Spaulding Meadows

Backcountry ConditionsLeave a comment

This evening I hauled my skis up to the John Muir cabin in Spaulding Meadows. Approaching the meadows, what appeared at first to be snow was actually the white air drop gravel bags. I had spikes but did not use them going up. There were some snow fields in the meadows around the cabin so I skied around as it was my first time there. It was a matter of patch hopping, occasionally grass skiing. Walking down with headlight, I put spikes on and could travel faster. A nice outing and certainly not worth hauling skis up. I can say there is a lot more snow up in the Dan Moeller upper meadows especially at cabin height.

Dan Moeller Upper Meadows

Backcountry ConditionsLeave a comment

Yesterday evening hiked to Dan Moeller cabin using spikes put on once into the narrows. Skied the upper basin. Very soft and a bit difficult to turn coming down the meadows northwest of the cabin. Spotty snow and some grass runs. Put spikes back on to descend through the narrows. Below the narrows, the snow was very silky over by the woods edge over towards Kowee Creek. I am going to try Spaulding as it is similar elevation – 1000 to 1500′.

Dan Moeller Upper Meadows

Backcountry ConditionsLeave a comment

Yesterday evening hiked to Dan Moeller cabin using spikes put on once into the narrows. Skied the upper basin. Very soft and a bit difficult to turn coming down the meadows northwest of the cabin. Spotty snow and some grass runs. Put spikes back on to descend through the narrows. Below the narrows, the snow was very silky over by the woods edge over towards Kowee Creek. I am going to try Spaulding as it is similar elevation – 1000 to 1500′.

Groomer Magic Gone

Montana Creek Kaxdigoowu Héen ConditionsLeave a comment

We are beating a dead horse! Mostly bare pavement from gate to bottom of first hill. Then ice to bridge. Ice from bridge to about half way up. I did try to groom machine slipping on the ice most of the way up. It does get better the further you go. Gray icy snow. Groomed on the way down on edge were there was some snow. Lots of wind blow debris in places. No more grooming until we get snow.

Montana Creek skiable

Montana Creek Kaxdigoowu Héen ConditionsLeave a comment

Montana Creek may not be groomable as it is pure ice down the first hill, but once across the bridge it is still skiable. Wet and icy in spots, but that makes for good balance practice. Double pole the iciest spots. From bridge to the end of the trail one way is 2.35 km or 4.7 km round trip. The trail improves about half way. It won’t last long. I wore ice grippers down to the sign that says Road Ends 1,000′, then could ski to bridge from there.