

Allegany Nordic donated a new trail roller and compactor to Allegany State Park at its November 5th cross-country skiing open house and ski swap.

Chad Herrick and John Snyder (left) of ASP stand with Allegany Nordic skiers behind the new trail roller

The YTS Roller & Compactor donated by Allegany Nordic is 300# and made of steel and high density polyurethane. It was manufactured in Montana by Yellowstone Track Systems, Inc. whose grooming equipment has been used at Nordic venues and Olympic competitions in Canada and the U.S.

“The park staff have done a fantastic job of trail maintenance with very limited resources,” said Andy Dickson, co-founder of Allegany Nordic. “We hope our support can take the cross-country skiing experience at Allegany State Park to new highs. It’s an honor to partner with Allegany State Park and its dedicated staff to deliver the best possible skiing conditions.”

Fundraising by Allegany Nordic was facilitated in part by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation. Because Allegany Nordic is not yet a 501(c)3 charitable corporation, the CRCF receives contributions on the skiers behalf so that donations are tax-deductible.

“Our fundraising isn’t finished, by any means,” Dickson continued. “Much of the park’s equipment is still very old and in need of replacement. With the state budget looking very tight for the foreseeable future, our work is cut out for us.”