Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Page A-9
Winding Trails: by Al Hobart
Thursday, Feb. 9, 1967
Illinois Valley News
X-C Ski Racing
What does one do on a cold,
white weekend in winter?
According to the Encyclopedia
Packersgulchia there are only two
worthwhile alternatives: you (1)
spend your time indoors stoking
up the fire and drooling over a
good murder mystery, or (2) pack
up your x-c skiing equipment and
head for the high, dry ski country,
such as Lake of the Woods, Howard
Prairie or Crater Lake, stopping in
Grants Pass only long enough to
become again temporarily identified
with the enthusiastic members
of one of your adopted families
and proceeding with them to the
selected ski-touring area, there to
join, by prearrangement or probable
chance, other like-minded, all-season
outdoor lovers.
It so happens that I’m one of
the group of lucky ski fans who
ROGUE VALLEY
have been gathered around John
Day, kingpin of the nation’s x-c ski
program, to form the Oregon Nordic
Club, nucleus of the burgeoning
winter sport’s western activities.
It all adds up to a feeling
that Santa Claus is still dogging
my footsteps. For a $2 yearly
membership fee I receive a $2
million package of fun, health,
priceless companionship and
numerous personal-type club
benefits out of all proportion to the
two measly frog skins it cost me to
join the club. As just one example,
after our recent 15-mile ski run from
Crater Lake to Diamond Lake, in
which John D. participated and took
numerous pictures of the event, each
of us charter members received a
packet of about 20 postcard-size pics
of the tour, most of them in color.
Last Sunday we were given
a real treat. Big Chief John and his
second in command, Bill Pruitt,
staged our first big official meet
for cross-country ski racing. The
momentous (especially for members
of the newly-formed club) event
took place at Lake of the Woods, and
lasted most of the afternoon. The
public was invited–anyone could
enter the races of his (or her) class.
First, second, and third place
trophies were issued to the respective
winners of each event. There were
races for children, women, and
several different classes of men’s
races. If I had known the trophies
were to be so beautiful and of such
high quality I’d have really trained
for the big event. I did enter one
race, the relay race, and I’m sure my
team would have won a trophy but,
through an oversight or something,
no consolation prizes were provided.
One of the most important
figures at the meet was the lady of
the Chuckwagon. The Chuckwagon,
a miniature restaurant on wheels,
disgorged, on command, hot
sandwiches, hot drinks, pastry and
all kinds of goodies to cater to the
ravenous appetites induced by the
cold pure air of that high altitude
and the calorie-consuming exercise
i.V. Wellness resources
Living Well With Chronic Conditions.
OF GOVERNMENTS
Food & Friends Menu
FRIDAY – FEB. 10
WAIkIkI CHICkEN
MONDAY – FEB. 13
BAkED HAM W/ MUSTARD
SAUCE
WEDNESDAY - FEB. 15
CHICkEN & PENNE
PASTA
If you need meals
delivered please call
541-955-8839.
by x-c ski-tour enthusiasts. From
the moment you clamp on those
light, fast runners, and stab your
ski poles into the snow for a send-
off, till you step off them at the
end of an exhilarating tour, every
minute is one of extreme pleasure.
Even the weariness you feel at the
end of the day seems to have a
quality of freshness, due partly to
the super-oxygenated bloodstream
the excellent exercise and pure air
doctored up for you, and partly to
the supercharged memories of this
last wonderful experience that still
dominate your mind.
I can hardly wait for our next
big meet, only a few days away. My
vision is blurred by the image of
those shiny, magnificent trophies,
and the only way I can correct that
visual aberration is to go out after
one.
Watch the next installment
for the glad tidings–or notice my
shamefaced departure for Singapore.
Senior SPoTLiGHT
Sponsored by
COUNCIL
indulged in by the skiers.
All you had to do to avail
yourself of the gustatory joys of the
Chuckwagon was to cross the palm
of the lady with a smattering of
small change and name your poison.
I didn’t count noses, but there
must have been about 50 people
in the crowd, including interested
spectators. A good share of them
entered the races. Two women, with
their respective sons, came all the
way from Wenatchee, Washington,
expressly for this skiing event. One
of the Wenatchee boys took first
place in the junior race; the other
took a second prize.
Next week we’re going to have
another Lake of the Woods wingding
of the same kind and caliber, one that
will probably attract a much greater
gathering than we had in response to
this first clarion call to all lovers of
the long, light, x-c touring skis, with
the lasting benefits and joys they can
provide.
The races constitute only one
of the many thrills to be enjoyed
A participant reported, “I was tired. I hurt all the time.
It felt like my health problems were telling me what I
could and couldn’t do. Living Well Chronic Conditions
workshops put me back in charge. Now, I have the energy
to do the things that matter. I’ve put life back in my life.”
Take charge of your health and sign up for the
workshop “Living Well with Chronic Pain.”
Find new ways to:
*Manage stress and improve the ability to relax
*Fight fatigue and frustration
*Eat better and exercise safely
*Control pain and improve activity
*Learn better ways to talk to your doctor and family
about your health
*Solve problems and get the support you need
In Cave Junction there will be a workshop at the
Siskiyou Community Health Center, 25647 Redwood
Hwy., Wednesdays, March 1 through April 5, 2017.
You must register for this event by calling 541-864-
9611. You can get more information by visiting www.
sohealthyoregon.org.
You can contact I.V. Wellness Resources at
www.ivwellnessresources@gmail.com. Please
like our Facebook page by searching for
ivwellnessresources.
Senior BULLeTin
HOME SAFETY
EVALUATAIONS
If you are in need of a
home safety evaluation
with a registered nurse
please call I.V. Wellness
Resources for an appoint-
ment. We have flexible
hours to meet your needs.
Call 541-592-9781.
FREE ADS
CHAIR FITNESS
If you are a senior and
Classes FREE at
want to place a FREE
Healthy U, Monday
AD for a living or health and Wednesdays from 2
care need call Laura
- 2:45 p.m. 535 E. River
Mancuso at
St., Cave Junction Call
541-592-2541 or email
541-592-4888 or visit
laura@illinois-valley- www.healthyucenter.org.
news.com.
Saving a Life from a potential catastrophe
EVERY 10 MINUTES
but I’m never alone.
I have Life Alert. ®
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For a FREE brochure call:
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AARP TAX-AIDE
PROGRAM
Providing free tax as-
sistance for middle &
low incomes. Tax coun-
selors are IRS-certified.
Call 541-592-6139 for a
Wednesday appointment
in Cave Junction.
WAnTeD
ILLINOIS VALLEY
WELLNESS
RESOURCES
SEEKING SERVICES
Valley seniors are
looking for transportation,
caregivers, firewood,
handymen, computer
skills, housekeepers and
yard work.
If you would like to
provide one of these
services and will complete
a background check and
have references, please
contact Laura Mancuso at
541-592-9781.
SEEKING
W/C ACCESSIBLE
HOUSING.
If you have a home that
is wheelchair accessible
for rent, we have a couple
that really needs a place
to live. Please call Laura
at 541-592-9781.
Get your life back at
the new depression
and anxiety recovery
program!