Introduction

Since the implementation of the Proposition 23 Tax Cap in January of 1984, the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage has funded all cross-country ski trail winter maintenance on the soft surface trails in Anchorage through a voluntary user fee. By park rules 5% of this fee has been returned to the city each year since 1987, totaling over $100,000. From 1976 to 1984 the trail grooming was funded by the city. Prior to 1976 all grooming was done by volunteer club members. The Nordic Skiing community has also funded a large majority of the summer maintenance and improvements to these trails at Kincaid Park, Hillside Park, Far North Bicentennial Park, Bartlett HS, and APU/UAA. During the past 30 years the Nordic Community has hosted 25 national and international cross-country ski events in Anchorage. These events have generated approximately 5.5 million dollars for the community.  The city has collect approximately $110,000 from their 4% bed tax in association with these events.

Annual Winter Maintenance

Each winter (October through April) the Nordic Skiing Association grooms over 100km of cross country ski only trails and 20 km of multi use trails. The multi use trails are for walking, running, dog walking, skijoring, and horseback riding. Cross country skiers are asked to donate to a trail grooming fund. Last year a budget of $200,000 collected from skiers and contracts for racing funded all maintenance programs. Approximately 2000 trail pin donors paid for the winter and summer maintenance for all trail users. The MOA estimates there are about 60,000 people who cross-country ski in Anchorage. During the past twenty years the skiing association has spent approximately $2,200,000 for winter maintenance.

Annual Summer Maintenance

Each summer the Nordic Skiing Association cuts and removes dead and downed trees, maintains gardens, cuts brush, and mows the grass on over 120km of soft surface trails. This is the only maintenance done on soft surface trails. The work is done by volunteers from the Nordic community and NSAA staff and was valued at about $20,000 this year. During the past twenty years approximately $275,000 has been spent for summer maintenance.

Trail Construction and Improvements

During the years 1984-2003 Nordic Ski Groups have completed trail construction and improvement projects valued in excess of $3,400,000. These projects include ski trail and facility design, development, construction, lighting, signing, mapping, and gardens. Prior to 1984 most trail development and improvements were completed by volunteers with hand tools and occasionally the donation of mechanized equipment. (see complete trail history)

The following is a chronological list of projects, which have been completed by NSAA and other related groups and individuals.

2003 - Total value - $240,000 (NSAA expenditure - $140,000)

1. Hillside Lighted Loop - widened, filled, grading
2. Besh Lighted Loop - grading, moved light pole
3. Richter Loop - Dead tree removal - King Career Center
4. Richter Loop - regrade and widen the entry hill
5. Double Bubble Loop - regraded, widened
6. Gas Line - fill and grading Randy's Loop - lighted (22 poles and lights), regarded; Peter Mjos' project
7. Kincaid - Lake and Horseshoe Loops - vandalism repair
8. Kincaid - Summer trail maintenance - brush cutting, mowing
9. Kincaid - brush chipping dead and down spruce along Raspberry Road in the park in cooperation with Anchorage Wildfire Partnership
10. Kincaid - repaired damage to stadium area after "Blues on the Green" event
11. Kincaid/Hillside Park - planting 2000 trees
12. APU - felling and chipping trees in preparation for trail widening
13. Tour of Anchorage Trail - repaired North Fork bridge and damage to trail near Tudor
14. Arctic Valley - in cooperation with Anchorage Ski Club and US Army - construction of 3km XC ski trail - 250 volunteer hours

2002 - Total value - $25,000

1. John Oswald - New Maps for Kincaid
2. New Anchorage Area Trail Map - Charlie Barnwell, Gordon Wetzel, LDN
3. Lekisch Tunnel - Grade, reseed, landscape south side of tunnel/ garden area

2001 - Total Value - $15,000

APU Trail relocation below the President's house and associated connections

2000 - Total value - $35,000

Summer Work for Special Olympics (work the club did in addition to Special O funds for chalet, parking lot etc.)

1. Drainage/grading Mize Loop exit areas
2. Repair to Lekisch Trail
3. Bunker Tunnel approaches
4. Enstar gas line regrading

1999 - Total value - $30,000

1. 1 km construction of return section of Arlene's Way
2. Arlene's overlook

1998 - Total value - $540,000

1. Pia's Overlook
2. 1km trail addition - Randy's Loop at Service HS
3. Kincaid Stadium grading
4. Kincaid Trail Maps addition and repair
5. Homologation of Trails - final International governing board approval of 20 year process (value $500,000)

1997 - Total value - $142,000

1. Junior Nordic Stadium Lights - Kincaid - 8 poles and 32 lights
2. Menaker Garden at Margeaux's Trail Head
3. U Wax Weather Hotline installation of equipment
4. Mize Loop regrade
5. Construction of outgoing section of Arlene's Way

1996 - Total value - $555,000

1. Menaker lighting of Mize Loop - 103 lights and poles
2. Help with construction of BLM bridge in Bicentennial Park
3. Kincaid Ski play/sledding hill lights - 3 poles and 6 lights
4. Spruce bark beetle control - spraying 500 trees - Hillside Park
5. Junior Nordic 2 km lights at Hillside/Service 30 lights and poles

1995 - Total value - $117,000

1. Raspberry Parking Lot and Lights - Kincaid - assist city
2. Original area wide Anchorage Ski Trail Maps
3. Widening 15km trail at Kincaid
4. Final construction Lekisch Gardens
5. New Kincaid Trail - You are here maps

1994 - Total value - $6000

Signs and maps at Hillside - 2 projects

1993 - Total value - $43,000

1. Trail maps - Kincaid
2. Widen 10km trails at Kincaid

1992 - Total Value - $185,000

1. Tour of Anchorage Trail upgrade and install 3 bridges
2. Kincaid Timing Building

1991 - Total Value - $122,000

1. Hillside equipment storage building construction
2. Sisson Trail Construction for World Masters - 10km
3. Enlarge and upgrade biathlon range

1990 - Total value - $33,000

Widen 10km trail at Kincaid

1989 - Total Value - $10,000

1. First small timing building - (now moved to biathlon range)
2. Grading Kinciad start/finish area

1988 - Total value - $896,000

1. Construction of the first biathlon range at Kincaid
2. Light on Lekisch 2.9km trail (50 poles and lights)
3. Basic snowmaking system at Kincaid
4. Spencer Loop construction at Hillside
5. Kiosks and maps at Hillside
6. Karl Eid ski jump construction completion

1987 - Total Value - $175,000

Construction of 7.5km Andrew Lekisch Trail and tunnels

1986 - Total value - $65,000

20km trails widened at Kincaid and Hillside

1985 - Total value - $50,000

15km trail widened at Kincaid and Hillside

1984 - Total Value - $150,000

Mize Loop and Elliot's Climb Trail Construction

Nordic Community

The Nordic Community includes the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage, the Junior Nordic League, UAA Ski programs, APU ski programs, Alaska Winter Stars, and many other individual and family cross country skiing volunteers. Many improvements have been made to Girdwood and Eagle River/Chugiak soft surface trails by similar volunteer groups. These improvements have not been included here.

For other information of Nordic ski and soft surface trails look at:

• Club Survey Results - PDF Format
• Craciun Survey Results
• Anchorage Parks Natural Open Space Survey result