FR 16 Summit Prairie 12/15/16 Backwards Day

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Location: Co 62 to Summit Prairie.  FR 16 south

Road & Trail Conditions: Hwy 26 plowed, packed, blowing sno, worse at curves east of JD. co 62 being plowed as i drove up:

gratitude to the grant county road dept for keeping the 62 rd open:

FR 16 not plowed west of summit prairie. sounds like it won't be unless logging extends east from FR 15, Parish cabin jct.

Snow Conditions: First grooming yesterday. 18+" base with 1-3" new powder since.  moist.

Skis on & temperature:  11am 34° (JD 22°)

Skis off & temperature: 4:30pm 29°(PC & JD 24°)

Distance: 12+ miles;

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 9.5 (-.5 for sticky sno in dec.)

Comments: this is backwards day.  colder in the valley than the summit.  more sno overnite at starr ridge than huddleston, sticky sno in dec., less sno further east you go on 16.  it is useful to be flexible.

saw a number of insects flying & on the sno.   they'll need some warm coats.  fri nite forecast for summit prairie: Mostly clear, with a low around -16. Wind chill values as low as -31

just groomed yesterday, still 2-3" powder overnite made for some breaking of trail.  something very satisfying about skiing back on the trail you broke.

noon:30 stopped for snack & maxiglide wax on skis; resolved sticking sno

i like this trip for conditioning.  first 1.5 miles has gradual 600' elevation climb.  after that, moderate slopes.  i love the 16 rd as it heads east above crane prairie. would like to extend conditioning & mileage (+9) to get to little crane campground (& back).

ice crystal diamonds falling out of black sky on slow drive down co 62

 i love this place

Grooming Report - Huddleston/Summit Prairie 12/14/16

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 > HOORAY!!! Grooming started today.  Here is operator Dave Hannibal's report;-)

> Grooming report
> Cat one out of Huddleston for 47 miles in 10.2 hours.
> 1665 to 625 to1660 to 478 back on the 1665 down to 16 then out to Short creek and back on 16  to summit prairie, dressed up lower lot and 135 to upper and around Huddleston lot but not the loop.  14ish down trees moved and all cattle gaurds filled on route.
>  Real nice snow,  had to run lockers more than a few times up high as its deep.
> Cat running good, light snow all day and a great start on the season!
> Dave
>