The low-stress, enjoy-the-trail tour on the American Birkebeiner Trail has been cancelled for Saturday due to the lack of snow on the ground.
From the Birkie office: “The recent one inch of new snow has not bonded to the ice base on the Birkie Trail. The new snow will be quickly sheared off, especially on downhills, exposing the solid ice trail base and creating hazardous ski conditions. While some snow is predicted, and very light snow is falling right now, Thursday morning, we do not expect conditions to improve enough to hold a safe and quality event.”-
The Birkebeiner is slightly more than a month off, and roughly 10,000 registered skiers are likely getting anxious about the snowcover, or the lack of snow on the trail between Cable and Hayward. There have been numerous close-calls in past years, and a few good snowfalls would save the Birkie once again, especially with a solid base holding up well.
Locally, the Lapham Loppet is on for Saturday, and will be run on the one-kilometer loop covered with man-made snow. It also looks like the Nordic Challenge at Greenbush is a go for Sunday, but check back for further information on that.
