Northshore Nordic Club introduces new name

By FAITH MOLDAN / Bigfork Eagle

Five years of existence means changes for the Northshore Nordic Club.

The club, formerly called the Bigfork Community Nordic Center, changed its name and made a temporary change to its trails.

"It reflects the success we've had," Northshore Nordic Club steering committee member Dave Hadden said of the club's name change.

The Northshore Nordic Club hopes to make some more changes and additions in the next year. Those additions include a snowmobile and grooming instrument, which the club is currently raising money for from volunteer donations.

All of the club's funding comes from donations. It also received a $6,000 grant two years ago. The money raised goes toward grooming staff, equipment and maintenance.

"Our goal is $10,000," Hadden said. Hadden said the club hopes to raise enough to have enough machines and equipment for all of its areas next year and to cover ongoing operations and expenses. The club currently has two grooming machines, but only uses one due to the cost of operating and maintaining both.

Donations can be made out to and mailed to Northshore Nordic Club at 9236 Highway 35, Bigfork, MT 59911. There is also a downloadable donation flyer online at www.bigforknordic.org.

Norm Brewer grooms the club's trails, which usually includes two or three areas around the northshore of Flathead Lake. The first are is just south of Ferndale on Bug Creek Road. The trail there stretches about 15 killometers near Crane Mountain. This area is groomed once a week for traditional nordic skiing. The club also has two killometers of trail along the Wild Mile in Bigfork. The Wild Mile trail is groomed and used when conditions — namely snowfall — permit, according to Hadden.

Skate and classic skiers have 57 killometers of trail to enjoy at Blacktail Mountain. This year marks the second the club has assisted the county in grooming the cross country ski area at Blacktail.

"We'll groom three days and they'll groom one day," Hadden said. "It should be the best place in the valley for nordic skiing."

Another area the club previously groomed will not be on its list this year. The club's usual area along Foothills Road will not be groomed this year due to an ongoing timber sale.

"We'll resume grooming Foothills Road next year," Hadden said.

The area, which covers 17 killometers, is still open to skiiers and snowshoers just won't be groomed by the club.