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.

Groomed Trails - Summit Prairie 1/30/16

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Groomed Trails - Summit Prairie 1/29/16

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Groomed Trails - Logan Valley West 1/27/16

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from glen johnston:


Cat #2 with Gerald from FR 15/16 south on FR 15 and FR 1540, east on FR 546, and south on FR 166, south on FR 1630, southeast on FR 1540, continuing southeast on FR 373, north on FR 1643 (Dollar Basin), west and north on FR 373, north on FR 1630 to FR 16, then return to beginning.  Blue line on the map, sorry ran out of room on the southeast corner.  GJ

Why Ski Grant County? Antelope Valley - Seneca

from the fr 1601 looking ne toward strawberry mtn range

here is a panoramic video of antelope valley

here is a video of xc skiing along antelope valley

Antelope Valley - FR 757/1601 - 1/25/16

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Location: A few miles east of Seneca, via FR 16 or Hwy 395

Road & Trail Conditions:  395 clear; FR 16 plowed, patchy packed snow/ice. Trails recently groomed with 1" powder since.

Snow Conditions: 1' crusty base with 1-2" powder on top

Skis on & temperature: 9:30am 16°, morning low clouds, breaking up in aftn. (JD 27° )

Skis off & temperature: 1:30pm 37° (JD 44° )

Distance: 9 miles

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 10

beginning of groomed 757

Comments: Explored this area at the suggestion of Dave Hannibal who groomed it last week.  initially tried to acces via FR 1601, trucks were loading logs at 16 jct.  on a hunch explored from 395 & found 757, also groomed. rd from 395 is unmarked, 2.4 miles south from Seneca, only road heading east, looks like this (subaru probably won't be parked there):

took purple line on above map.  another option would be green. log removal will continue for awhile, also on the 757.

labeled this flat & beginner for the area in the valley.  small slope getting in & out, the 757 access much shorter.

depending on grooming, snowmobile tracks & conditions, several loop variations are possible.  loved skiing around the valley. not highly traveled. lovely views toward strawberry mtns.

 

 

here is a panoramic video of antelope valley

here is a video of xc skiing along antelope valley

Groomed Trails - Summit Prairie 1/26/16

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from glen johnston:

> Dan groomed with Cat #1 today out of Huddleston.  Blue line on map.  Thanks Dan!  GJ
>