March is a busy time at the Birch Hill Recreation Area. This week sees the USSA Cross Country Ski Junior National Championships play out. Then later this month, the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks hosts the annual Sonot Kkaazoot, a home-grown equinox event that celebrates springtime’s growing light and warmer temperatures.

This episode I speak with NSCF’s head groomer Tom Helmers. Without the passion and hard work of Helmers and his crew none of the events would be possible.

Also, I dust off part of a conversation I had in 2016 with Bob Baker, who founded the Sonot Kkaazoot.