03Jun 2024 by Neyman, Jenny

Hit the Trails weekly summer activities

Events

Join Tsalteshi Trails Association for weekly summer activities from June to August. Guided hikes and rides, informational topics, free and open to the public! Get familiar with the trails, meet other trail users and maybe even learn something in the process. Most events last about an hour. Dress for the weather and bring your bug deterrent of choice. Dogs allowed unless otherwise specified but must be on a leash. For more information, contact Jenny at info@tsalteshi.org or 907-394-6397. Where are these trailheads? Skyview Trailhead: Meet at the old hockey rink behind Skyview Middle School, 46188 Sterling Hwy, Soldotna, AK 99669. Skyview Pool Entrance: Behind Skyview Middle School (to the right, if facing the school), 46188 Sterling Hwy, Soldotna, AK 99669. Wolverine Trailhead: Across Kalifornsky Beach Road from the Soldotna Regional…

17Dec 2023 by Neyman, Jenny

Adult Ski Lessons

Events

Tsalteshi Trails Association is offering classic and skate skiing lessons from Jan. 7-Feb. 14. For ages 18 and older. All* experience levels welcome, from first-time-on-skis through those wanting to refine their technique. (*We'll probably have limited coaching capacity for advanced skiers... we might put you to work teaching others! :) Classic technique lessons: 2-3 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 7-Feb. 11 (register in advance online or in person) Skate technique lessons: 6-7 p.m. Mondays, Jan. 8-Feb. 12 (register in advance online or in person) Guided drop-in skis to practice what you're learning and get acquainted with the trails: 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 10-Feb. 14 (no registration required) TTA members: $5 per lesson (start or renew a TTA membership here) Non-TTA members: $10 per lesson No fee for Wednesday drop-in skis Save $$…

16Dec 2023 by Neyman, Jenny

Tsalteshi Tree Ski 2024

Events

Help Tsalteshi brighten up winter with the Tsalteshi Tree Ski! Decorate a tree by Jan. 5 Come to the Tree Ski from 6-8 p.m. Jan. 6 Undecorate your tree by the end of February Businesses, organizations, teams, families, friends, groups of complete strangers who happen to like decorating — come one, come all! The Moose Loop has small, medium and large trees available, suitable for families with young kids up to the more ambitious. (But don't risk hurting yourself and don't damage the trees trying to get them decorated!) We're looking for volunteers to decorate trees on the Moose Loop (lighted loop behind Skyview Middle School). Decorations should be up by Jan. 5. Tsalteshi will hold a community Tree Ski from 6-8 p.m. Jan. 6. Come ski, snowshoe or walk…

04Dec 2023 by Neyman, Jenny

TTA Board voting open through Dec. 11

TTA Board of Directors

Tsalteshi Trails Association has two seats open for membership election on its Board of Directors for the 2024-2025 term, and one seat open for board appointment for a 2024 term. Below are board candidate bios, as well as information about our current and retiring board members. TTA members in good standing as of Dec. 1 will get an email link to an online poll for voting. The poll will be open Dec. 5 through Dec. 11. Family memberships: Unfortunately, our database system only allows the family membership coordinator to submit a vote through the poll. Other family members listed in the family membership can submit their vote to info@tsalteshi.org. (We're researching new database options now. This should be the last election where you have to jump through this extra hoop!) If…

22Nov 2023 by Neyman, Jenny

Film premiere and annual meeting

Events, TTA Board of Directors

Join Tsalteshi Trails Association for the Kenai Peninsula premiere of "The Land of the Giants" by Matchstick Productions. Featuring the best skiers in the world, riding unbelievable conditions to the very edge and beyond. It's a celebration of the natural world, and a reminder of the power of the human spirit. Featuring winter wonderlands all over the world, including Alaska! Tsalteshi is premiering LOTG as part of our annual membership meeting. Find out what's new with Tsalteshi, hear from candidates for the Board of Directors, beverages from Kenai River Brewing, food, music, auctions and Tsalteshi merch. Come hang with the coolest ski people around! Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Film starts around 6:30 p.m. Board applications accepted through Dec. 1. More information and application here. Admission is FREE for TTA…

10Nov 2023 by Neyman, Jenny

Application period open for 2024 TTA Board

TTA Board of Directors

Tsalteshi Trails Association is accepting applications for two seats on the TTA Board of Directors. Ideal board candidates are passionate about the trails and want to work toward improving the management, sustainability and function of the TTA organization and the trails and build a strong community within our user groups. Here’s an opportunity to do just that! Use your energy and expertise to improve the trails Work within our mission, vision and values Work toward accomplishing our strategic plan objectives Participate in events and programs on the trails Do you have experience in finance/accounting, leadership, trail design/maintenance or recreational management? Are you a skier, biker, runner and/or walker who is passionate about the trails system? Consider applying! Must be a member in good standing of the Tsalteshi Trails Association for…

28Oct 2023 by Neyman, Jenny

Membership rates increase Nov. 1

General, TTA Board of Directors

Membership revenue is a huge chunk of Tsalteshi’s annual operational budget, helping us pay for everything from trail grooming to toilet paper for the outhouse. Tsalteshi Trails Association is a nonprofit organization, not part of a municipal parks department. Our budget is covered through memberships, donations and grants. Costs have steadily increased over the last five years — fuel, equipment maintenance, insurance, even that toilet paper costs more these days. Tsalteshi is facing a growing deficit in our operational budget if we don’t make up the difference. Our board spent a lot of time crunching numbers and decided it’s time to adjust membership rates. (We also spent a lot of time trying to figure out the last time rates were changed and it’s been so long no one could remember…

28Oct 2023 by Neyman, Jenny

Help stop bike trails modifications

Maintenance/grooming, Safety

We need your help! We’re seeing a steep increase in unauthorized trail modifications lately — people putting in shortcuts, jumps and extra features — primarily off our singletrack trails. We get that our trails might seem a little bland for riders looking for a spicier experience. But this is not the way to get more challenging features at Tsalteshi. All trail construction has to go through a design process that includes safety, layout with other trails, sustainability (erosion control and ongoing maintenance) and approval by our board, insurance underwriters and our landlord, the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Renegade trail mods have been a problem throughout the history of the trails but it’s getting really out of hand lately — people doing dirt work, using saws, building structures, etc. We remove them…

27Oct 2023 by Neyman, Jenny

Tsalteshi Track Patch

Events

Show your Tsalteshi pride with a new Tsalteshi Track Patch every year! Participate in at least three activities in one year — a running event, a biking event, a skiing event or volunteering at Tsalteshi — to earn your 3.5x3.5-inch patch in December. For example, you ran (or walked) one Salmon Run race, you rode the Tsalteshi Gauntlet bike event and you coached Sprockets. Or you skied the Tour of Tsalteshi, you rode in one Soldotna Cycle Series race and you ran/walked in Race Like an Animal. Or you coached youth ski, you skied in the Ski for Women and ran the Zombie Run. Patches are free but you must be a TTA member to qualify. Show off your TTA pride and earn a new patch every year! Want to…

05Oct 2023 by Neyman, Jenny

Survey says…

Documents, Events, General, Maintenance/grooming, Tsalteshi Ski Trails, TTA Board of Directors

TTA survey spring 2023 Thank you to everyone who completed our trail user survey this spring. You gave our Board of Directors a lot to discuss. The survey provides important information about our users, what you value about the trails, areas we could do better and what you’d like to see in the years ahead. We are factoring your responses into our current operations, programming, priorities and areas of growth in the future. In reviewing survey results, several themes emerged: Projects We’re with you — we would love to do ALL THE THINGS!!! As a nonprofit organization, Tsalteshi must seek grants and raise our own funds for any developments we pursue. And we have to balance long-term sustainability with desired improvements. The last thing we want is to spend too…