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Welcome to PACCSA
Web Site.
PACCSA
Cross Country Skiing in Western Pennsylvania.
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Click for larger image
WEB Cam
Laurel Ridge State Park
X-C Ski Area
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Weekend at Wilderness Lodge
helping with the trails
October |
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PACCSA is looking for a small
group of 6 to 8 volunteers to spend the weekend (Saturday /
Sunday) helping to clear the trails at Wilderness Lodge near
Erie, PA in October. The jobs would include clearing wood and
debris off the trails and trimming tree branches.
Free rooms will be provided at the
lodge for the overnight stay, but you would be responsible for
your food and drinks. A full winter season's trail pass at
Wilderness Lodge will be given to those volunteers who stay
for the entire weekend, while a limited number of trail passes
will be the reward for those who work only one day. If you are
interested, e-mail Bob Mazur at mazurrj@paccsa.org
. We will decide on the October weekend by mid-September. |
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This is from a recent New Zealand
newspaper.....
Heavy snow has been reported at most
ski areas in New Zealand over the past week with Mt Ruapehu reporting
recent snowfalls are some of the heaviest of the past two decades.
This morning (Tuesday August 19th), Turoa, one of Ruapehu’s two
resorts, has reported the greatest ever recorded accumulated snowdepth
in New Zealand of 455cm (just over 15 feet).
Staff initially had some difficulty finding the resort’s 3.8 metre (13
feet) high snowfall measuring stick after it got buried and an
extension was required to measure the record snow depth. Staff are
busy digging out the lifts with over a metre of fresh snow having
fallen in the past four days. Ironically, new snow making machines are
now reported to be buried by the natural stuff. More snow is forecast.
In Queenstown snow fell to lake level recently and the nearby ski
resorts reported more fresh powder on the ski slopes above. Coronet
Peak received 15 centimetres (six inches) on top of a metre base and
The Remarkables 10 centimetres (four inches) to add to its base of a
metre and 20 centimetres (four feet).
The Remarkables manager Ross Lawrence said, “It’s such a buzz to look
around and see The Remarkables, Coronet Peak, Queenstown and the
entire Wakatipu Basin just blanketed in snow.
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State
Grant Work at Laurel Ridge State Park
Update 08/2008 |
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As you may have read on this website, a grant was awarded by the state
for improvements at Laurel Ridge State Park. The grant is for $100k, a
percentage of which is PACCSA's responsibility, which will come from a
combination of cash donations and volunteer trail work hours. The
projects that the grant is to cover include:
1) The parking lot expansion (the DCNR staff will expand the parking
area to include an
additional 20 parking spaces).
2) Cable installation for a DSL line for improved transmission of the
webcam/snow reports.
3) An extension of the Red trail at the Ridge (the location of the
proposed red trail extension work places the new extension trail near
Route 653 in the area of the concession, warming hut, existing parking
lot, and orange trail of the Laurel Ridge Cross Country Ski Center).
Work on extending the existing red trail will involve cutting selected
trees, stump removal, drain pipe installation, trail levelling with
additional dirt (as opposed to dirt removal), and grass seed
application.
The Laurel Ridge grant is still awaiting final approval by the PA
Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC). It appears as if work may not
start until next year. We will update if there are any changes. click
here to send us your name and e-mail address if you are interested in
helping when the grant money is released.
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Trail Clear Wax Clinic Laurel Ridge
Saturday November 1st 2008 |
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Details later. |
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The Cross Country Skiers'
Responsibility Code |
The following list of "rules" have
been collected from numerous cross country venues....they are listed
here as a reminder to all cross country skiers.
1. Always check
posted trail conditions and obey all signs and posted warnings.
2. No pets on groomed trails (unless specific trails are so
designated). They ruin tracks and are a hazard to other skiers.
3. Always maintain control of your speed and direction. Ski in such
a manner that you can stop or avoid other skiers or hazards.
4. Ski within your abilities and time allowances.
5. Don't block intersections and avoid stopping in the middle of
hills. Do not stop where you obstruct a trail or are not visible to
others. Move off the trail quickly if you fall or during rest stops
and equipment adjustments.. If you fall, fill in sitzmarks.
6. Move to the right to yield the track to a faster skier or to a
skier coming downhill. On two-way trails, faster skiers and
descending skiers have the right-of-way. To pass another skier, call
"Track".
7. Always ski to the right when meeting on-coming skiers and when
skiing on double track.
8. Don't walk in the set tracks or on the groomed trail. Keep to the
side of the trail.
9. Don't litter - take out what you bring in.
10. Pay trail fees when applicable.
In case of an accident: place a pair of crossed skis in an "X"
position close to the injured skier. Do not attempt to move them but
ensure they're warm. Look around for trail markers, intersections or
any distinguishing landmarks to aid in pin-pointing your location.
If a cell phone is available, call for help and/or enlist the aid of
a fellow skier. If skiing alone, ensure that others know your
whereabouts.
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VASA |
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Diane & Scott Rugh
Dave Helwig
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North American VASA Races,
Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008
12K FREESTYLE (94 Skiers)
2nd M60-64 Richard Garstka - 1:00:59
5th M55-59 David Jenkins - 1:07:11
2nd F40-44 Naomi Jarvis - 1:17:20
12K CLASSIC (46 Skiers)
2nd F50-59 Diane Rugh -1:14:59
8th F50-59 Terry Sitar - 1:29:49
3rd M50-59 Dave Artis - 1:32:10
2nd F30-39 Linda Bollenbacher - 1:43:43
27K FREESTYLE (188 skiers)
3rd M35-39 Jason Zimmerman - 1:36:11
50K CLASSIC (27 Skiers)
4th M50-59 Scott Rugh - 4:30:10
9th M50-59 William Speece - 5:14:19
50K FREESTYLE ( 133 Skiers)
2nd M40-44 Jim Samuels - 2:35:47
16th M50-54 Thomas Deljanovan - 3:22:12
15th M55-59 David Helwig - 4:05:25
Team PACCSA (R. Garstka, D. Jenkins, N. Jarvis) - 5th / 6
Teams - 3:25:30
Gran Travers 16K Classic Race, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008
David Helwig - 1:29:55
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Hilltoppers from Ohio Nordic
at Laurel Ridge |
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The Hilltoppers from Ohio Nordic took advantage
of the trails Februaray 2nd and 3rd.
Although there was some ice
falling from trees at times most of the trails maintained a decent
base with two inches powder. They also did hold there races on Sunday.
If we have enough snow for the PA
Nordic Championship races we will have the Children's races again on
the 17th.
Children's 2k Race
Schneider, Will 8:57
Nguyen, Annie 12:08
Schmidt, Courtney 12:21
Nguyen, Lillie 12:58
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XC-Skiing lessons Article by
the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |
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Explore snowy trails in
western PA with cross-country skis. Experience cross-country skiing as
a form of winter exercise and recreation. With PACCSA weatherman
Charlie Becker.
Click here to view
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PACCSA / FAY-PENN / DCNR GRANT APPLICATION
APPROVED
by
Rick Garstka |
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In April, 2007, PACCSA, in cooperation
with the Department of Conservation of Natural Resources (DCNR) and
Fay-Penn, a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization from
Fayette County assisted in the application for a DCNR Community
Conservation Partnership Program Grant. The federally funded grant
would be used to help finance a cross country / hiking trail extension
and improvement project at the Laurel Ridge State Park's Ski Center.
The project consists of construction of a new trail (which will be an
extension of the current Red Trail with more intermediate hills),
expansion of the main parking lot, underground infrastructure
extension (for the installation of a fiber optic DSL line for the
WebCam), and the acquisition of equipment for trail improvement and
maintenance.
I am proud to announce that the grant
has been recently approved for the sum of $100,000. Additional
information concerning the details of the grant will be provided when
available, including the request for volunteers to assist in the work
projects.
The Fay-Penn Economic Development
Council is the official grant applicant, and the project will be
administered as a partnership between Fay-Penn, Laurel Ridge State
Park DCNR and PACCSA. The grant is an 80-20 grant, meaning that the
partners are responsible for providing 20% ($20,000( of the total
grant amount with matching funds comprised of cash and non-cash
(volunteer work) contributions.
While much work is before us, I'd like
to thank Mike Krajovic (president of Fay-Penn); now-retired Bob Hufman,
former Park Operations Supervisor at the Laurel Hill State Park
Complex; Bob Mazur, PACCSA's Webcam / Trail Work Coordinator, and Tina
Wargo, Fay-Penn's Contract & Asset Manager for their contributions
towards the grant's preparation.. |
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2009 Schedule
of PACCSA Events |
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November 1st (Sat)--Trail Clear/Wax Clinic Laurel Ridge
Jan.
(Sat., Sun.) – Free PACCSA Ski Lessons
Jan. (Sat.)
– PACCSA Nordic Picnic
Jan. (Sun.)
- Free PACCSA Ski Lessons
Feb. (Sat.) -
Free PACCSA Ski Lessons
Feb. (Sun.) –
Pa. Nordic Championship Races
Feb.
(Thur. – Mon.) – PACCSA trip to VASA races in Traverse City,
Mich.
Feb. (Sat.)
- Free PACCSA Ski Lessons |
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WEB CAM |
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Thanks for all the WEB CAM/Trail donations you have
made. These funds will be used to operate/maintain/upgrade the CAM
as well as trail improvements and possibly help with the
installation of the DSL line.
The problem is the cam is on a phone modem and the
phone company said the Concession phone line near the end of the line so
is not too reliable. I look at the web site and pictures are only half
downloading then modem hangs up because of noise. The modem is new. The
ranger that lives down the road has the same service and he said he gets
kicked off all the time too. I notice when its icy out near freezing its
worse. Been like this every year. So that is why the pix are not every
hour sometimes. The fix is DSL which phone company said should be
available in summer because they plan on pulling fiber up the road. Then
there will be no problem if we subscribe to it. Part of the grant is for
digging the line from road to concession for the DSL line. There will be
some other benefits if we get DSL next season that I can get into later.
Of course we have to hope phone company does pull fiber up the road like
they say they are, if they do not there are some other possibilities we
are working on with the park. Anyway its good enough to get us through
this season |
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Trail Work
Laurel Ridge State Park Summer 2007
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Work was done on the Red trail replacing clogged drains,
covering rock, improving drainage in problem areas, and widen a few
places. We do not have a lot of dirt for leveling the trail so each year
the dirt settles a little less around the rocks and we get o more level
trail. Some new drains were added out past
the field on the Orange trail where have been trying to dry up the trail
more year by year.
The Garstka loop at the top of the first hill off the
Red trail was changed along with leveling some, widen in some places, and
lengthen a little. The loop now will be combined with the green trails
across from the Garstka loop. This will make for easier grooming as well
as on continuous level loop that will be good for skating and classical. |
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Widen at 2k on Red Trail
Widen at 1k Red trail
Pix 2006
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SKI Trips |
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If you
want to post any group ski trips you are planning throughout the winter
or want to post any pictures or write-up of ski trip you took this
winter e-mail
us and we will post.
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PACCSA SKI SUIT UPDATE.....March
25, 2007 |
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Three PACCSA suits and 20 hats are still available
for purchase.
Call Rick
Garstka if interested at 412-462-7493 or send an email to
garxcski@verizon.net
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WARMING HUT
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The warming hut is now locked and except for
the trail clear will not open daily till buck season is over in mid
December. If we get an early snow there is a possibility someone could be
there with key.
Some Additional Information on the Warming
Hut:
The building (which houses a bathroom)
will be open during the week starting mid December till the end of March
for any skier using the Laurel Ridge trail system. While PACCSA members
will oversee the general maintenance and overall condition of the building
during ski season, there are several responsibilities that the week-day
skiers must assume......
WOOD-BURNING
STOVE- Inside the building is a wood-burning stove, and a bin of
firewood is located just outside the main doorway. Filling the stove with
wood and starting a fire will be the skiers' responsibility. Please
remember to keep door closed on wood burner. (It might not be a bad idea
to keep some extra matches in your car or jacket pocket if you're going to
ski during the week). Ok to leave stove burning when you leave, again just
make sure door in closed on the stove.
WAX BENCH Any skier may use the waxing
bench / waxing iron in the new building. However, to ensure that the iron
is TURNED OFF and the PLUG PULLED from the electrical outlet after it has
been used. The receptacle on the waxing bench is controlled by a manual
timer as an added safety feature. Also, clean up any loose wax, papers,
containers, etc. that has accumulated on and around the bench with vacuum
under table.
TRAIL FEES- There is no fee for trail
utilization during days when the main concession is closed (generally
Monday through Thursday). However, when the concession is open (Fridays,
Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and Christmas break), please make sure that
you remember to pay your trail fee at the main concession. Trail grooming
will be performed when the concession is open, as in previous years.
GENERAL APPEARANCE OF THIS BUILDING &
BATHROOM- It is the skiers' responsibility to keep the room clean,
with trash placed in the supplied receptacles, and everything in its place
when you leave. The Park does not clean this building; Skiers are
responsible for cleaning the floor and bathroom. So please pickup after
you’re self. Any sweeping of the floor by anyone would be appreciated.
Lights/Bathroom door The main light in the skier’s room will turn off
automatically so no need to turn it off. Please make sure all outside
lights are turned off when you leave, as they do not turn off
automatically. Also make sure the bathroom door is closed when you leave.
When Warming Hut not to be used The Park closes at dusk and warming hut
is not to be used after dusk. Also the warming hut is not to be used after
5pm on the days the concession is open. Thanks for you’re cooperation
Also would be help if skiers brought firewood
in from outside when the bin is low. The wood is a little damp if put in
stove directly from outside.
PACCSA
Note: Any help in cleaning of the building
& bathroom inside or outside is very much needed in order for us to keep
access of this building open during ski season. Mainly need trash picked
up and floors kept clean. |
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PACCSA Purchases G2 Tidd Tech
Tracksetter |
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Because of the generous donations to PACCSA's Webcam / Trail Improvement Fund, PACCSA was able to recently
acquire a new Tidd Tech G2 Tracksetter at a cost of $1383.45. The G2
tracksetter, which sets tracks for diagonal striders, will be used with
the Generation 2 Tidd Tech groomer presently in use at Laurel Ridge. Now,
both striders and skaters will have state-of-the-art grooming equipment to
prepare the trails at Laurel Ridge. Technically speaking, the tracksetter
is close-coupled and semi-rigidly attached to the rear of the groomer's
compaction bed. An electric actuator applies up to 200 lbs. of down
pressure through two constant-pressure gas-filled cylinders. Because of
the G2 tracksetter's unique attachment design, this down pressure is
applied much more effectively than conventional designs that let the
tracksetter float on a center pivot. The stability and efficient
application of down pressure allow the G2 to set track at much higher
speeds than a conventional machine. The Tracksetter is easily positioned
anywhere across the width of the G2 groomer without tools. The track
cutter (which sets the tracks) is a pair of 45 deg. angled teeth which are
highly resistant to collecting debris, yet provide good protection for the
track shoes in low snow conditions.
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By PACCSA president
Rick Garstka 
