Posted 20
January,
2012
After two full days of grooming, the trails are
again in good shape. The groomers are staying overnight in the
Gordon Reese Cabin and will be on-site tomorrow to handle any
last-minute touch-up required for the Bitterroot Cross-Country Ski
Club’s Lesson Day. The free annual ski lessons begin at 12:00 noon
on Saturday, the 21st.
The parking lot at the trailhead was not plowed
or accessible (by vehicle) today. However, MDOT will be plowing the
lot tonight (20th-21st). Unless it begins
snowing again in the morning, the lot will be completely clear for
the ski lessons.
Total snow depth is now at 65".
Mike Hoyt, president
Bitterroot Cross-Country Ski Club
Posted 13
January,
2012
All trails were groomed today. They were
leveled, compacted, smoothed, and tracks set on appropriate trails.
The conditions should be good until the big snows--predicted for
next week--hit.
There was no new snow the last couple of
day--plenty is expected during the coming week. Total snow depth is
approximately 34".
Mike Hoyt, president
Bitterroot Cross-Country Ski Club
Posted 6
January,
2012
All the trails were groomed today and tracks
set. Forecast temperatures should keep the trails and tracks in
good shape well into next week.
Mike Hoyt, president
Bitterroot Cross-Country Ski Club
Posted 5
January,
2012
After working Wednesday (4jan12), the groomers
are almost caught up after last week’s dump of over 2 feet of wet
snow on the Chief Joseph Ski Trails.
All the upper trails have been rolled and
leveled to their full width and tracks set. Of the lower trails,
only Banshee has not been groomed.
Four groomers will be at it again on Friday
(6jan12). All trails will be groomed, including Banshee, and fresh
tracks set.
The weather forecast for Chief Joseph Pass
indicates a 40% chance for a small amount of new snow Friday. Air
temperatures should remain in the range—teens at night, twenties
during the day—that will produce superb skiing all weekend.
Michael Hoyt, president
Bitterroot Cross-Country Ski Club
Posted 1
January,
2012
Trail
Report – Be Careful What You Ask For!
After a few weeks of little or no
snow, the weather gremlins made up for their frugality with 20
inches of heavy wet snow. The snow depth varied around the Chief
Joseph domain. Adding to difficulty was the wind that helped put
seven trees across the trails. Wading through snow that measured our
inseams added another bit of difficulty to clearing the trees (at
least two were forked trunks) from the trails.
Jim Aronson made a pass up and
down Joseph Creek and around the Lower Loop Trail. He also put the
emergency cache in place at bottom of Banshee.
Randy Leavell joined with his
roller to help pack the new snow. Mike Hoyt filled in for John Love
on one the machines. Mike did a creditable job for a rookie in what
I consider one the toughest snow situations we’ve encountered.
Despite the slow going, we managed
to get over all of the upper trails, but did not attempt Banshee and
Middle Forks trails. We considered that darkness and traction
problems in the heavy snow made that unwise.
Snow continued to fall with the
temperatures in 28-32 degree range. At the end of the day, we
figured that an additional 4-5 inches had fallen.
Mel Holloway, grooming team leader
Chief Joe Ski Trails had “officially” received
21” of new snow in the 48 hours preceding Friday morning (30dec11).
By the time the grooming team left at dusk, 7” more had fallen.
That’s a LOT of snow.
Four goomers worked the snow—mostly rolling and
some leveling—all day to re-establish a base and to make it passable
for skiing. The Middle Fork and Banshee trails were not groomed
yesterday though that didn’t appear to hold back the adventuresome
skiers. No tracks were set because of the continuous heavy
snowfall.
The snow on the trails was wet and heavy, but
appeared to be setting up nicely after grooming. More (grooming)
work remains for the trails to return to the original level and
well-compacted width you’ve come to expect. It won’t be long!
Since only a few inches of snow fell overnight
(after the groomers left) and temperatures falling, the trails
should be in fairly good condition for skiing today, especially on
waxless skis.
Michael Hoyt, president
Bitterroot Cross-Country Ski Club
Posted 16 December,
2011
Because there was little new snow (1/4" to 1/2"), no trails were
groomed today. However, the tracks which were set last Friday
(9dec11) are still in great shape.
The groomers worked on opening Banshee and the Lower Loop Trail
today. They are both partially packed but not yet ready for skiing.
Michael Hoyt, president
Bitterroot Cross-Country Ski Club
Posted 9 December,
2011
Today (Wednesday, 7dec11) all the upper trails
were worked with a drag-leveler-compactor and they’re in terrific
shape. Two of the lower trails, Middle Fork and Joseph Creek were
worked for the first time this season and groomed with a compaction
roller. Banshee and the Lower Loop Trail will be opened soon. No
tracks were set on any of the trails today. They will be set this
Friday (9dec11) morning.
After today’s work, Middle Fork and Joseph
Creek have a very firm base and are skiable even though there are a
few small tree branches poking up through the snow in a spot or
two. Another snowfall of 6 or more inches will put both trails in
perfect condition.
Besides the bull moose which was reported last
week (2dec11), there is also a cow wandering around the trails.
Neither is showing signs of aggression, but please give them plenty
of room if you see them while skiing (or in the parking lot).
Mike Hoyt, president
Bitterroot Cross-Country Ski Club
Posted 2 December,
2011
A first pass on building a trail was made Wednesday, November 23. There was about 14 inches of snow. With temperatures hovering on both sides of freezing, it seemed to be setting up pretty nicely. With assistance from Randy Leavell and Tony Neaves and their equipment, we were able to pack snow without snagging stumps and bending or breaking anything.
The new fuel transfer tank makes short work of refueling the machines at the end of the day and, happily, ends the need to lift the refilled cans back into the pickup.
The trailer heater hasn’t gotten a work out yet because Lost Trail wasn’t quite ready for us as of the 23rd. The new radios worked out well and are easy to stuff in a pocket. The ear buds make calls easier to hear over the machines.
/s/
Mel Holloway
All upper trails at Chief Joseph Pass are open
and ready for some great skiing.
Our grooming crews have been working during the
last couple of weeks to establish a good solid and wide base on all
the upper trails. This year the groomers have instituted the use of
a roller to help compact the trails and to cover all obstacles with
hard-packed snow. Skiers who just couldn’t wait for the trails to
“officially” open have reported the trails to be in top shape.
The off-trail snow is slightly less than 2 feet
deep and all upper trails are compacted to a base of 12”-14”.
Because we managed to complete quite a bit of trail maintenance the
last couple of summers, none of the upper trails have any obstacles
protruding through the snow. You don't need rock skis!
We’ll be working over the next couple of weeks
to open the lower trails. Their opening is heavily dependent upon
new snowfall—more is better!
Now that the base is well-established on the
upper trails, tomorrow morning, Friday, December 2nd,
tracks will be set for the first time this season.
The Gordon Reese Cabin is open, ready for your
break-time snack or just to warm your fingers and toes.
Please be sure to sign your party in every time
you visit the Chief Joseph Trails. Use counts and your donations
(at the trailhead) help pay for grooming the trails to perfection.
Enjoy!
The groomers only had about 1" of new snow to
deal with today. Although snow showers were passing through the
area around mid-day, little new accumulation was expected.
The Chief Joseph Trials are already receiving a
large number of skiers. People obviously can't wait to begin
another season of cross-country skiing.
There is a bull moose wandering around the
Chief Joseph Trails. He’s not aggressive and is likely to move to
lower elevations as the snow depths increase. But, he lives there
and we (skiers) are just visiting. So give him plenty of room and
time to move away at his own pace if you see him while skiing.
Michael Hoyt
BITTERROOT