Trail Report December 2022

Wade and I headed up Saturday to our trails. The drive up during the moderate storm was not too bad. Chain control in place just above Twain Harte put traffic in slow mode-for most. It always surprises me when people pass when chain controls are in effect.

We initially started at Summit Ranger District. Dave and staff were just about to depart for the day. They had a power outage as well as lack of snow plows. Their job was fruitless. We did learn the Mi-Wuk building (surprisingly the Region's most expense leasehold!) was being evaluated for demolition and the staff there were being re-located to Summit. Odom is now Recreational Supervisor (term is my impression). Dave did not encourage us to open the cabin. This was due to lack of plows, lack of staff to plow even if they had the plows and the road conditions were not ideal. Getting stuck on the slick road would not be an easy recovery.

We parked at Gooseberry and walked to the Dodge Ridge Patrol room. As we approached the cafeteria, we heard a hail: "Hey Ski Patrol!". And who should it be?? Lo-and-behold, it was Anna with the family. Thijs, Tess and Curtis arrived to join in the re-union. As the storm was warm-ish, Wade and I used this an a right proper excuse to delay our patrol. We spent time sharing some stories and experiences. Curtis became a junior patroller as he wanted to wear my vest.

Continuing on our patrol duties, we headed over to the patrol room. No one was there-save for the Dodge Ridge Dispatcher (Mary Ross' former job). Initially, Chair 3 was closed-as was some of the resort. There was a power outage-and it seemed some lifts were operating on generators. There was an early wind-close at the Nob. Chair 8 did not open either Saturday or Sunday (not due to winds).

Wade and I headed to the Nob at the crack of noon (as Bill Keegan used to point out regularly). I figured if we were going to be accused, we might as well as play our part and actually start at noon.. Upon arrival, we found a Sno Cat at the top of the Nob-never have I seen active grooming during the day!

We took Quicksilver as the runs down to Chair 8 were closed. Cutting off mid-mountain from Quicksilver, we picked up Zig-Zag. The run had a few tracks from Dodge skiers heading to Lower Stagecoach. We took the newer shortcut from Zig Zag toward Gooseberry trail based upon the extensive tree removal. Wade pointed out where a jeep was previously stranded due to an overnight storm from which the owner did not properly prepare. We continued onto Rock-n-Roll and choose not to take the ridge portion of the route, staying on the trail proper. The ridge run is becoming a bit problematic due to tree fall.

The run went well enough-save for the fact as we lost elevation, we gained temperature. The storm was a warm one-and the snow turned into rain. The temperature at the trailhead upon arrival was 37 deg F and we were soaked.

On Sunday, the storm strength had passed, but it had some residual snow to deposit. The chain control was dropped to just above the Soulsbyville hill. I parked at Gooseberry with the intent of conducting two runs that day. That was my first mistake.

At the base, I met the Pro Patrol Supervisor, Mike and his girlfriend, Crystal. I did not inquire how the pro patroller supervisor relates to Carl, our pro patroller contact. I took Chair 3 up to find a guest with a broken snowboard binding. As there was only four volunteers on duty that day, there was no one at the bench (which was missing). I tried calling any Dodge patroller on Channels 3 & 4 without success. I told the guest I would contact a patroller and send a snowmobile up to recover her.

The ride up Chair 7 permitted me to meet a Dodge Ski shop employee, Tyler. Turns out Tyler lived in Bozeman last season, the home of Montana State University, the location of the finest snow science research in our country. Further, his friend is studying Snow Science. You can guess where I went with that information.

I spoke with a pro-patroller at the shack at the Nob about the stranded guest. I then began my run-turns out to be a long-term run-down Crabtree in near whiteout conditions. Visibility was low not so much due to snowfall, but air conditions. The clouds may have been that low. Or high humidity fog conditions. It made progress questionable. The flat light hid subtle terrain features. I could not make fast progress anyway-the snowpack was covered with an incredible layer of low-density, high-quality powder. Just going downhill was troublesome. I followed the trail to the meadows and then cut-off toward the Crabtree Road through one of the slots which used to be more open. These slots are becoming overgrown with aspiring trees. Back on the road, the slog really began. I made slow, slow progress to Aspen. Snow levels were such I was breaking trail with snow up to my knees if not mid-thigh! I note that the trail back to Chair 3 does not yet exist.

Arriving at Aspen after almost two hours of effort, I took a quick break and ate a snack. My strategy was to take the steepest trail back to the trailhead in an effort to have a gravity assist. This suggested Ridge Run. Alas...there was no assistance from Newton's own. I slogged, and slogged and slogged-seemingly lucky to find our lovely blue markers. Sure that I had arrived to the spot which is the steepest on Ridge Run, i cut to my right. Turns out I cut too soon and ended up slightly confused till I noted the terrain. I pushed to the Crabtree Road about 1000 feet from the Stop Sign. Upon arriving the Stop Sign, the trail had been broken by earlier snow players. Still, it took me awhile to arrive at the road.

The hike to Gooseberry was treacherous. The road was like ice-several times I nearly fell and had one actual hard fall. At the top of the parking lot, I noted a vehicle going in the wrong direction. Once I got him turned around, I continued to Gooseberry. Never have I been soooo happy to find a vehicle. Only to make my second mistake. I dropped my keys in the snow and fruitlessly searched. Hopefully Wade can find them this week as he skis with Irene.

Sunday's achievement: Five turns in just over five hours of touring (read that as slogging).

Pictures are here: https://app.box.com/s/6tiudbsvkowsw3wdy1sdpxim0kqa0327

This is snow report from Dodge:
The snowfall began around 6am on Saturday and proceeded to drop 12in at the summit and 7 in. at the base up until about 4pm on Saturday. The Saturday daytime snowfall was on the heavier side with temperatures in the low 30’s and the snowline right around the 5,500 ft elevation.
Saturday evening into Sunday morning was when the brunt of the weather arrived as temperature decreased to the low 20’s overnight with the snowline down around the 4,500 ft elevation, dropping 26 in. at the summit and 21in. at the base by 5am Sunday morning.
Snowfall continued throughout the day on Sunday as the temperatures continued to drop, bringing the snowline down around the 3,500 ft elevation and blanketing the mountain with another 13 in. at the base and 14 in. at the summit by 4pm.
As we closed out the storm on Sunday evening into the early Monday morning hours, the snow continued to deliver another 8” at the summit and 7” at the base, with temperatures decreasing even more, bringing the snowline down below the 3,000 ft elevation.
Bringing us to a total of 60 in. at the summit and 48 in. at the base since the winter storms began Saturday morning.

As an aside, this article outlines an incident wherein a patrolller was caught in an avalanche this weekend. Buried, not killed.
https://www.summitdaily.com/news/avalanche-at-steamboat-resort-buried-ski-patroller-highlights-avalanche-risk-in-colorado/

Keith 

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