History:

The JNSC was established sometime in the 1970’s; one of its original goals was to provide Nordic ski trails in the Mendenhall Valley. One of their first projects was the building of the present Moraine Ecology Trail in the MGRA. The club began to sponsor races at Eaglecrest after the Nordic trails were completed there. Under volunteer agreement with the Forest Service, the JNSC has been setting ski tracks in the Mendenhall Campground and on Mendenhall Lake since 1993.

The equipment used included an old snowmachine donated by Greens Creek Mining Company and a hand made classic track setter. In 1995, the JNSC purchased its first manufactured classic track setter and in 1997 they purchased a large snowmobile and roller for setting classic and skating tracks with donations from local businesses and club members.

This equipment was originally used to set classic tracks in Mendenhall Campground and Mendenhalll Lake. Since 1996 the club has brushed the Upper and Lower Nordic trails at the Eaglecrest Ski Area. In 1997 the club helped design and brush the 2 kilometers of trail at Eagle Beach State Recreation Area, and in the winter of 1998 it loaned its old snowmachine to Alaska State Parks for trail grooming. In the fall of 1998, JNSC, under volunteer agreement and financial support from the Forest Service, spent weekends brushing the overgrown trails and roads of the Dredge Lake Unit to make them accessible for skiing, hiking and bicycling. During the winter of 1998, JNSC produced the MGRA Skiing and Hiking Trails Map used in the area. The Club continued to brush trails in the Dredge Lakes Unit in 1999, 2000 and 2001, with financial support from the Forest Service “Fee Demostration Program”. In 2000 the club received a Recreation Trail Grant and purchased a new snowmachine, trailer, roller and additional classic track setters.

The club has provided skis to the schools and other organizations since 1993. The club has entered into “Joint Agreements for Nordic Trail Services” with the Eaglecrest Ski Area to improve the Nordic skiing opportunities and reduce costs for Juneau residents since 1996.