Milan Baic is congratulated after winning the 10K at the White Pine Stampede last Saturday, Feb. 2. Photo by Hadley Robinson

Though early last week conditions were looking good for the race, the high temperatures and rain last Tuesday Jan. 29 took out too much snow. The storm on Wednesday brought in some inches, but also blew so much that portions of the trail lost all snow cover.

"The 50 degree temperatures and rain depleted what was there already," Race Director Jack McKaig said. "The storm we got to replenish it was a lot of wind and fluffy lake effect snow which just blew and did not leave us a good enough base."

The call was made last Wednesday to cancel the 20 and 50 km races and only hold the 10 km. McKaig said there were a lot of cancellations after the decision, but organizers saw a large amount of late registration entrants on the day of the race.

The overall winner was Milan Baic, who has won the stampede nine other times. He said he doesn't feel the same about it this year though.

"I don't really count this one," Baic said. "All the rest were at least 35 kilometers. I'm not going to count it as one of my White Pine (wins)."

But Baic said he enjoyed the race and believes organizers made the right call about cancelling the longer events.

"You've got to go as the cards are dealt," he said after race. "They have to make sure it's safe and enjoyable. We'll hope for the whole thing next year."

The first place winner on the female side was Cassidy Edwards, originally from Glen Arbor and now going to school in Vermont.

Edwards was on a break from school and decided to look to see what events were going on in Michigan this weekend. She said she used to do most of the events in the area when she was in high school.

When asked if she was a first time winner she said, "I think I won it once in high school."

Indeed, results on the White Pine Stampede website show she was the first place female finisher for the 10 km race in 2004 and 2005.

Overall racers commented that the conditions on the 10 km course were good. And that's what McKaig heard too.

"From the comments of the skiers, almost to the person, they were all very pleased and happy about the fact that we had it, the conditions were good and that the volunteers were once again superb," he said. "If they're happy, I'm happy."

This is the third year in a row that the stampede has had to cancel portions of the race. A main reason the race is susceptible to last minute weather problems is because it's a point to point race and the course changes every year. A person could build a home, put up a fence or otherwise obstruct the trails from one year to the next.

The course is also not maintained all winter long while others like the VASA trail are. "It's not a dedicated or consistent trail," McKaig said. "That makes grooming difficult because we can't groom and work on it on a daily basis."

Hadley Robinson can be reached at hrobinson@michigannewspapers.com or by calling 231-533 8523.