FR 16 Summit Prairie to Logan Valley - 1/8/17

click on image for larger version
you can save the larger version as a .png file to your computer
open and be able to zoom in for more detail.

Location: Co. 62 to Summit Prairie; FR 16 west

Road & Trail Conditions: a little bit of everything: clear, patchy snow, ice, plowed & packed, unplowed & deep ruts.  black ice on the way down.

Snow Conditions: groomed on thurs. + 4-6" since

Skis on & temperature: 9am 22°  (JD 32° drizzle)

Skis off & temperature: 5:30pm 32°  (JD 46°  rain)

Distance: 12+ miles

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome) 9 for first half; 4 for second; ave: 6

Comments:

hasn't been much grooming, or snomo tracks; trail options limited.  FR 16 groomed on thurs., new powder on top.  snowed all day, alternating lite to moderate.  4"+ on rig with return, tracks covered over on return.

 tree-friend provides shelter for snack break:

goggles were nice with blowing sno .

am sitting on a new piece of gear:



lightweight, insulated to sit on snow.  useful in an emergency if someone needs to sit waiting for help.
am buying more gear at backcountry.com; cheaper than rei, 2 day delivery with $50 order:

http://www.backcountry.com/therm-a-rest-z-seat

second half of trip was long & difficult as sno/ice got into binding & boot wouldn't stay locked in.  cleaned out multiple times; ended up walking the last 1+ mile. got into some deep wind drifts, knee to waist.

on drive down 62, nite, ranchland, roads cleared & dry. came around a curve to black ice with water on top & 8 deer trying to scamper off road. rig did a sweet Slalom ski movement, kept foot off brake, missed the hind end of the last scampering doe, returned pounding heart into chest.

~ happy to be home ~