24 January 2014

Races Cancelled Due to Lack of Snow

Next weekend's Tustumena 200 sled dog race on the Kenai Peninsula and Saturday's high school cross-country ski race at Service High both pulled the plug on Friday.

Victims of a January false breakup, both events were looking at wet trails instead of snowy ones.
Officials of both events didn't their best to stay afloat, as it were. The Tustumena looked at various trail alternatives and the Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage thought it had saved its race by moving it from Kincaid Park to higher elevations, but there is water, water everywhere.

"We just don't have the snow and way too much water in the hills to put together a quality race," Tustumena 200 race director Tami Murray said in an email.

It's 48 degrees. In January. In Alaska.

Sigh ...

14 comments:

Rob said...

We have your bitter cold here in MN. You can take it back anytime now...PLEASE..;)

Rev. Paul said...

I'd love to.

joated said...

Minus 4 degrees this morning in northern PA. Got UP to 14 this afternoon. *sigh*

They now say it won't get above freezing until February 8th.

Rev. Paul said...

Meanwhile, we're having trouble getting down to freezing.

Stephen said...

Your cold weather moved south...thanks, we needed it. And, dadgumit, I'm out of Irish turf. It's back to wood for our evening fire.

Rev. Paul said...

I'm glad you like the colder air; you're the first reader who hasn't complained about it being too cold. :)

Home on the Range said...

I'd be happy to ship you some of ours. Supposed to get another six inches over the weekend and minus 18 temps.

Rev. Paul said...

That's downright neighborly of you; we'd be happy to receive it!

Sandy Livesay said...

Rev. Paul,

At least you have the moisture needed to help the environment, animals, and any farmers. It's pretty bad here in certain parts of the main land for moisture. In fact, prices will be to the extreme very soon with the drought in regards to vegetables and fruit, and the loss of over 300,000 cattle. I really feel bad for the farmers. My husband read off of one of the survival web pages lettuce may go up to $5.00 a head by summer.

Enjoy your warmer temperatures while we freeze here :P

Rev. Paul said...

It's true, Sandy; we have plenty of moisture. Meanwhile, California's having a hundred-year drought. It's not pretty.

Cathy said...

This is an upside down winter. And truly . . I'm fine with the cold as long as our power grid doesn't go down. We're not as well-prepared for serious cold as you Alaskans.

Rev. Paul said...

That's pretty accurate, Cathy. Most folks in the really cold parts of Alaska have wood stoves to back up their electric furnaces. Generators are common, too. When it gets down to -65° or colder in the winter, you tend to take it seriously.

MO Bro said...

I see you're well versed on things in the lower regions, so I won't say anything... but you know! Be Blessed ole Pard/Bro who needith snow!

Rev. Paul said...

I think it's quite selfish of you to keep all the snow down there, Bro - share! :)