Thursday Afternoon 01/04/07 Report –  The 5th full report for the 06/07 year.

This has the email that I mailed January 04, 2007.

Click here for the TABLE OF CONTENTS for the “Extra Web Data. This upper section will be used for minor updates during the week before the next report is prepared.

 

                                    The Original Report Starts Here – The information above has been added since the Email             
This report starts with the email I sent Thursday, January 04, 2007 19:30 PM.

Thursday, January 04, 2007 19:30 PM
Cross Country Skiers,

Wow: Go to the web version of this report and find the Table Version of the Weather Reports. There’s 14 -15” of snow predicted for this Saturday. I find it hard to believe but let’s hope we get some of that.

* CLICK HERE to see last weeks report. (You may need to go to the web version for this link to work.) The Buckhorn Trail and Upper Meadow Trail (all the way down to the Lower Aspen Loop Trailhead) are Excellent. Except that maybe the Meadow Trail below the “Big Clearcut” should be downgraded to good because there are a few steep pitches that may get too fast for beginning skiers. The rock that I’d previously hit is now well covered. However don’t take the fork down to Cougar Point yet. There’s about 20” at the Meadow TH, 2” more than a week ago. The William’s Cr. Trail down to the Upper Aspen Loop has fairly good coverage now and would be excellent, except that so many have skied it that the easy powder routes are skied up. However we probably got 3 or 4 inches yesterday and last night. The William’s Cr. trail has been skied further down, but I don’t know it’s condition yet. I’ll post any updates on the web. The Ridge Road was very good IMHO last Monday and there’s a report that the Upper Shoshoni Trail is now skiable. However, use caution on this trail as it’s designed as a telemark trail for experts. We skied most of the Perreau Meadows trail and it was good, but use caution because it’s not marked very well and if you can’t find our tracks you might get lost. Don’t ski through on the North Moccasin Trail. It starts 2 miles north of William’s Cr. summit with plenty of snow, but there’s not enough snow near the meadow at the bottom for safe skiing. I also wouldn’t recommend skiing the Muk Luk Trail from the top due to uncertain conditions. Ski it as an up and back if you wish. It should be fair for good skiers. I won’t say much about the Chief Joseph Trails because they should have enough snow, although I haven’t verified that recently.

The web version of this report is at: http://home.custertel.net/~ckeene41/xcskirpt.htm It will have some additional snow depth reports and additional XC ski web links. Also I usually add some updates to the web version before I send out another full report. If you have a current connection to the internet you should be able to just click on any of the web links in this message to go directly to the web page with your web browser. Otherwise you can copy the link and paste it into your browsers address box. Call me at 756-2085 with any questions.

 Click the following link to see details about our recent ski trips: http://home.custertel.net/~ckeene41/skitriprpt.htm (I just updated it.) Let me know of any trips you’ve made that I can add to the list or any changes that I should make.

PLANNED TRIPS:
*  1. Sunday, January 7, 2007. Meet at the Forest Service/BLM Parking lot at 10:00 AM for a trip to the William’s Cr. Trails. We’ll make a stop soon after 10:00 at the Shoup Bridge BLM Campground for those living south of town. Tentatively I’m planning to ski the Upper Shoshoni Meadows Trail. Bring your touring or telemark skis if you wish. Beginning skiers could ski part way up with us and back down the  road to William’s Cr. Summit. Call me if you have questions.

*  2. Midweek Trips. Probably Tuesday 01/09/07. Give me a call at 756-2085 if you’d like to go. I usually won’t leave before 10:00 AM and probably not later then 01:00 PM.. Also, if Chair 4 is running, I’ll also probably go to Lost Trail on Thursday 01/11/07 and most Thursdays after that.

*  3. Sunday, January 14, 2007. Meet at the Forest Service/BLM Parking lot at 10:00 AM for a trip to the William’s Cr. Trails. Watch for next weeks report because this may change. I’ll try and tailor this trip for beginners, although it wouldn’t work for “first day skiers unless they have good downhill skiing experience.

*  4. Monday, January 15, 2007, Martin Luther King Holiday. We’ll discuss a possible trip on Sunday.

*  5. Saturday, January 20, 2007. Meet at the Stagecoach Inn Parking lot at 10:00 AM for a trip to the Chief Joseph Pass Area. Those from the Bitterroot should plan to be at CJ by 11:15. Tentatively I’m planning to do Richardson Ridge, but that could change. I also want to check out the parking opportunities for a future Cabinet Cr. trip.

*  6. Saturday, January 27, 2007. Meet at the Stagecoach Inn Parking lot at 09:30 AM for a trip to the Chief Joseph Pass Area. Note the earlier start time. Those from the Bitterroot should plan to be at CJ by 10:45. I’m planning to ski the Cabinet Cr. Trail. Bitterroot Folks, please pass the word around. Hopefully we can get some of the Bitterroot XC Club to join us. Please let me know ASAP if a different day or time would be better.

*  7. OTHER DATES of possible interest: 1. Missoula XC Club Races CLICK HERE for details and a list of other races. (You may need to go to the web version for this link to work.) Ozone Pursuit Race at Seeley Lake, 01/06/07, OCR race 01/27/07 at Seeley Lake. Teton Classic Race at Driggs, ID 01/20/07. Telemark ski races, probably at Missoula Snowbowl?

* You might be interested several ski related articles in the Outdoors Section of the Ravalli Republic. Go to my Other Web Links Section of the On-Line Web version and scroll down a bit and click on the link. You’ll find an article about Chief Joseph Pass Ski Area. Also in my web pages see the Avalanche sections. There have been several snowmobilers and at least one skier killed.

General Snow and Weather Conditions:
Note that this year the Salmon Golf Course is closed to skiing. If we ever get enough snow, there are areas “mowed” for skiing at the Sacajawea Center. They are in the field near the river. See my introduction section (above) for general snow conditions.

* Use the following Williams Cr. Ski Trails Links to better understand the trail condition reports:
   Trail Descriptions     Trailhead Locations     Trail Map       Trail Segment table
* William’s Cr. Trail Conditions: Click the above Trailhead Locations, and Trail Map links to evaluate this information. On the map note the Meadow Trailhead and Trail # 222 with two forks which goes south from this TH, providing access to trail # 242, the Wapiti Loop. Ski conditions on these upper Meadow Trails and the Wapiti Loop are Excellent. Note on the map a short loop on trail 222 to the east of Trail 242. This is the location of what I refer to as the “Big Clear-cut. This section is also rated excellent. When we see the clear-cut and rail fence we continue to follow the blue diamonds to the right, and slightly uphill, then bear left and downhill to the edge of the clear-cut. Here you can backtrack or make a short loop by bearing left and skiing along the rail fence. When we make this loop it’s actually shorter than what’s shown on the map. Intermediate or expert skiers can ski below this point with caution. Just past the clearcut, the trail bears left, and in about 100 feet there’s a steep cutoff to the right, or you can continue straight on a more gentle section. This had previously had a rock, but is now OK. Below this point, I’d rate the trail as good, but there are several fairly fast steep sections that could challenge the unwary. When you get to the junction where a trail bears right to Cougar Point, bear left on the “Cutoff” to the William’s Cr. Road. Don’t take the trail to Cougar Point. About 1/3 mile or so past this junction you’ll see where some skiers have skied to the right. You’ll want to take the tracks bearing left. You’ll come out just above the lower Aspen Loop Trailhead which is on the other side of the road.

Look at the map again and find the Meadow Trailhead and note that Trail # 224, the Buckhorn Trail takes off across the road to the north and heads up to trail # 078, the William’s Cr. Trail. Ski conditions on this section of the Buckhorn trail are Excellent. This junction is at a big meadow that parallels trail 078. The Buckhorn Tr. Continues across this meadow up to the Ridge Road near the “A-frame” as shown on the map. This section has a steep pitch that HAD some rocks but is now probably GOOD. USE CAUTION on this stretch. Not recommended for beginners. Last weekend folks skied from the Buckhorn Trail # 078 southeast to trail 223, the Upper Aspen Loop. I found this section excellent, but I wouldn’t recommend it for beginners until we get more snow. The problem is that so many folks have skied it that there is no easy powder left to slow ones progress on the steep areas. The only exception to this might be a down and back from the Buckhorn Trail east through the meadow a little beyond the junction with Trail 624.5, the Perreau Meadows Tr. The Upper Aspen Loop, # 223 (left – west portion on map) is excellent. Caution, the Lower Aspen Loop, also # 223, (right – East portion on the map) which provides access the William’s Cr. Trail somewhat above the Big Fir Trailhead has some steeper pitches with rocks and is probably only fair.

William’s Cr Summit is at MP 13.8 and junctions with the Ridge Road, shown as # 020 on the map, which can be skied by intermediate and strong beginners (if not icy). This road is probably good skiing. Watch for snowmobiles. This road is groomed and dedicated for snowmobiles so you need to let them go by.

Other Trails:
The Deep Cr. Ridge Trail, not on the map takes off the Ridge Road to the south and accesses the Upper Shoshoni and Muk Luk Trails, also not on the map. The Deep Cr. Ridge Trail was previously not recommended due to a lack of snow, but I think that may have improved. The Upper Shoshoni, a telemark run, not on the map, is probably skiable with caution. I had a report that it was good. However note that this is a telemark trail designed for experts. The Lower Shoshoni, listed as #247 on the map (it should be # 243) is probably fair to good with a few logs. The Muk Luk Trail # 244, not on the map, takes off (or ends) half way between William’s Cr. Summit and the Deep Cr. Road and is clearly signed. It’s not recommended to ski this from the top, but could be skied as up and back for intermediate skiers. You will need to be able to control your speed and stay in the center of the road. Previously we had a great run. Refer to our past trip report for details. The North Moccasin # 225, starts westerly, 2 miles north of William’s Cr. Summit and has good snow and is not steep for a half mile or so, but then it’s quite steep and at the lower levels where it forks by a large meadow the snow is hardly over 6” deep with some downed logs. DON’T SKI DOWN THE NORTH MOCCASIN TRAIL. Also, DON’T ATTEMPT TO SKI DOWN TO COUGAR POINT ON THE LOWER MEADOW TRAIL # 222.

Snow depths at William’s Cr. Summit and at the Meadow TH are usually slightly less than the Lemhi Ridge Snotel. I measured 20” on Jan. 2 and at 01:00 AM the Lemhi Ridge Snotel listed 19.9 inches. Click here for more recent data: http://www3.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/nwcc/sntl-data0000.jsp?site=576&days=20&state=MT  These are daily readings which are usually less confusing than the following sites.

Here’s a link to 3 hour readings which can be useful to monitor for more current snow and temperature:
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/nwcc/sntl-datarpt.jsp?site=576&days=7&state=MT

* LOST TRAIL is partly open. Today they measured 45” at the lodge and 51” on top and only had Chairs #1 & 2 running. All lifts should be open on weekends. I think they plan to have the “Saddle Mtn. Chair # 4 open on Thursdays and Fridays starting next week. We skied there last week and the runs were excellent, but I’d still be cautious about skiing in the trees due to stumps and logs. Here’s their ski report: http://www.losttrail.com/snowreport.asp Lately their readings for snow depth at the top of the mountain have been similar to the “Saddle Mountain Snotel” site which is not actually on Saddle Mountain but rather just off the Saddle Mountain Road, about a half mile NW of the top of Chairs 1 & 2. The latest daily reading was 48.3”. See the Snotel daily readings taken at Midnight Pacific Time (01:00 AM our time) at: http://www3.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/nwcc/sntl-data0000.jsp?site=727&days=20&state=MT. This report only lists daily readings, which is often less confusing. But to see the latest current depth or temperature, you’ll need to go to the 3 hour report at: http://www3.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/nwcc/sntl-datarpt.jsp?site=727&days=14&state=MT

* CHIEF JOSEPH See my general conditions. By this time of year, unless we have a thaw, conditions are almost always excellent so it’s not necessary to say very much. Note that Maximum Temperatures at the Saddle Mtn. Snotel have been below freezing for twenty days. Previously we found excellent snow on the Richardson Ridge Trail. Go to the Bitterroot X-C Ski Club snow conditions reports at: http://www.bitterrootxcskiclub.net/conditions.htm and also to the Missoula Nordic Ski Club grooming page and scroll down to “Chief Joseph”: http://missoulanordic.org/cgi-bin/snow_grooming/discus.cgi

Check this site: http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/b-d/news/ for any Beaverhead NF news releases. They’ve been posting updates quite regularly. Note also that the road to Shultz Saddle will be plowed part way up. I may check this out later for possible backcountry ski chance.

My Cross Country Ski Web Page is at: http://home.custertel.net/~ckeene41/cksalxcski.htm 
The Current “Ski Report” (This page) is: http://home.custertel.net/~ckeene41/xcskirpt.htm
My Introduction to X-C Skiing is at: http://home.custertel.net/~ckeene41/IntroToXc101.htm
Most all the links are now up to date. Let me know of any good links to add or correct.

I now have links to my William’s Creek X-C Area Descriptions which are repeated here:
Trail Descriptions:    http://home.custertel.net/~ckeene41/xcskiwmscr_traildescr.htm
Trailhead Locations:  http://home.custertel.net/~ckeene41/xcskiwmscr_trailheads.htm
Trail Map:            http://home.custertel.net/~ckeene41/xcskiwmscr_trailmap01.jpg
Trail Segment Table:  http://home.custertel.net/~ckeene41/xcskiwmscr.htm

I’m working on pages similar to the above for the Lost Trail – Chief Joseph Un-Groomed Cross Country Ski Trails:
I currently have a Lost Trail Chief Joseph Trail Segment Table in draft format. Go to the Web version if this link doesn’t work.

/s/ Cliff

Word Count: 2,475

The following is an abbreviated version of my standard report with last year’s format.

TABLE OF CONTENTS: (Click on the following to jump down to that section. Hit the Back Button to return here.)
1. PLANNED TRIPS:
2. PREVIOUS TRIPS:
3. Ski Trail Condition Reports: WILLIAM'S CR. TRAILS: ,     CHIEF JOSEPH - ANDERSON MT. ROAD AREA:
 4. MISC.:   
5. AVALANCHE:
6. OTHER WEB LINKS:

The last FULL REPORT was Dec. 14. All paragraphs changed since then are preceded by an asterisk (*). To find these, do an EDIT> FIND and type in an asterisk. If you close the find box you can call it up again with a CTRL-F and continue to find the asterisks. If I make any minor updates, I won't send out any notice but they will be preceded with two asterisks (**).

INTRODUCTION: To better understand planned trips and previous trip reports, I encourage you to get three maps. Go to the A. INTRODUCTION Section of my Salmon Idaho Cross-Country Ski Web Page for Details.

The current ski report will always be, posted on http://home.custertel.net/~ckeene41/xcskirpt.htm. I saved the first report as http://home.custertel.net/~ckeene41/xcskirpt0701.htm (ends in 0701) and the next report ends in 0702, etc. As I post new reports this year they’ll be labeled xcskirpt0703, ...0704, 0705, etc.

The full ski report is on the web. The message to those on the Salmon X-C Ski Mailing list will be highlights only. As always, if you want me to make changes on the email list, call me at 208-756-2085 or email me. You can get my email from the messages that I send to you or call me. Currently we about have 80 on the list, with many being couples.

PLANNED TRIPS:

See the above email.

PREVIOUS TRIPS:
For a short description of each ski trip to date for the current 2006-2007 season go to: http://home.custertel.net/~ckeene41/skitriprpt.htm  Scroll down, or click on the November or (soon) the December 2006, etc. link to jump to that section.
Last years trips can be found at: http://home.custertel.net/~ckeene41/skitriprpt05_06.htm including a Ski Year 2005/2006 Wrap-Up.

SKI REPORT: (See Web Links section below for links to trail descriptions.)

WILLIAM'S CR. TRAILS: See my report in the email message above.
Note the following data were not updated but the last partial report was Wednesday, December 27.

* The LEMHI RIDGE SNOTEL (adjusted) snow depth reading at 01:00 AM on Wednesday, December 27, 6 days ago, was 17.9" with a density of 15.7%. Maximum temperatures have ranged from +20 to +38; being above freezing for about half of the period. This is not all bad because the snow depth continued to increase much of the time, but not as much as if it had been colder. However with the increased snow density, the backcountry skiing should be safer because we won’t hit ground or logs and stumps as readily. However there are still quite a few areas where the snow need to be denser for good off track skiing. As of 01:00 AM on Thursday, January 04, 2007, in 8 days Lemhi Ridge has increased about 8.6” and settled only about 3.1” to 23.4”, (Based on daily readings) for a net change of +5.5”. Note that the snow depth is based on daily readings. See next paragraph.

Sometimes when one compares daily readings and there’s been a fair snowfall during the early part of the period, there will be settling of the snow before the next reading. Thus daily readings may understate the actual snowfall. I have the option of using 3 hour readings. However, there is always some fluctuation in the depth gauge readings even when we know there was no snowfall or appreciable melting. Thus sometimes the 3 hours reading actually overstate the snowfall. In other words, fluctuations in the depth gauge are reported as snowfall. (The total increase based on 3 hour readings is 20.5” which is probably quite a bit more than what our actual accumulation was.)

* Calculated Snow Density has ranged from about 15.7% up to 18.4%. The "current" (01:00 AM) value is 17.1%. Note that this is the density of the entire snow pack. The density of the top layer that powder skiers ski in will be somewhat lower than this. We’d actually like to see this overall density increase which will indicate that there is a better base for skiing.

* The midnight PST (01:00 AM MST) reading for Snow Water Equivalent was 4.0”, 80% of average, or an increase of 16% since December 22.

* Weather Prediction: CLICK HERE for the 7 day forecast for the approximate location of William’s Cr. Summit. CLICK HERE for the Table Version of the forecast. Note that the table version sometimes gives a better display of snow accumulation. I find it hard to believe, but they predict 15” of snow for Saturday??
CLICK HERE for an alternate more graphical weather forecast for William’s Cr. Summit. It looks like a little more snow tonight and tomorrow morning (Thursday – Friday)., and none for the weekend.

CHIEF JOSEPH - ANDERSON MT. ROAD AREA See comments in my email message at the start of this page.

* The Saddle Mountain SNOTEL lists snow conditions similar to the top of the Lost Trail Ski Area and similar to Chief Joseph Pass. The snow depth reading at 01:00 AM on Wednesday, December 27, 2006, 8 days ago, was 40.4” with a density reading of 20.3%. Maximum temperatures have ranged from 19.7 to +31.9; being above freezing for the entire period. As of 01:00 AM on Thursday, January 04, 2007, in 8 days Saddle Mtn. has increased about 15.4” and settled about 7.5” to 48.3”, (Based on daily readings) for a net change of +7.9”. The Snotel accumulation is based on daily readings and the actual accumulation is probably greater. The accumulation, based on 3 hour readings would have been much more. See my comments regarding 3 hour readings in the Lemhi Ridge Section . CLICK HERE for Saddle Mtn 3hr readings.

Lost Trail reported the following Snow Data:
                         New 24Hr  Bottom  Top  | Snotel
 Date/Approx-Time   Temp   Snow    Depth  Depth | Depth (01:00 AM)
 Thu 11/30/06 12PM   10     06”     13”    18”  |  18.5

    See Last weeks report for these values

 Fri 12/08/06 06AM   26     00”     18”    24”  |  21.4

 Mon 12/11/06 11AM   25     00”     18”    24”  |  20.6

 Wed 12/13/06 09AM   28     08”     20”    26”  |  23.1

*Thu 12/14/06 06AM   25     10”     20”    26”  |  26.9

*Sat 12/16/06 06AM   10     13”     26”    32”  |  33.4

*Fri 12/22/06 06AM   20     02”     26”    32”  |  29.7

*Sat 12/30/06 06AM   19     00”     39”    45”  |  42.1

*Thu 01/04/07 06AM   19     12”     45”    51”  |  48.3


 

* Calculated Snow Density has ranged from about 19.3% up to 23.4%. The "current" (01:00 AM) value is 20.7%. Note that this is the density of the entire snow pack. The density of the top layer that powder skiers ski in will be somewhat lower than this. Note that the Saddle Mountain density is leveling out, but the Lemhi Ridge density is still increasing somewhat. We’d really like to see the Lemhi Ridge density increase more to provide a better base for backcountry skiing. However, this week should be quite a bit of an improvement.

* The midnight PST (01:00 AM MST) reading for Snow Water Equivalent was 10.0”, which is 81% of average, 11% higher than it was December 22. Let’s hope these percentages continue increasing. Overall the Salmon River Basin was 99.6% of normal, with better snow to the west and south of us. Salmon Basin (and other Idaho) readings can be found HERE. Scroll down to the Salmon Basin and select the Site of interest such as Lemhi Ridge or Saddle Mountain or the Basin Wide Summary. Then look at the Percent Departure from Avg. Column. Subtracting this value from 100 gives the Percent of Normal Value.

* Weather Prediction: CLICK HERE for "Lost Trail Pass" NOAA NWS Digital Forecast. CLICK HERE for the Table Version of the forecast. The table version gives a little bit clearer picture, but it doesn’t print out very well. Notice that 14” of snow is predicted for this Saturday LET’S HOPE!!
*  CLICK HERE  or CLICK HERE for two alternate weather forecasts for the Lost Trail area. Note that all the 1ST of these forecasts doesn’t predict as much snow for Saturday as the second one or as the above digital forecast. Let’s hope that we get lots!!  (:>))

* Another good forecast is the backcountry weather forecast. Look for the Bitterroot – Lost Trail Pass area. This doesn’t cover as long a period so you need to check it again periodically. Notice that this lists the “Snow Level” (The elevation where rain changes to snow.)

Lost Trail Ski Area. See my comment in the email and the table in the Saddle Mtn Snotel Section.

Links to Lost Trail & Chief Joseph Ski reports:
If you want the link to Lost Trail and dozens of others GO TO "CLIFF'S SALMON IDAHO, CROSS COUNTRY SKI PAGE" at: http://home.custertel.net/~ckeene41/cksalxcski.htm

For Chief Joseph reports see my comments in the email above. Check the following links for any new updates
  Missoula Nordic Ski Club: http://missoulanordic.org/cgi-bin/snow_grooming/discus.cgi Scroll down to "Chief Joseph.":
  Bitterroot Cross Country Ski Club: http://www.bitterrootxcskiclub.net/conditions.htm Scroll down a ways.

* CLICK HERE to see if there are any ski related news releases from the Beaverhead National Forest.
They have been posting quite a few updates lately, check ‘em out.

The following “No Bull Ski Reports” Forum used to have regular Lost Trail Reports, but the author moved to Vermont, so most likely any reports will be ones that I post. I’ll leave the link here for awhile.
http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards/viewforum.php?f=3 and go to the following:
http://www.skimovies.com/jande/ski.html for links to good ski photos. Jay’s also scanned the latest Lost Trail area map at: http://jandeproductions.com/2005/LTmap0405.jpg

MISC.:
Skating Party: Sometimes if the snow isn’t too soft it’s possible to skate ski at Chief Joseph after the ski trails are given the first grooming and before the actual tracks are set. That’s been called the “Skating Party” and is described as follows: "The skating party … refers to the fact that in the morning and usually until about 1pm on Fridays (the USUAL grooming day) you can skate-ski at Chief Joe. ... They do a very nice job dragging implements around to flatten and wipe out the old tracks and prepare it for the new tracks. The best trails to skate on are the wider roads like CD, Timber, and up around Sentinel meadow and back to the trailhead. ... At about 1:00 PM they start setting the track classic kick and glide track so one needs to plan to skate before this”. NOTE: It would probably be better to let the snow depth increase before doing this.

I'm sometimes asked where a good place to “skate-ski” is. In addition to the above Friday Morning Skating Party at Chief Joseph Pass, some of the groomed snowmobile trails are suitable. Usually the skate skiing is best soon after grooming. Probably the best spot is the Ridge Road. Other possibilities include Carmen Creek, and possibly the lower Warm Springs Wood Road. When recommending these snowmobile routes for skiing, I always add that we need to use courtesy and give the snowmobiles the right of way. I point out that we can’t have it both ways. We DO prefer that the snowmobiles stay off the ski trails, so we should use extra courtesy when we use the snowmobile trails.

The Salmon Ridgerunners Snowmobile Club had a web site at http://www.geocities.com/salmonridgerunners/ but it hasn’t been updated since January 2004. Additional information can be found at: http://salmonchamber.com/recreation-winter.htm and possibly at the Idaho State Snowmobile Association web site

SNOWMOBILE / SKATE SKIING GROOMING REPORTS: (Also includes other snowmobile club info and Mountain Bike Club Info):

 Here’s the latest Ski Skating / Snowmobile Grooming Report: I don’t have a current grooming report, but from personal observation on Monday 01/01/07 the Ridge Road was fairly smooth for snowmobiles and for classic skiing, but it didn’t appear to me to be smooth enough for good skate skiing.

In addition, periodically check out the Bitterroot Ridgerunners Snowmobile Club at:
http://www.ridgerunners.org/ - Check out the Announcements and Club Info link. (Although the web page shows an update on 11/11//05,  I could see nothing new for 2006.)

AVALANCHE:

* The following site normally has fairly current reports of major avalanches for the US & Canada. http://www.avalanche.org/av-reports/index.html There are several listed with links to news reports.
The following site had a fairly good list of North American Avalanches, but the last time I tried the server was down. You might check it out in case it has something not listed above: http://avalanche.state.co.us/Accidents/UnitedStates/

Don’t’ bother with the following. It doesn’t seem to be updated any more. I’ll leave it in for awhile.
http://www.csac.org/Incidents/ - It uses to list “recent” world wide incidents but didn’t allow you to view the reports. If you want to see a list of earlier reports go to their database at: http://www.avalanche-center.org/Incidents/search.php

Avalanche conditions are rated as: Low, Moderate, Considerable, High, and Extreme. Go to http://www.avalanche.org/~svavctr/danger.php for definitions. You should try and become familiar with the critical slopes for avalanches. This time of year, 30 degrees (58%) slope is the start of concern, and real concern starts at 35 degrees (70%) slope. In some conditions (usually with wet snow) there is concern down to 25 degrees (47%) slope. When I laid out timber sales I used to be able to judge these slopes better. Note however that of our marked ski trails only the Upper Shoshoni Trail exceeds 47% (for one short pitch). Note that there are some undesignated trails that we ski that do exceed these slopes.

Go to my General Cross Country Ski Page to the Avalanche Section for these several web sites, including the following:

 Go to the following link for the latest Sawtooth NF Avalanche Center:
http://www.avalanche.org/~svavctr/adv_current.php. Always check the date on these reports. Currently this report is updated only periodically, with the latest report to date being Monday, November 27. Later they will probably be updated daily.
There is an alternate link to the same site at: http://www.sawtoothavalanche.com/adv_current.php

 Go to the following link for the latest West Central Montana Avalanche Center prediction:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/lolo/avalanche/advisory.htm. Regular reports will be each Friday starting December 15. There may be special reports from time to time. The most recent is one for December 29, 2006.

 Here’s a link, not yet in my main ski page. CLICK HERE for a description of an Avalanche Danger Rose that’s used by the Utah Avalanche Center for some of their forecasts. I haven’t seen it used on our local sites, but it may be in the future. Here’s an actual forecast using the “Rose”.

OTHER WEB LINKS:
In evaluating ski conditions I've found the following SNOTEL link helpful: http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/cgibin/sdr.pl?state=MT Select Saddle Mt. or Lemhi Ridge for snow conditions near Lost Trail; or near Lemhi Pass, which is usually comparable to William's Creek Summit. If you want TO SEE THIS LINK and dozens of others GO TO "CLIFF'S SALMON IDAHO, CROSS COUNTRY SKI PAGE" at: http://home.custertel.net/~ckeene41/cksalxcski.htm
There's also a link to the latest Salmon, ID X-C Ski Report (The Current Page) at:
http://home.custertel.net/~ckeene41/xcskirpt.htm.

In addition to those pages I have links to several related to the Williams Creek Cross-Country Ski Trails Area as follows:
  a. General description - http://www.salmonbyway.com/salmon/ski.htm
  b. Cliff's Williams Cr. Ski Trails Sites:
   Trail Descriptions     Trailhead Locations     Trail Map       Trail Segment table
This last table gives the mileage for each segment of a trail and indicates where there’s a trail junction. The total miles from the trailhead is listed for each segment, with the last "Miles From TH" being the total miles one would ski to get to the end of the trail, which is often at another trailhead. I've still got some work on these, so let me know of additions, corrections or changes needed. You may copy this; just give credit if you publish it.

 I’m working on pages similar to the above for the Lost Trail – Chief Joseph Un-Groomed Cross Country Ski Trails:
   c. I currently have a Lost Trail Chief Joseph Trail Segment Table in draft format.

 I also have four pages for PREVIOUS TRIP REPORTS:
    a. Current Season 2006_2007. Now edited through November 28, 2006.
       b. 2005_2006 Season,       c. 2004_2005 Season,       and d. 2003_2004 (Partial) Season.

Links not yet in "CLIFF'S SALMON IDAHO, CROSS-COUNTRY SKI PAGE:
Here's a link to a site that describes the TEN ESSENTIALS to carry on the trail. He's added a few additional items:
http://www.isu.edu/outdoor/ten.htm

Some folks may want to do some skiing in Stanley Basin or the Sawtooth Valley:
The following site has links to the summer recreation report (last updated in September) and to some general info re winter recreation:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/sawtooth/recreation.htm.

* The Outdoors Sections of the Missoulian and the Ravalli Republic on-line newspapers often have articles of interest.
CLICK HERE for the Outdoors Section of the Missoulian On-Line. Although I don’t see anything now. I was especially interested in a previous ARTICLE ABOUT THE SUGAR LOAF CABINS AT THE MT. HAGGIN XC SKI AREA.
     
 CLICK HERE for the Outdoors Section of the Ravalli Republic. Currently I see at least two articles of interest. One is about Chief Joseph Pass and the other is about the Lost Trail Ski Area and some recent changes.
     Last years articles are no longer listed but the following links to some interesting articles still work: An article relating to the Lost Trail Ski Patrol, another that relates to Nordic Skiing including areas to skate ski, and another on snowboarding at Lost Trail Ski Area called Battle On The Border.

* CLICK HERE for the Outdoors Section of the Butte Montana Standard Newspaper. (Didn’t work 01/04/07)?

Here's an interesting link to some history of ski (mountaineering) equipment:
http://www.alpenglow.org/ski-history/notes/ms/rei-catalogs.html

Here's Lou Binik's "Foxwear" web site:
http://www.foxwear.net/. Be sure to copy or type this correctly. "foxware.net", "foxware.com" and "foxwear.com" are all different sites.

Tawna Skinner services cross country skis and equipment. She will also give cross country and telemark ski instruction.
Details are at: http://home.custertel.net/~ckeene41/TawnaXCski.htm 

 Here’s another club with similar interests in trail development. The Lost Trail Coalition was formed in January 2005 to benefit all bicyclists in the region.

Pray for snow,
Cliff Keene, Salmon, Idaho

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