Grooming Report - Seneca 12/17/17

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from glen johnston:

Travis Heiple and I took Cat #1 from Seneca this morning, west through the shooting range, south on FR 310, to FR 3790 west on that to FR 37 then continuing west (up Camp Creek, then Crooked Creek) to FR 3760 on west to FR 31 at 500 Flat, then north on 31 to Izee hwy, back on the 31 to FR 3770, east on it past Wymer Meadow to FR 37 and return to Seneca.  Temps ranged from 8 below to +38F, snow groomed well, beautiful day.  GJ
>

Grooming Report - Seneca 1/16/17

Bill Prophet was out with Cat #2 today grooming trails west of Seneca.  West from the shooting range then south on FR 310, northwest on FRs 473,472, 237 and 3780 to FR 24.  South on FR 3780 (Damon Cr. and Burnt Cabin Cr.) to FR 37, then east to FR 3790, north then northwest back to the 472 and return to Seneca. 

Grooming Report - Huddleston to Seneca - 1/4/17

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> Cat one ran from Huddleston to Seneca and will be stationed there through the weekend to support the races and also to get caught up on the western trails.
> Roads 135, 16, 1619, 587,1601,703 733,723 to Seneca.
> Yellow line in picture is 1-4 groom
> Great snow and cold temps.
> Enjoy
> Dave
>

Groomed Trails - Starr Ridge to Parish Cabin to Seneca 2/10/16

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Todays route in Green.
14 degrees at start and 48 at noon. Very icy at the start and too soft by noon.
Dave

(from kyle: whoever is closest to the thermostat - or knows where it is - could you please turn it down a notch or two.  thank you.)

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Groomed Trails - Seneca 2/9/16

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310 out of town west on 473 to 237, 3780 south to 31 west 37 to 195 then east on 37 to 3790 to 310, ps the 310 is plowed to dirt and mud

Antelope Valley - FR 757/1601 - 1/25/16

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Location: A few miles east of Seneca, via FR 16 or Hwy 395

Road & Trail Conditions:  395 clear; FR 16 plowed, patchy packed snow/ice. Trails recently groomed with 1" powder since.

Snow Conditions: 1' crusty base with 1-2" powder on top

Skis on & temperature: 9:30am 16°, morning low clouds, breaking up in aftn. (JD 27° )

Skis off & temperature: 1:30pm 37° (JD 44° )

Distance: 9 miles

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 10

beginning of groomed 757

Comments: Explored this area at the suggestion of Dave Hannibal who groomed it last week.  initially tried to acces via FR 1601, trucks were loading logs at 16 jct.  on a hunch explored from 395 & found 757, also groomed. rd from 395 is unmarked, 2.4 miles south from Seneca, only road heading east, looks like this (subaru probably won't be parked there):

took purple line on above map.  another option would be green. log removal will continue for awhile, also on the 757.

labeled this flat & beginner for the area in the valley.  small slope getting in & out, the 757 access much shorter.

depending on grooming, snowmobile tracks & conditions, several loop variations are possible.  loved skiing around the valley. not highly traveled. lovely views toward strawberry mtns.

 

 

here is a panoramic video of antelope valley

here is a video of xc skiing along antelope valley

Groomed Trails - Seneca thru Logan Valley to Huddleston 1/21/16

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From: Dave Hannibal <dhannibal2011@gmail.com>

Date: January 21, 2016 6:47:37 PM PST

To: Glen Johnston <glenj@centurytel.net>, Bill and Debbie Prophet <wildbee@ortelco.net>

Subject: Grooming report 1 21 16

Good day on the snow!
Groomed the drag strip and oval track in Seneca then headed east.
Lots of logging close to Seneca so I walked the cat through some areas.  The 1601 is the closest access to good trails other than running down the 16 which is plowed. Good trails on the north side of Antilope valley out to the 1619, the portions closest to the 16rd are plowed as well but accessible. 1640 from the 16 to High Lake turn around up top, awesome untouched snow up high. 1648 & 1649 back to Huddleston. See blue line on map for todays route.
Best snow in years
Cheers
Dave

Groomed Trails - Bear Valley/Seneca 1/20/16

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from glen johnston:

Cat #1: From Seneca FR 310 to FR 37, west and south to FR 31 (@Cheatum Holler), north to FR 723, west to FR 195, continuing west to FR 3770 then return.  Pink line on map.  Cat will move to Huddleston tomorrow.  All the new trails west of Seneca and south of the Izee County Road have been groomed in the 9 days.  Encourage you to get out and enjoy them!  Many thanks to Dave Hannibal, Dan Vandehey and Bill Prophet for all the long hours grooming out there:-)

Groomed Trail: Bear Valley/Seneca 1/18/16

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from glen johnston:

Cat #1:  groomed today west of Seneca.  Bill and Dan just got in at 8 p.m. and report many down trees to cut.  Long day for those guys, thanks a bunch!  Trails groomed, FR 3190 (Scotty Cr), FR 31, FR 3770 (Camp Cr/Wymer Mdw), FR 3780 (Damon Cr), FR 274 and FR 310 (Shirttail Cr).  Check out the attached map.

Cat #2:  rumored to have left Starr Snowpark and returned to FR 16/15 junction at Parrish, but have no report yet.

FS 3790/473 Loop - Seneca - Bear Valley 1/17/16

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Location: HWY 395, 6 mi south of Seneca, 2 miles west to 3790 jct. & up to 310 jct.

looking north, down, 310 rd from 3790 jct., with atv tracks

Road & Trail Conditions: 395 good; FS 37 & 3790 6-10" snow, truck tire deep ruts.
on return home, 395 had sections of standing water & slush.

Snow Conditions: 2+', crusty base where groomed or driven on, with 6-8" snow since grooming; 1+" new snow today, got mushy & sticky as day progressed. alternating flurries, moderate snow & wind, especially on ridge; then mixed snow & rain

Skis on & temperature: 10am 29° (JD 33°, CC 38° rain, Starr Ridge 34° flurries). used backcountry skis for accumulated snow over groomed. touring skis might have worked

Skis off & temperature: 4:30pm 36° ( 36° & rain all the way to CC, then 42° )

Distance: Google earth says 10 miles.  seemed much longer

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): started as a 10, ended as a 6, snow became mixed sno & rain. surface became sticky & mushy

310 jct with 473 - looked like the groomed trail (did not check map)

Comments: started at 3790/310 jct. to ski downhill  310 to 472. mistakenly took 473 as it was plowed & groomed for 1.5 miles where it stopped.  broke deep (6" steps)  trail until it connected with 472; very hard work - 2+ miles (felt like 6).  i'd recommend staying on the groomed 472 from the 310 (the map doesn't show this rd - dashed line in map above - somewhere).  Dan, who groomed it, called it the 472.

all of these roads have had logging activity that looks to be on pause with the snow.  many stacks of felled trees waiting to be hauled out, 12' of snow on top.  some of these roads have been plowed & traveled because of this.

elevation profile

this is a lovely loop that would be more fun on a clear day (to see bear valley) and without sticky snow.  nice variety of land: up along a forested ridge, down to the border with bear valley pastures & in between.

along 473 rd

310 rd is a little steep; better to go down & then take 3790 back up to the ridge as it has a more gradual slope, still good work.

slope of the 3790 rd heading back to start

starting up the 472 toward 3790 jct

could also start from the beginning of 310 from seneca (take Shirttail creek/ camp creek rd from town).  unsure how far you can drive in.

473 bordering bear valley

this is the second trip to this area; i like it a lot. i'll be exploring this area more for other trail possibilities

i may be a seneca kid who grew up in kansas

FS 37 rd, Camp Creek - Seneca - Bear Valley 1/14/16

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Location: HWY 395 6 mi south of Seneca, 2 miles west to 3790 jct.




Road & Trail Conditions: hwys clear.  37 plowed for 1.5 mi, packed snow; then 12", groomed with 1+" powder



Snow Conditions: absolutely lovely

Skis on & temperature: 11:15am 18° , mostly sunny (JD 31° cloudy)

Skis off & temperature: 2:15pm 31°, mostly cloudy, flurries starting with next snowstorm (JD 38°)

Distance: 9 miles

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 9.9

37 rd following camp creek

Comments: this felt like my own personal groomed trail.  no snowmobile tracks. powder over groomed.  gradual slope for first 1.5 mi., then basically flat following camp creek west.

this is the slope on the first 1.5 mi.  leave enough gas in the tank to get back up - not too bad.

explored 3790 rd north to 310& 702 jct. where plowing stopped & grooming continued.  when logging & plowing ceases (there are several large piles of cut trees waiting to haul out), this would be a lovely climb to the ridge & find a loop down to the 37 rd. & back.

3790 rd going north from 37 rd.

Groomed Trail - Seneca 1/12/16

01/12/2016 grooming report:  I cut off 310 at 472 it is a nice road not plowed. West to the end of 3790 . north on the237 to 235 and back east on 3790 to plowed road at the 710 and returned. Held it short today so I could fill the fuel all the way up,,, blue line.  DV

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Groomed Trails - Seneca 1/11/16

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from Glen Johnston:

> Cat #1 groomed from Seneca today, orange line on map.  The 310 road south from Seneca is plowed for logging (pink line on map) and logging activity is ongoing in the area.  The green line on the 24 road has also been plowed.  Snow is great, grooming went well.  This is the first day of grooming in this area.  Several more trails will be opened in this vicinity.