FS 16 rd. South 12/5/15

click on maps for larger versions (this route is split between 2 quadrangles.  looking at some software to 'stitch' them together).

fs 16 south at summit prairie

Location: Summit Prairie & South: County 62 rd from Prairie City or FS 16 rd. through Logan Valley.

Road & Trail Conditions: FS 15 & 16 rds. improving with warmer temps., dry pavement to packed sno & ice. no trail grooming yet. no snomobile tracks in the 16 rd south area, some tracks at 097. cattleguards partially covered.

FS 16 rd. South has fresh tire tracks with packed snow.

Snow Conditions: 2-6" moist

Skis on & temperature: 1pm 35°

Skis off & temperature: 2:30pm 41°

Distance: 6 miles

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 10

Comments: it's amazing what a little distance east & elevation can do for snow conditions (see next post). the sno was great.  16 south has a 2 mile gradual slope, 400' to summit (1 hr.).  lovely descent on way back (10 mins.).  skied to junction with FS 14 rd south.  fresh tire tracks cont'd on 16, older tracks with 1-2" sno on 14.  14 goes down into crane prairie, one of my favorite places.  from the summit roads go east with options to loop back to summit prairie (600, 615, 1660 ). at the 16/14 intersection, 16 heads east above crane prairie with multiple loop options  (600, 657 ).  14 heads south (660, 154).

fs 16 rd south at summit looking north, 2 miles fun descent

FS 1643 Rd. 12/5/15

click on map for larger version

Location: FS 16 rd. west end of Logan Valley

Road & Trail Conditions: FS 15 & 16 rds. improving with warmer temps., dry pavement to packed sno & ice. no trail grooming yet. snomobile tracks on 1630, 1640, 1648, 1649. cattleguards not covered

FS 1643 south started with fresh tire tracks, packed - only for 1/2 mile.  remainder was older tire tracks with 1-2" damp snow

Snow Conditions: started packed, damp; ended very sticky

Skis on & temperature:  9:30am  35° overcast to partly sunny (JD: 47° & overcast)

Skis off & temperature: noon 42° mostly sunny

Distance: 6 miles

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): started as a 9 ended as a 3

Comments: decent fairly flat ski for 2 miles, then became too sticky & turned around when south exposure increased (orange dotted line above).  snowshoe stepping with 1-2" snow stuck to skis. great workout, poor skiing.

was planning to do a loop (purple dotted line above),  maybe a little ambitious. will try another time.

went looking for better conditions further east & higher elevation at summit prairie.  see previous post.