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 | Come celebrate the start of a new season at the Annual Meeting and Social on October 15th at the GPRA Chalet from 6-9 pm. We have some surprise improvements to share with you, so join us and be among the first to know! This fun and informal event is a chance to meet your Board members and ask questions about the future of the Mat-Su Ski Club. At this gathering we will share our Annual Report and our vision for growth and improvements. Some topics of discussion this year include Independence Mine grooming, the purchase of a new PistenBully and GPRA trail expansion.
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We are excited once again to be gathering in the Chalet! Highlights of this event include fall favorites like warm soups and stews, socializing with friends and fire side chats just outside the Chalet. We will also be honoring some of our dedicated volunteers. We hope to see you there! Everyone is welcome to this free event and only current members can vote.
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| Board Members Wanted: We elect new board members when terms end and this year we have 4 seats open. If you are interested in learning about the duties of a board member or applying, please join us this Saturday! |
| | GPRA Trail Prep| Several volunteers turned out to help trim the trails on October 2nd at GPRA. All this rain has really fueled the overgrowth out there! It's always amazing to see how fast branches and plants grow in summer, working hard to take over trail edges. We are grateful for the support of these folks that took time out of their Sunday afternoon to help us make way for the groomers. Last year we were grooming trails at GPRA by mid November! It's getting closer, folks. Here are some of the hard working friends that came out to help haul, cut and push the brush hog. |
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| October 8th was annual Trail Maintenance Day at GPRA! What a turn out! 47 friends of the Mat-Su Ski Club turned out last Saturday to join us in clearing rocks and debris to help make the trails ready for snow. Even the weather cooperated! |
| Thank you to everyone that stopped by to lend a hand or shovel. |
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 | | Small workers make a big impact! |
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 | | It takes a boulder kid to move these rocks! |
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 | | Stuck between a rock and a hard place. |
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| A reminder that 8 hours of volunteer trail work for an individual or family will get you a Mat Su Borough parking pass for 2023. |
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Need Ski Gear? Whether you intend to buy or rent cross country ski equipment this season, one of these options may be just the right solution:
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- Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace offer a lot of local options for used or new ski equipment.
- Backcountry Bike and Ski in Palmer sells new boots and skis and also offers ski rentals by the week or day. Click here for Backcountry ski rental info.
- Play it Again Sports Wasilla sells both new and used equipment and also rents skis. Find them @Play It Again Sports - Wasilla, AK on Facebook
- NSAA of Anchorage is hosting their Annual Ski Swap on October 15th. Click here for ski swap info.
When you or your kids outgrow skis, boots and poles, consider donating your gear to the MSSC.
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| You may be wondering how to choose the right size of skis or poles and what the difference is between Classic and Skate Skis. WikiHow has a great article with pictures and some math to help you find the right size and type of ski. Click here for the article. |
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Why Buy a MSSC Membership? Membership fees support our programs, events, grooming, trail building, equipment purchases and maintenance.
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Volunteers groom many trails that are for cross country skiing only or multi-use and one of these memberships is just for you. A Winter Walker Membership is $25 and is for folks that enjoy walking on multi-use, groomed trails. For friends that enjoy skiing on trails where classic tracks or a skate lane is maintained, we offer an Individual Membership $40 or Family Membership $75 .
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| Ski trails don't fall from heaven! Membership for the 2022-23 season is open. Consider supporting your ski club by renewing or purchasing a membership. |
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Moose Range Management Plan| Friends, do you enjoy skiing, biking or playing in the Moose Range? Do you have any thoughts on how the land should be used or protected? The management plan is 36 years old and is being revised this year. Click here for a link to make public comments and fill out a survey. Comments must be submitted by October 31. |
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RTTO#1 is Coming Up Soon| Friends, mark your calendar! The first race of the season will be held on November 12th, 2022. The Race to the Outhouse is the official kickoff to race season and celebrates the fine grooming by the MSSC groomers. This annual race is the start of race season and open to everyone. This is a free event. Race destination TBD. Wax your skis and get ready for the snow because winter is well on its way! |
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Junior Nordics| Registration for this popular kids program has just come to a close. We are excited that another season of Junior Nordics will start in January of 2023. If you missed the chance to join us this season, we hope you will try again next year. Let's go ski! |
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Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram! |
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| Remember Your Parking Passes Just a friendly reminder to be sure you have your parking pass for GPRA and other Borough park sites. The parking fees go into a Borough fund for recreational facilities and does not pay for trail grooming. Click here to buy a day use or yearly MSB parking pass online. Save $10 when you buy two.
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Alaska State annual parking passes may only be purchased online. This parking pass is used for Archangel Road and Independence Mine when accessible, among many other AK State Parks. Click here to visit the 2022 Annual Parking Pass ordering page.
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| 2023 AK State and MSB parking passes are available in November. |
| Daily parking passes may be purchased at any MSB or AK State trailhead for $5. |
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| | Support throughout the Year!| You can help support the Mat-Su Ski Club through the Fred Meyer Community Awards program and through Amazon Smile. Every little bit counts. |
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