FR 1665 Loop - Summit Prairie 1/24/17

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Location: Co. 62 to FR 16 jct.  fr135 to huddleston snopark, 1665 to summit rock (1660 jct) & around east ridge to 478 west to 1660 & return to start.

Road & Trail Conditions: Hwy 26 clear; Co. 62 clear to last ranch then plowed, packed sno & ice

Snow Conditions: deep, deep, deep. groomed sunday, powder dusting on 135, 1/4-1/2" remainder. sunday ski tracks from huddleston 1/2 way up to summit rock; earlier monday (skate?) ski tracks last few miles 1660 to co.62.

Skis on & temperature: 10am  14°  (JD 24° )

Skis off & temperature: 5pm  24°  (JD 34° )

Distance: 20 miles;   elevation 2700'

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Rating (1-10; 10 awesome):  11+

Comments: skiing paradise for me - deep, deep snow, groomed previous day, powder on top, only ski tracks since, mid-20's temp., long distance loop, high elevation, great views, new trail.

this is the depth dave hannibal groomed on sunday.  the bank on left is over 8'
FR 1665 underneath summit rock

fantastic day

 

 

Grooming Report - Huddleston/Summit Prairie 1/22/17

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>
> I groomed east from Huddleston on the 1665 to Summit Rock and on east to the 478 rd. Back to the 16 road and lower lot to back to parking. The snow was very deep once you gain any elevation the going was very difficult and slow, only made 31 miles in 7 hours. The quality is not 100% so be aware of some rough spots.
> See attached map, black line is todays.
> Cheers
> Dave
>

FR 31 - Bear Valley 1/19/17

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Location: Hwy 395 south to Co 63 west, 12 miles to FR 31 jct

Road & Trail Conditions: 395 hazardous in am; much improved by pm.  63 plowed, packed ice.

Snow Conditions: fr31 groomed tues, with 4-6" since.

Skis on & temperature: 10am  32

Skis off & temperature: 4:30pm 33

Distance: 11 miles; 800+' elevation

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 9

Comments: with as much recent snow, finding groomed or snomo tracks is helpful.  even with groomed there was still 4-6" to break trail.  slightly warm temps made sno sticky, even with maxiglide before & during trip.  return in my tracks was much easier.

this is a lovely trip, all gentle climb at first & downhill on return. once at the top of ridge, flat for several miles, many open meadow areas, as 31 continues down toward FR 37.

can connect with snowshoe trail loop from 31; looked 2+' deep & no tracks when i went by

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.

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. 

FR 16 Summit Prairie to Logan Valley - 1/8/17

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Location: Co. 62 to Summit Prairie; FR 16 west

Road & Trail Conditions: a little bit of everything: clear, patchy snow, ice, plowed & packed, unplowed & deep ruts.  black ice on the way down.

Snow Conditions: groomed on thurs. + 4-6" since

Skis on & temperature: 9am 22°  (JD 32° drizzle)

Skis off & temperature: 5:30pm 32°  (JD 46°  rain)

Distance: 12+ miles

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome) 9 for first half; 4 for second; ave: 6

Comments:

hasn't been much grooming, or snomo tracks; trail options limited.  FR 16 groomed on thurs., new powder on top.  snowed all day, alternating lite to moderate.  4"+ on rig with return, tracks covered over on return.

 tree-friend provides shelter for snack break:

goggles were nice with blowing sno .

am sitting on a new piece of gear:



lightweight, insulated to sit on snow.  useful in an emergency if someone needs to sit waiting for help.
am buying more gear at backcountry.com; cheaper than rei, 2 day delivery with $50 order:

http://www.backcountry.com/therm-a-rest-z-seat

second half of trip was long & difficult as sno/ice got into binding & boot wouldn't stay locked in.  cleaned out multiple times; ended up walking the last 1+ mile. got into some deep wind drifts, knee to waist.

on drive down 62, nite, ranchland, roads cleared & dry. came around a curve to black ice with water on top & 8 deer trying to scamper off road. rig did a sweet Slalom ski movement, kept foot off brake, missed the hind end of the last scampering doe, returned pounding heart into chest.

~ happy to be home ~