Ecsta-ski

When it comes to cross-country skiing, there's no place like the Valley right now, as a fresh dump of snow has made conditions nearly perfect, earlier than many can remember.

The cross-country season officially got started in the core area of the Valley last weekend, when more than two feet of the fluffy stuff blanketed the area. While a nightmare for motorists, it was heaven for skiers.

"I've been out skiing almost every day since that first snow," said Justin Oprish as he strapped on his skis Friday morning at Crevasse Moraine. "It's been awesome. I hope it stays this way all winter."

If you are looking for a day trip to go cross-country skiing, head to Hatcher Pass or the Talkeetna area and get lost in the woods, skating until that familiar burn in your lungs felt on the first trip of the season gives way.

But the nice thing about the Valley is that you don't have to invest an entire day to get a decent ski trip in -- there are numerous options in the core area, and the Mat-Su Borough has been working fast and furious to get them groomed. Many already are.

Warren Templin, the Mat-Su Borough's recreation specialist, said many runs close to the Palmer and Wasilla areas are already groomed, and his crews are working to get many more groomed through this weekend.

"This dump of snow kind of caught us off guard because normally, we still have three weeks to get ready," Templin said. "We're still trying to get our big groomer up and running."

As snow fell last weekend, Templin's crews were already on the job -- and just in time.

"I got to Crevasse Moraine Saturday morning, and I bet there were already 50 cars in the parking lot," Templin said. "It's great. We didn't get these opportunities too many times the last few winters."

Templin said that three loops are already groomed for skate skiing at Crevasse Moraine, one of the most popular trail systems in the Valley, and he expects most of the rest of the trails there to be groomed by this weekend. "Most of it should be packed and good for skiing," he said.

The other two locations located within a 10-minute drive of many Valley residents are Matanuska River Park and Lake Lucille Park.

Both are in the heart of the Valley and offer groomed trails that the borough maintains. Templin said the plans were to lay tracks at both areas leading up to this weekend.

"We're trying to lay as many tracks as we can, as fast as we can," Templin said.

When the three main trail systems are up and ready, Templin said the borough is looking at a couple of other areas to groom and lay tracks.

This year, Templin is hoping to get Lazy Mountain (4.5 kilometers), the Alcantra trails (3 kilometers) and the western trail of the Butte groomed for skiers.

"The trails behind Alcantra are nice and rolling, good for a gentle ski or beginners," Templin said. "If we could groom the Butte, that would be for more experienced skiers. We couldn't do it last year because there wasn't enough snow."

Other good areas to try are the high school trails at Wasilla, Palmer and Colony. If you want to take a drive, head to the Susitna Valley High School trails.

Templin said another good trail on the northern end of the Valley is located at Trapper Creek Elementary School. Templin is keeping one eye on the trails, and one eye on the forecasts this winter.

After a couple seasons in which rain fell more often than snow around the Valley, this winter's many snowfalls have been well received.

"Let's just hope that it stays cold, it snows and we have a good winter," Templin said. "I wouldn't complain."