Wednesday, March 1, 2006

Cold day for Boulder Backwards Tour

SNRA to Galena Lodge Feb. 18


It might have been --15 degrees, but that didn't stop a group of hearty cross-country skiers from participating in the annual Boulder Backwards Classic Tour Saturday, Feb. 18.

Over 25 brave souls enjoyed a fabulous day of skiing, unfazed by the cold start temperatures and squeaky slow conditions.

Running from the SNRA headquarters to Galena Lodge, the tour uses the course of the previous week's Boulder Mountain Tour—only going backwards and uphill. The tour covered 31 kilometers along the beautiful Boulder Mountains.

"It was a beautiful day on the trails, albeit a bit chilly. The Blaine County Recreation District's groomers did an amazing job with the trail, the scenery was world class, and the company excellent," said Bob Rosso, event organizer and owner of the Elephant's Perch.

While participants of the Boulder Mountain Tour race down the course, skating along with gravity as their friend, this group classic skis uphill the entire length of the course. The group was a mix of recent World Masters gold medalists, collegiate All-Americans and others of all ability levels.

No times were recorded and no medals were handed out. Each person just enjoyed a day of great skiing. In no particular order of finish, here is a list of participants, at the least the ones we could write down:

Kris and Susan Thoreson, Phil and Susan Usher, Sean and Mia O'Malley, Brian and Melissa Elkins, Nello and Jenny Busdon, Mike Dunham and Joni Cashman, Bob and Kate Rosso and Mike Wolter.

Also, Doug Cleven, Phil Puchner, Jim Bradford, Del Pletcher, Chris Mallory, John Plummer, Craig Phelan, Pete Stommel, Linda McClatchy, Kathy Bjornson, Sharon Bjornson, Rick Knoebel, Jeremy Fryberger, Tess O'Sullivan, Susy Hayes, Lindy Cogan, Tim Inch and probably a few other good folks, enthusiastic classic skiers and Nordic aficionados.

The event was a partnership between the Sawtooth National Forest, Blaine County Recreation District, Galena Lodge concessionaires and The Elephant's Perch of Ketchum. Next year's event is set for Saturday, Feb. 17.




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