Windfall Creek Loop - Starr Ridge - FR 333-465-353 - 12/24/17

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Location: Hwy 395 to Starr Ridge Sno Park

Road & Trail Conditions: snow & ice pack with gravel on curves

Snow Conditions: 2" base with 4-6" fresh powder on top

Skis on & temperature: 10 am  20 degrees

Skis off & temperature: 2pm  22 degrees

Distance: 8 miles

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 10

Comments:

lovely day to ski. fr 333 has recent tire tracks with powder.  465 & 351 have deeper powder & more breaking trail

tire tracks on fr 333 - easy to ski

breaking trail thru 6" on fr 353

still no signs of snowmos, possibly not deep enough yet.

kona ~ snow dog

Winter Solstice - 1st Ski of Season - Starr Ridge FR 4920 12/21/17

Location: Hwy 395 at Starr Ridge Summit, FR 4920 to Vance Creek Fr 3920

Road & Trail Conditions: going out at 10am 395 from canyon city to co. 65 was treacherous. lost control once on a straightway doing a giant slalom s curve across both lanes.  was ready to turn back when the road improved.  de-icer applied before return trip.  much better.

snow over cattle guard is thin.

Snow Conditions: 1-2 inches packed base, 1-2" fresh powder

Skis on & temperature:10:45a 22  degrees

Skis off & temperature: 12:45p 28 degrees

Distance: +/- 6 miles

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 10+

Comments:

almost didn't go today. 5" on starr ridge snotel seems thin.  turned out to be excellent.

not deep enough for snomos.  tire tracks packed a base.  fresh powder on top.  no need to break trail. has to be best conditions  ever for first ski of the season.

all the roads around starr ridge should be similar:  333 & all connecting up to 4920

huddleston snotel shows 8".  am guessing those roads 101 etc, and summit prairie should be good as well.

should stay that way for the weekend with forecast, cold, maybe a little more snow on top.

took a buddy on the trip, kona toy-cueno.  didn't have the right size ski boot, so she trotted along.

Krust Kruze - Starr Ridge 2/11/17

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Had a really nice Krust Kruze this morning on skate skis.  (Orange Route) Off 395 just before leaving the timber past Starr Ridge.  Took about 2 hours.  Was starting to soften up a bit by noon so early is better, also the 3925 is groomed, so it is firm but a little rough.  9.38 miles.  Should be good mornings as long as this weather holds.  Call if you have any questions. 620-2268.
Glen

Thanks for the update!  I took a slightly different approach today than cruising on crust and waited until about noon until the packed roads around Starr Ridge softened up enough for my scaly skis to grip.  Parked at Starr Snopark, skied west on the 4920-333 spur to 4900 proper, turned north on 4900 and skied up to Starr Summit.  Crossed 395 and picked up the road that parallels 395 south and down back to the Snopark.  Took a bit under three hours.  Not sure how far, but I'm sure at least two of you know.

Cheers,

Nathan
 

Starr Ridge off trail Pt. 2 - 2/6/17

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Location: Hwy 395 to starr ridge snopark - FR333,456,4920 - off trail - 353, 333

Road & Trail Conditions: 395 clear; 3' shrinking base

Snow Conditions: variable: warm, mush, icy - didn't stick to skis with maxiglide pre-trip

Skis on & temperature: 1:30pm 36°  (JD 42°  )

Skis off & temperature: 5:30pm  33°  (JD 38°  )

Distance: 10 miles; 1000' +/-; lots of up & down off trail

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 7

Comments: not a great day to go off trail. lowest score of season.

 groomed trails were ok; only ski tracks & firm. became slight icy toward end with cooler temp & wind change.

off trail was primarily very icy surface, occasional powder, and at lower elev. breaking thru 8". not very smooth.  good day to learn how to go up & down very icy slopes. bailed halfway down & returned on 353. try again another day with more powder.  would like to make an attempt at dixie butte & want some practice & conditioning.

warm weather system over weekend had two impacts: warm temps. condensed & moistened surface; high winds brought down a lot of small debris. nothing serious - dodging pine cones.

good day to learn about changing snow conditions from beginning to end & with difference in elevation between 333 & 4920.

huddleston could have better conditions.

forecast has an additional few inches over the next day+.

Starr Ridge Off Trail Day - 1/2/17

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Location: Hwy 395 to starr ridge snopark;  FR333-456- 4920- various off trail -082- 462 to sno park

Road & Trail Conditions:  in a.m. 395 sketchy all the way even with gravel & slow - fishtailed on turns; better in p.m.-still patchy.

Snow Conditions: solid 3' base with powder; groomed trails excellent condition; off trail solid base, 1-2' powder drop

Skis on & temperature:  11am 22°  (JD 26° )

Skis off & temperature:  3pm 26°  (JD 30° )

Distance: 8 miles, 1600' elevation

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 10

Comments: went for a day of backcountry skis & off trail.  sno base is solid with powder making great practice conditions.

off trail, deep sno tracks

all of the starr ridge groomed trails of the last 2 weeks look fab: 333, 4920, 453, 353, 196, 3925 etc etc. saw no snomo tracks & lots of ski tracks. if conditions hold well thru weekend, there are multiple short medium & longer loops that can be combined from these trails.

fr 4920

end of last season became enthralled with venturing off trail, especially around strawberry mtn - high lake & onion creek & from the east side 101-125 to 1649 jct & off. today was a practice & conditioning run for later, higher elevations, like dixie.  went well.  started on baby bunny slopes & finished with descent down from 4920 along the powerlines.  wide, deep, steep, few obstacles.

long skinny touring skis don's fare well in the deep, off trail powder.  they sink & tips nosedive, boots can't hold turns.  backcountry skis are wider, metal edge, bigger tip angle - combine to float on top of sno easier.  boots are also heavier & more stout. basically halfway between nordic touring & alpine downhill.

while an advantage in the deep, off trail, bc gear is slower & more effort on groomed.  getting uphill is more work - thus the saying - you earn your (downhill) turns.

finished the day with several runs down the sledding hill; good practice in various conditions on downslope. getting better downhill control, especially with backcountry skis.

sledding hill at starr ridge summit

FR 333 - Starr Ridge 1/15/17

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Location: Hwy 395 to Starr Ridge Snow Park

Road & Trail Conditions: 395 plowed & packed sno, FR 333: 2', snomo & ski tracks

Snow Conditions: deep

Skis on & temperature: noon 28

Skis off & temperature: 5pm  22

Distance: 5 miles

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 9

Comments: started east scouting dixie summit/butte & halfway to unity. deep sno & no tracks on anything off of 26.

returned to starr ridge; no tracks & new, deep sno on 4920.   333 had 2 snomo & several ski tracks.

met jan mead at windfall creek.  she & friends broke trail day before.

without snomo tracks, too deep.

fr333 @ 4920 jct.

Dry Soda Lookout - FR 3925 - Starr Ridge 12/31/16

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Location: Hwy 395 to Co 65 to FR 15 to 3925 to 1516 jct.  3925 to Dry Soda Lookout

Road & Trail Conditions: 395 blowing sno, patchy ice, co 65 & 15 plowed & solid ice. 3925 is plowed for logging to 1516 jct, then D6 cat tracks to lookout & beyond.

Snow Conditions: 2'+ packed base with slight powder on top

Skis on & temperature: 1pm 24   (JD 20 )

Skis off & temperature: 5:30pm  12 (JD 18 )

Distance: 8 miles

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 9.5 (-.5 for skiing on frozen cat tracks)

Comments: plowed 3925 makes for easy ski to dry soda lookout, giving one of the best views of whole south side of strawberry mtn. range & south into bear valley & seneca.

cat tracks were wide, frozen ridges, a little too fast on descent, stayed on deeper shoulder powder on return trip.

looks like they are preparing these roads for logging this winter.  there is a lot of burned trees along this road.

noticed the 196 from 395 is also plowed going east.  not sure if it will be complete from both directions.

FR 4920-333 Loop - Starr Ridge - 12/29/16

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Location:  Hwy 395 to Starr ridge; FR 4920 to 607 up to Fall Mtn. Lookout.  back down to 4920 west & south to 333 to sno park; 987 back to start

Road & Trail Conditions: 395 patchy ice after Co 65, solid ice either side of summit

Snow Conditions: 18-24" base with 1' new powder on top

Skis on & temperature: 10:30am 14  (JD 18 )

Skis off & temperature:  6:30pm 8 (JD 18 )

Distance: 14 miles

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 9

Comments:a relatively easy, if longish, loop.  not a lot of elevation climb, except for the side trip up to fall mtn. lookout.  i love a view.  very mild day, until 150 yds. from fall mtn summit, where it became deep winter very quickly; 40mph sustained winds.

crossing 395 twice inconvenient.  walked a ways east on the 196 to see how far it was plowed (can't ski).  went a long ways, possible to dry soda lookout, see next post.

navigating the ski area roads back to summit can be a little confusing.

views along the way:

canyon mtn - west face

4920 rd

allen creek at 4920/333 jct

Starr Ridge Sno Park - FR 333 12/8/16

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Location: Hwy 395 to Starr Ridge Snow Park

Road & Trail Conditions: 395 plowed & packed sno, FR 333 12", packed tire tracks, +1" fresh powder.

Snow Conditions: recent 4" added to thruout the day

Skis on & temperature: 3:30pm 18 °

Skis off & temperature: 5:30pm 20°

Distance: 5+miles

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 10+

Comments: late start after extensive scouting trip up fields creek rd, murerers creek, izee, bear valley

south fork rd

 

 

snowed all day from flurries to moderate with strong winds.  love it.

FR 333 is easy access, basically flat except first 1/4 mile slight hill.  from this road there are several smaller roads angling north up to the 4920. 

at windfall creek there is also a closed rd. marked ski trail (blue diamonds) as a short loop.

sno conditions were fab as the truck tires packed the recent 12" & the fresh powder was.....

                                                       smooth..............

it is getting dark early as winter solstice draws near. carry a headlamp

Dry Soda Lookout - Starr Ridge 1/31/16

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Location: Hwy 395 to Starr Ridge Campground

Road & Trail Conditions: 395 patchy ice with gravel; FR 196 & 3925: groomed 2 weeks ago, a few snowmobile tracks since, 1-4" powder on top.  pretty darn good.

Snow Conditions: 2-3' packed base, crusty layer then powder on top, more with elevation

Skis on & temperature: 9:30am 19° mostly sunny, wind on ridges dropped temp quickly (JD 28° cloudy)

Skis off & temperature: 6pm 22°  (JD 32° )

Distance: 16 miles, 1 mile elevation climb

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 10

Comments: from the topo map the elevation is a little misleading, starting at 5200 at starr ridge, ending at 5400 at soda ash.  there is a lot of up & down in both directions.  here is an elevation profile from google earth:

 i love traveling along this ridge, alternately seeing canyon mtn, strawberry ridgeline to the north

 & bear valley to the south & west. 

the view from the lookout is extraordinary - worth the effort to get there.

FR 196 goes through several stages of the burn area; sometimes the southern border, sometimes right through the middle.  it is quite a journey to follow along the area, moving in the direction of the fire. most of the spur roads to the north are closed due to fire damage. from some of the viewpoints large sections of the burn area can be seen at once.  the camera could not capture the immensity of the area.

you can also approach from the other direction, FR 16 to 1620 up to 3925, same distance, another 500' elevation.

Road Updates Starr Ridge, 16 & 15 rds. -1/14/16

FS 4920 rd from Starr Ridge Campground  west is plowed for logging operations on the spurs going north:

The FS 333 rd. from Starr Ridge Sno Park has a nice set of cat tracks with powder on top, great access into a network of groomed trails in windfall creek area:

FS 16 Rd is plowed from Seneca to Prairie Summit.  Saw a set of ski tracks starting at the 1620 rd going north.

The FS 15 rd is plowed from the 16 jct thru Co. 65 to 395.

4920 Rd update - Starr ridge 1/7/16

Allen Taylor & Stasha skied the 333 rd into Wndfall creek area this morning. they report that the 4920 rd. is now plowed from starr ridge campground west to the 3920.  See this post from the FS:

here

From the email, sounds like the logging will move down the 4920, 49 to Co 65 (izee).

I'm guessing most, if not all, of the logging will be north of the 4920 as i've been through the area south several times & have seen no damage.

Alternatives to the 4920, maybe one of the most skied roads, are:

Starr ridge sno park west on the 333 see    here:

&

here

also recently groomed roads going east see:

here

&

here

Groomed Trails 1/5/16

 

 

from Glen Johnston:

Both groomers were out today.  Orange line for the west side cat and black line for the Huddleston cat.

FS 333 to 4920 Loop - Starr Ridge 1/3/16

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Location: Hwy 395, Canyon City to Starr Ridge Snow Park

Road & Trail Conditions: 395 patchy ice, worse in morning

FS 333 rd looking west from windfall creek meadow

start at FS 333 rd from sno park west to 350 then 352 north to 4920 to starr ridge campground, cross 395 to pick up 987 back to sno park

Snow Conditions: 2+' - no grooming, packed snowmobile tracks with 1+" powder

Skis on & temperature: noon 28° gusty winds on ridges, hardly any in gulleys

Skis off & temperature: 3:30 pm 34° (44° JD)

Distance: 8+ miles

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 9

Jan Mead skiing the 333 rd west

Comments: beautiful snow, great temp. skied with Jan Mead, met Peggy Murphy, Glen Johnston & Aria on the 4920.  A little elevation going up the 352.  good views of the burn area north of the 4920.  a longer loop could be made going further west on 333 & up the 4920. could also go west on the 4920 back around to the 333 to return to sno park. other loop variations would be dependent on which roads have been traveled.

Logging Operations: Co. Rd. 65 / FS 6510 Rds & FS 49 / 4920 Rds. - Starr Ridge 12/28/15

4920 rd - Starr Ridge
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FW 6510 rd  a few miles east of 395 on Co. 65
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Below are two messages forwarded from the USFS re: logging operations on roads used by skiers.




The 4920 rd. is a popular & close ski trail that begins at Starr Ridge campground on Hwy 395. From the message, am not sure if the entire 4920 rd will be plowed, or just the section starting at the 49.  If it is, an alternative would be to go 1/4 south on 395 to the Starr Ridge Sno Park (requires a parking permit) and start on the FS 333 rd.






 From: Courtney, Ryan -FS
Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2015 7:25 AM
To: FS-pdl r6 malheur all employees
Subject: Road Side Fire Salvage - Fawn Springs Area

Road side salvage logging operations have begun in the Fawn Springs area. Currently hand fallers are working along the 6510 road off county road 65. Snow plowing activities are occurring along the 6510 road and several of the spur roads off the 6510. There is no log haul or machinery working at this time.

I will keep people posted as things progress.

and:

From: Freeman, Lisa S -FS
Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2015 7:13 AM
To: FS-pdl r6 malheur all employees
Subject: Venus SBA timber sale logging operations

Venus SBA, T2 purchaser, has begun logging operations on the 4920 and 49 roads. The 4920 will be plowed to the 49 road junction. The 49 road will be plowed to the 4900218 junction.

The haul route is the 49 road to the 4920 to county road 41023-63C to the Izee Highway.