<div>I will admit that I like being in control of what I am responsible for. I doubt if that’s unusual. But, even if I and others do all we can to prepare to hold an event, let’s face it . . . a lot comes down to . . . . luck.</div> <div> </div> <div>On Monday the 5th, the day after this year’s GG to BW Nordic Adventure, Howie and I drove over to Bretton Woods, he to drive the snowmobile used for sweeping the course back to Great Glen picking up signs in the woods, me to pick up various signs we’d put out on different snowmobile trails over the past couple of weeks. When we left Bretton Woods, it was a reasonable day weather-wise. When I reached the bottom of Jefferson Notch it began snowing heavily, and it was practically a white-out as I drove along Route 2, paralleling the power line. How lucky the Adventure was yesterday and not today! Tuesday’s weather was even harsher—sub-zero temps and strong winds. How lucky we were that we didn’t have that weather two days prior!</div> <div> </div> <div>Last year, we did everything we did this year to get ready, except the final week of grooming, (because there wasn’t snow to groom). We sent Alan and Tony out in late October to brush the power line. We lined up the sponsors. We bought ads, designed, printed, distributed the brochure, and rewrote the website. Placed all the orders—pins, volunteer hats, buses, tents, food for aid stations, etc. We bought supplies, lined up volunteers. And then Luck exerted her power—this time, bad luck in the name of little snow. So, no GG to BW.</div> <div> </div> <div>The Nordic Adventure route utilizes land which we don’t own nor control. Some of it through the National Forest. There are winter timber sales which have been purchased, and the loggers use some of the same roads we do to take out their timber. Two years ago, we had good luck and bad luck with these. All winter long, the logging company that had the sale a few miles up the Jefferson Notch Road had not been in to cut. The week before the Nordic Adventure, they decide they are going in, (and plowing the snow off) the Jefferson Notch Road, to get at their site. The week before!!!! Bad luck. We got permission to pull the snow from the snow banks onto the road for the period of the event.</div> <div>On the other hand, we get some good luck with another logging company, who had a sale off the Pinkham B Road. Turns out their supervisor is an old friend of Howie’s and he is willing to have his loggers help move some snow back onto our course for the event. Good luck!</div> <div> </div> <div>This year the snow was late in arriving. For a long time, into February, it looked again like there was no way we would have the cover we needed to hold the point-to-point. But luck—good luck came our way. First we got a nice big storm on Valentines Day. Then more snow came the weekend before the GGBW. But then the wind came up and blew most of it off the power line section -bad luck. And then some precipitation without the wind fell Saturday night. Good luck! </div> <div> </div> <div>In the past we’ve been able to rely on one of the grooming machine manufacturers to loan us a machine to help groom out the course. This year, at the last minute it became unavailable. Bad Luck! Fortunately the Mt Washington Valley Touring Center stepped up and not only offered to loan their groomer but loan their operator, John Barley, as well; and Jackson Ski Touring loaned us their truck and trailer to move the machine. Good Luck! And special thanks to both neighboring touring centers!</div> <div> </div> <div>I do count my lucky stars. And when someone wishes me good luck on the GGBW, by all means, I accept it.</div> <div> </div> <div>Sue</div>

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