Did you get out and enjoy our first shot of winter? Between last Friday’s dusting and Monday’s dollop we were served up enough snow for groomers Bill and Dan to work their magic on the trails Tuesday. It was thin in spots and sticky in others (meaning, both the snow’s clump factor and the twigs poking up from below) but all trails were skiable Tuesday. The operative word being “were.” The forecast has foiled this shot of skiing from being the official kickoff to consistent winter conditions. But don’t despair! There are flakes in the longer-term forecast. And we’ve got an event planned to ease the wait: Backcountry Film Festival Join us tonight for a ski season kickoff party with a screening of the 2015-16 Backcountry Film Festival! We hosted…

Chainwreck Cyclocross SeriesTsalteshi Trails andBeemun's Bike & Ski Loft present the Chainwreck Cyclocross Series on Thursdays through Oct. 29. All races begin at 6:30 p.m. and will change trailheads. Please follow Tsalteshi Trails on Facebook for the specifics of each race. Thursday, October 8 — Starts at the Skyview Trailhead. Meet at 5:15 for a technique clinic, followed by the race at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, October 15 - WOLVERINE TRAILHEAD Thursday, October 22 - WOLVERINE TRAILHEAD Thursday, October 29 - Skyview Trailhead No pre-registration necessary, just show up and ride. Free for active Tsalteshi members, $5 everyone else. Not a current member? Become oneHERE. What is cyclocross, you ask? Well... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFo4qM-edo4 Ski and Sport SwapThe Kenai Nordic Ski team will hold its annual ski/sport swap from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 24…

Holly Brooks at Tsalteshi! It’s full speed ahead to the finish line for the Salmon Run Series, with lots in store for the final race Wednesday, Aug. 5. You don’t want to miss this! Finish the series with a barbecue, and meet special guest, Alaska Olympian Holly Brooks! As part of the Healthy Heroes program, Holly is traveling the state, promoting healthy activities and lifestyles. She’ll be at the final Salmon Run Series race at 6 p.m. Wednesdaybehind Skyview Middle School, and you should be too! When: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5 Where: Tsalteshi Trails, Skyview Trailhead Cost: Individual races are $10 for Tsalteshi members and $15 for nonmembers. (Not a member yet? BECOME ONE HERE.) Registration and more information here. "Who is this Holly Brooks," you say? Well…While coaching full time at the Alaska Pacific University nordic…

Tsalteshi Progress Days Disc Golf Tournament Let the good times fly! Tsalteshi Trails Association will hold a disc golf tournament as part of Soldotna Progress Days. Prizes in men's and women's divisions. When: Play starts at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 25. Mandatory player meeting at 12:45 p.m. Day-of registration starts at noon. Where: Tsalteshi Trails Disc Golf Course. Meet by the old hockey rink behind Skyview Middle School. Cost: Advance registration online is $10 for Tsalteshi members or $15 or for nonmembers. (Not a member yet? BECOME ONE HERE.) Prices go up $5 the day of the event. Registration and more information: tsalteshi.org. Play the 19-hole disc golf course on the Squirrel and Rabbit loops of the trails behind the football field at Skyview Middle School. Advance registration online through midnight Friday. Day-of registration starts at…

Salmon Run Series  The Salmon Run Series is back for season four! Each race is 5 kilometers and utilizes a variety of trails in the Tsalteshi system. It’s a great way to build your skills, test yourself from week to week and get to know the trails. Youth Division: Before each 5k, there will be a 1k race for children 6 and under. Youth registration will be available for the individual races.Proceeds are used to fund the Kenai Watershed Forum’s summer youth camps. When: 6 p.m. Wednesdays, July 8-Aug. 5 Where: Tsalteshi Trails, Skyview Trailhead Cost: Individual races are $10 for Tsalteshi members and $15 for nonmembers. Register for all five races for a discount — $45 for TTA members or $70 for nonmembers. (Not a member yet? BECOME ONE HERE.) Registration and more information here. Kids…

Happy 18 hours of daylight! Let’s get out and make the most of it. EventsTSA Run Series Want to do the Salmon Run Series but don’t know how to start? Tired of the treadmill and want to give trail running a try? Seeking a group atmosphere to kick boredom to the curb?Tsalteshi Sports Academy is back in action and ready to get you running! Join coach Kent Peterson for TSA’s Learn to Run program Wednesdays in June atTsalteshi Trails. Learn the FUNdamentals of trail running and get familiar with the trails. When: 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays in June — June 3, 10, 17, 24. Where: Meet behind Skyview Middle School, through the fence near the football field. Cost: FREE for active Tsalteshi Trails Association members. (Not a member yet? BECOME ONE HERE.) $5 for nonmembers.  TSA Bike Series Get on track for summer riding…

Soup’er NaturalTrail conditions continue to dry out and firm up at Tsalteshi, though some loops remain soupier than others. As always this time of year, please practice leave-no-trace touring — if you are creating foot divots and tire tracks in the trail, please return to firmer ground. Not only is mud-bogging bad for your laundry, it prolongs the wrinkle-release cycle for the trails.Want to stay dry-ground bound? Following is a guide to current trail conditions, expressed in viscosity of soup: Wolverine: Porridge left on simmer overnight. In other words — a soggy spot or two, but mostly dried out to the point of solidified. Porcupine and Vole: Chowder. Some chunks of firm consistency, but otherwise runny. Goat: Even older porridge — dry all the way through. Bear: Gumbo — spongy in spots, but mostly…

Choose Your Weapon Saturday is the first official event of summer — the Choose Your Weapon 10k at Tsalteshi. Run, bike, hike, snowshoe, pogo stick, crawl, moonwalk — whatever mode floats your boat.* *Note: Actual boats are not allowed. Although a floatation device might be wise… Time: 11 a.m. Date: Saturday, April 18 Place: Wolverine Trailhead, K-Beach Road Pace: Your own. Attitude is more important than aptitude! Embrace: The mud. Let’s welcome spring with a splash. Online registration closes tonight. Visit the event page on our website for a discounted price. Cost: $25 for adults, $15 for students, with a $5 discount for Tsalteshi Trails Association members. Not a member? You can be! Renew/begin your membership here. (All your friends are doing it.) Day-of-race registration begins at 10:30 a.m. at…

Summer Rules in effect It hasn't been much fun, but this Winter That Wasn't is at least consistent — we still haven't had enough snow to make skiing possible at Tsalteshi Trails. (Though we saw a few hardy skiers making the effort on some of our warmer days last week. Good on ya!)Until or unless we get skiable snow, feel free to enjoy summer activities on the trails — running, hiking and biking, with dogs allowed if leashed or under voice control. But be sure to be studs about it. Most loops are extremely icy, and ice cleats are highly recommended. Even with extra traction, exercise caution going downhill, especially as freeze-thaw cycles continue.Tsalteshi Trails Youth Ski and Tsalteshi Sports Academy skate ski lessons for adults both had to cancel their…

The Iceman Cometh Join us for the coolest winter race on the peninsula! Preview the awesome here10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, Skyview Trail HeadHave you heard of a quadrathlon? Now you have. It’s a triathlon with extra awesome. Ski from the Skyview Trailhead to Wolverine, skate 10 laps at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex, run back to Skyview and swim 300 yards in the pool. This. Will. Be. Epic.Registration is $35. Teams welcome. To sign up and for event rules, visit the event page online.   Fuzzy Predator 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, Skyview Trail HeadSki all of the fuzzy predator trails at Tsalteshi in one swell foop! Wolf, Fox, Bear, Wolverine, Lynx and Coyote await you in this perfect tune-up event for the Tour of Anchorage. Skate and classic races available.Registration is…