Groomed Trails Summit Prairie & Logan Valley 12/29/15

from Glen Johnston ~

Dan Vandehey took the Huddleston Groomer out today.  FR 101 southwest to FR 1649 south to FR 16, then back on 1649 west to FR 058 and FR 064 to FR 1648 west to Lake Cr. Camp and FR 16 return to Huddleston via snowtel site.  Thanks Dan

Groomed Trails 12/28/15 - Summit Prairie & Logan Valley

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from Glen Johnston

> Groomed from Huddleston today.  Orange path, the gap in the line was when the phone fell off the dash and quit tracking for a couple of miles.  Will work on that:-) GJ
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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.

1660 Loop - Summit Prairie 12/27/15

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Location: County 62 rd. to Huddleston snow park & Summit Prairie; jct 62 & 16S rd.

Road & Trail Conditions: Hwy. 26 dry pavement.  Co. 62 dry, until forest boundary plowed, packed snow & ice, light gravel on curves.

 started at beginning of 16 S rd, south to 1660, east then north up to summit rock; 1665 rd north and back around to south, cross Co. 62 rd to huddleston sno park, south along 185 to 135 & return to start.

Snow Conditions: deep & snowmobile track choppy at beginning & end; in between: groomed trail (weds.) with 4-6" since & snomobile tracks along uphill 1660 & 1665- almost as good as groomed.

Skis on & temperature: 9:15am 14° (JD 24°) occasional 10-15mph windchill drops to 0 quickly especially along the ridge. keep skiing

Skis off & temperature: 3:15pm 19° (PC 21°; JD 27°)

Distance: 12 miles; 1600' elevation climb

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 9.9, only following the sno cat groomer could have been better

on the 1660 rd toward summit rock looking west  summit prairie in foreground logan valley in background

Comments: was heading toward this on last trip, didn't pan out. today it did.  lovely. a great loop if you have the time & leg condition for the elevation, i stopped frequently to catch my breath.  the view is worth it.  at one point, summit prairie in foreground, crane prairie to left, logan valley in middle distance west, bear valley further.  couldn't get one picture to capture it ( found windchill 0 to be the limit of camera battery)

now that i can do this elevation climb, looking for an opportunity to do dixie butte & strawberry lake (not on the same day)

maybe a dozen snowmobiles out on holiday weekend. mainly around huddleston & toward logan valley.  none up the 1660 rds.

all the snow from last 2 weeks is slowly compressing. a few more inches in the forecast.  a few more  trail groomings this week could produce some fantastic trails. enjoy~

looking from start point; jct 62 & 16 S rds.

click here for a short video clip taken from there

FS 598 Rd. Loop - Summit Prairie/Huddleston 12/25/15

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Location: County 62 rd. to Huddleston snow park & Summit Prairie

Road & Trail Conditions: Hwy. 26 dry pavement, blowing snow.  Co. 62 dry, at forest boundry plowed, packed snow & ice, light gravel on curves.

FS 598 rd at Co. 62 rd looking east; easy to miss with the snowbank from plow.  Rd. # sign buried by snow

FS 598 rd to 625; north for awhile, backtrack south to 1660.  east for awhile, backtrack to 16 S. north up Co. 62, cross west at 598 to 185 north to snowpark and back down 62 rd to 598.  follow that?  it's on the map above. another way to do this is to start at the 62/16 jct., ski uphill & then back down.

Snow Conditions: deep - 6', variations on groomed with 3-6" new snow, ski tracks, snowmobile tracks, break trail. lt. to moderate constant flurries, occasional snow showers, maybe 1" accumulation thru day. alternating partly sunny to snow shower cloudy. occasional wind gust dropped temp. to 0 quickly.

a great base is forming.  some of the first grooming is now buried. snowmobile tracks over that grooming offer great conditions; otherwise, very deep.  as more grooming gets done, options will increase.

FS 625, snowmobile tracks with 8-16" over groomed last week

Skis on & temperature: 9:30am 11°;  JD 22°

Skis off & temperature: 3pm 20°; PC 26°, JD 29°

Distance: 11 miles

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 9.5 slightly sticky & deep snow

coming down the 625 rd.

Comments: the FS 598 rd. is halfway between huddleston snow park & the 62/16 jct.  good place to head east.  followed ski tracks (thank you, glen johnston?), then snowmobile tracks. a loop can be made with several variations depending on trail & leg conditions.  there is an unmarked road for a short distance that connects the FS 185 rd. across Co. 62 to the 598 to make the loop.



today, the best trail was the 1660 starting at the 625 & east; west was choppy & deep.  would have liked to have gone further east on the 1660 & around.

 i love this place

Groomed Trails 12/23/15

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12 23 15 in yellow. Snow is very  DEEP and wind blown up top.

Snow Depth 12/23/15 Noon

Huddleston (Summit Prarie) 5870 ft.  54"
Lake Creek (Logan Valley) 5240ft.    39"
Starr Ridge                          5220 ft    28"