Spring Ski ! Huddleston to Skyline Trail 3/7/16

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Location: Co. 62 rd to Huddleston snopark

Road & Trail Conditions: Co. 62 1-2" new snow in am, melted by pm.

159 to 101 to 125 to 1649 Jct. then off trail up ridgeline to ? Skyline Trail.

followed grooming today by Glen Johnston (thank you!) to 101/171 jct. then 1-2" new snow over pack/compressed icy base.  break trail past 1649 jct., actually easier than on road, except for windblown icy patches.



Snow Conditions: almost perfect. a few sticky patches with sun exposure & warming into aftn.

Skis on & temperature: 9:30am 28° (JD 35° )

Skis off & temperature: 3pm 36° (JD 48° )

Distance: 13 miles, 2200' elev.  here's the elevation profile:

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Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 9 (only for a few sticky snow stretches)

Comments: First true spring skiing. a few weeks of warming temps & rain.  snobase compacts.  a 1-2' snow overnite made for a great day. forecast has 1-3" more in next 2 days (then rain on thurs.)

off trail along ridgeline

good conditioning run with elevation.  great to get off trail & explore up ridge toward skyline trail. another way to go toward slide mtn./lake & strawberry. higher elevation gives fab views:

south toward logan valley

ne toward dixie butte

nw toward slide mtn & strawberry

the 125 & 159 downhill coming back have some steep sections.



on other occasions i have continued west on 1649 (also steep downhill) to 702 (rarely groomed or traveled - could be a lot of breaking trail) coming back to 101 & start. comes closer to 20 miles.

125 & 1649 jct

you can also begin where the 101 connects with co. 62 & skip the 159.  couldn't resist the just groomed out of huddleston snopark.

Groomed Trails - Huddleston to Logan Valley 3/7/16

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from glen johnston:

> Groomed the blue line today.  Trails are great!
>
>

Groomed Trails - Simmit Prairie 3/4/16

from glen johnston:

> Cat #1 today's grooming pink route,

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Groomed Trails - Logan Valley 2/25 & 2/29/16

Cat #2 was out doing roads # 1530, 303, 335, 1643, 924, 238, 1648, 1640. that was on 2/29/16. it was also out on 2/25/16 doing roads # 15, 546, 1560, 166, 1530, 373.  Ron 

Groomed Trails - Summit Prairie 2/29/16

from glen johnston:

> Leap Day Grooming Report: Huddleston out to Short Creek.  Low temp of 18F and high 54F.  Great conditions and beautiful day out there.  Blue and orange route on the map (except for the orange triangle in the NW corner, not sure how that got there?)
>

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Groomed Trails - Summit Prairie thru Logan Valley 2/26/16

from glen johnston:

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FR 1640 High Lake - Logan Valley 2/21/16

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Location: FR 16 to 1640 jct

Road & Trail Conditions: FR 15 dry pavement, FR 16 mostly dry with packed ice in shaded areas. FR 1640 groomed 4 weeks ago.  numerous snomobile tracks & 1-6" new with elevation

Snow Conditions: 3-6' packed base depending on elevation. .5-4" powder on top, drier with elevation

Skis on & temperature: 7:45am 19°  mostly sunny  (JD 30°)

Skis off & temperature: 5:45pm 36°overcast with flurries (JD 43°)

Distance: 24 miles, elevation gain 3200 feet

Rating (1-10; 10 awesome): 10+

Comments: have made several trips on the 1640, this one the furthest.  great day, lovely snow.  skied to high lake rim & then tried the end of road trail head to get around toward strawberry peak - purple line above.  this is where the road heads right to high lake rim - trail is left - ski tracks:

break trail through alternating very deep snow & a few stretches of solid ice on steep slope.  saw this snow squall coming from bear valley & turned around:

incredible views in all directions:

 


 strawberry summit south face:

  



unbroken trail leading toward onion creek trail & strawberry