Why Ski Grant County?

fs 371rd west of starr ridge snow park

Starr Ridge 12/14/15

windfall creek meadow  333rd west from starr ridge snow park

Location: Hwy 395 south from John Day & Canyon City

Road & Trail Conditions: 395 in the morning was plowed with packed snow/ice, gravel on top the whole way - 35mph.  On return in aftn., patchy snow/ice in shade, rest wet pavement.  likely to frreze & thaw like this through the week. cattle gaurds mostly covered.

Snow Conditions:  12-16" new powder; no trail groming; ski and tire tracks with new snow

Skis on & temperature: 10am  26° (JD 34°)

Skis off & temperature: 2pm 36° (JD 36°)

Distance: FS4920rd  2+ miles; FS 333rd 4+

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 9.5 would liked to have gone further

Comments: started at starr ridge campground, FS 4920rd west, Jan Mead skied this yesterday, her tracks mostly filled in, snowmobile tracks for a few hundred yards. switched to backcountry skis, wider, shorter, more scale area, less sinking into 16" powder.  break trail on way up, nice downhill return. at 093 rd. got too steep & deep.

starr ridge cg 4920 rd west
click on map for larger version

drove 1/4 mile south on 395 to snow park (requires snopark parking permit). took FS 333rd west,  353 north, 370 & 371 north.  starts downhill to windfall creek, nice little meadow. turned north & followed tire tracks until they stopped.  too deep to continue.

starr ridge snow park 333rd west
click on map for larger version 

this was a day of following ski & tire tracks & turning around when they stopped.  as the warm freeze cycle continues this week, snow should compress some.  add a little fresh on top & it could be
premium for awhile.

on the 371 rd