Hello Skiers,

On Saturday, February 20, Sam Beard and Michael Arndt will lead Class I and Class I-II tours in the Coyote Call Area in the Jemez Mountains across the highway from Valle Grande on the Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP).

Sam will lead the approximately 2-mile Class I tour in the meadows and on the lower segment of the Coyote Call Loop Trail near NM-4 highway. He will include a review of beginning XC ski techniques for less experienced skiers.

Michael will lead the Class I-II tour around the 3-mile Coyote Call Loop Trail that has an elevation change of about 400 feet. From the trailhead, the loop tour follows a 1-mile segment of old logging road parallel to the highway and climbs a moderately steep segment to Scooter Peak/Rabbit Ridge Saddle. From the saddle, the route goes west along a one-mile segment with very little elevation change, and from the southwest corner of the loop the trail descends to the trailhead through meadows and open forests. Michael may include short side tours to the lower part of Rabbit Ridge Road and Log Landing Road.

Meet at 8 a.m. on the west side of the Target parking lot southeast of the intersection of I-25 North and Paseo del Norte. Please let me know if you live north of ABQ and would like to meet us on the west side of the Home Depot parking lot on US-550 west of Bernalillo.

Bring face masks, snacks, lunch, drinks, and ski equipment. Also, please bring MaxiGlide or other wax to apply to the skis in the event that we have sticky conditions leading to a build up of snow and ice on the ski bottoms.

To help with planning, please let me know if you plan to participate and which group you will be in by Friday evening. Also, please email me if you have questions. My email address is samgbeard@msn.com.

Sam Beard, Trails Chair

New Mexico Cross Country Ski Club