Sunday, December 20, 2015

Groomed Trails 12/20/15

from Glen Johnston:

12/20/2015
Gerald Sager took Cat # 2 out today.  Grooming from FS RD16 & 15 junction south on FR 15 and FR1540, east on FR 546 and FR 1560, north on FR 1630, to FR 514 back to the start.  Thanks Gerald

Groomed Trails 12/19/15

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.
use a more detailed USFS map for road #'s
check Map Page for info

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Groomed Trails 12/18/15

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.
use a more detailed USFS map for road #'s
check Map Page for info
from Dave Hannibal via Glen Johnston:

Orange is 3 days ago and red yesterday. ;-)

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

First Trail Grooming 12/16/15



Dave Hannibal took Cat #1 out today and sent the following report.  Thanks Dave

Begin forwarded message:
> Great Snow out there!
> Dressed up the lot at Huddleston and headed north, then up the 101 to the 1649 to 1648 to the 1640 (High Lakes turn off) Did not go to High Lakes as it is currently restricted for fire closure. Ran down the 238,934, 095, and 097 (railroad grade) back to lower parking lot. As the 16 RD is being plowed all our trails will have berms where they meet the 16 rd. Cut a trail from lower lot over to the 14 rd and bermed it as well, back to Huddleston on the 187. Many miles to go to get caught up. An average amount of blowdowns to be had and as usual watch the iceburgs in the new trails and rough trail conditions around areas where blowdown trees were removed.
> Enjoy the Snow
> Cheers
> Dave

map to come

Roads Closed - Fire

click on map for larger version
A few roads are closed because of fire damage from last summer.  The roads are posted like:


On the above map some roads are at the closure area edge (Star Ridge: 4920, 3925).  These seem to be open, roads going north from them are closed.

Ski Safe!

Monday, December 14, 2015

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