Does anyone have experience or suggestions on how to secure 4x4 start posts in shallow snow? I'm thinking of building some sort of base at the bottom of the posts that can be buried / anchored. The cross-country ski club only has about 20cm (8") of packed snow at their start location.

Hi, assuming you're going into dirt, try cutting angles off one end of the 4x4, giving it a point, and hammer it into the ground. Alternatively, try a drill like used in setting slalom gates, with a bit which goes into dirt, to prime the hole.

+M

We have seen some very clever "posts" made by attaching 4" PVC toilet flanges upside down on a square of plywood. Then put an upright of 4" PVC drain pipe to support the cell. The ALGE Chain bracket works great for this application. Scrape the snow off, place the square, rake snow back on, and voila.