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

FR 16 South - Summit Prairie 1/21/16: Part 1

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Location: from prairie city, Co. 62 to FR 16 Jct. - Summit Prairie

Road & Trail Conditions: 62 clear to forest boundary then packed snow & ice; FR 16 S. packed, recent snowmobile track with recent 2" powder

Snow Conditions: 4+' base with overnite 2" powder

Skis on & temperature: 10:30 am 32°, mostly cloudy (JD 44° )

Skis off & temperature: 12:30pm 38°

Distance: 6 miles

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 9

Comments: almost did not go out today as temps were warm & rain in forecast.  very glad i did.
 usually head for elevation on days like this.  the summit was deep:

 the trails there (101, 598, 934) not traveled  for quite awhile:

101 rd looking west

 continued down to summit prairie and had a wonderful conditioning/elevation run on one of my favorites - 16 S. rd. snow was great. no recent grooming; snomobile tracks were fine, although they turned around too soon at the 14 jct., snow too deep both ways:

fr 16 left & 14 jct right

within 100 yds. of the car, sun came out, powder turned to glue, walked the remainder.

this is the kind of day where a little elevation, being in the trees, or further east can make a big difference in snow conditions.

  headed home along the 16 rd to scout rds. & found a second run at the 1640. see part 2

FR 1640 to High Lake - Logan Valley West 1/21/16 Part 2

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Location: West end of Logan Valley, approach from 395, Co 65- FR 15 to 16 rd, or Prairie City Co. 62 to FR16.

Road & Trail Conditions: Co. 65 has solid ice from wickiup campground to FR 15.  15 has plowed with 6-8" new snow since.  Deep truck tire ruts, worse approaching 16 rd. driveable
1640 groomed this am.

Snow Conditions: 3+' packed, groomed a few hours earlier.  doesn't get any better than this.

Skis on & temperature:  1:30pm 38° partly sunny

Skis off & temperature: 4:30pm 32° (JD 42° )

Distance: 7 miles

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 10

Comments: after skiing the FR 16 S. rd in the morning, heading home along the 16 rd. to scout trails. hasn't been much grooming here, both cats have been focused on starr ridge & bear valley-seneca. cruising by the 1640, saw it had just been groomed this morning.  thanks dave.

this is the first time i've been on just groomed trail.  wow.  so smooth. tracking the grooming reports & getting on them soon is so worth it. thank you to all the volunteer groomers who make this possible: Dave Hannibal, Glen Johnston, Dan Vandehey Bill Prophet, Gordon & Ron

Video while skiing on this groomed trail

this section of 1640 (3+ miles) is a perfect flat, beginner run, especially freshly groomed.  further past the sign (below) it gets quite steep up to high lake.

skiing along bear creek is lovely.

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:-)

FR 1640 Opened - Logan Valley

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From: "Burton, Shilo D -FS" <sdburton@fs.fed.us>
Date: January 20, 2016 at 11:56:49 AM PST
Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Additional route open to snow machines

Shilo Burton    541-575-3008                                                                               January 20, 2016        

Additional route open to snow machines

JOHN DAY, Ore.  – Forest Officials are pleased to announce that Forest Road (FR) 1640 to High Lake, previously closed due to the Canyon Creek Complex, is now open to snow machines through official order number: 2016-0604-MAL-04H.

While the road has been opened for snow machines, Forest Supervisor Steve Beverlin would like to remind folks that an area closure remains in effect due to hazards created by the Canyon Creek Complex.

The official order, as well as area closure map, can be found online at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/malheur/home/?cid=stelprd3845529.  

Groomed Trails Starr Ridge 1/19/16

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from glen johnston:

Gerald took the cat from Star Ridge snopark to 987, couple passes on the sledding hill, then 196 to 3925 to 1620 and out to 16 road and up to the 15/16 jct.

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.