04/09/12   5:42   a.m.

Thank you to all members and supporters for making it possible to provide yet another year of fine skiing on Grand Mesa.   Great to see so many out on an April 6th full moon on less than optimal snow.   Time to look at some solar lights for the hut!

They’ll be some dragging around the system this week as we work to gather all our goods for off-season storage.   I would describe the early morning skate as loud.   Could be some snow coming in by Wednesday.  Awfully dry here in Cedaredge with some clear and very cool nights again.   What was thought to be a fleet of military helicopters turned out to be orchard fans running the other night.

Skyway:  Still pretty good in the trees!

Sunset: set 04/4/12   for Classic and 4/3 for Skate.

Winslow:  set 04/04/12  for Classic and 4/7 for Skate.

Lion’s Loop: set 4/04 for Classic and 4/7/12 for Skate.

Arroyo:  set 04/6/12 for Classic and Skate.   We’ll throw some moon on it and see what happens.

Vista Ridge:  set 04/04/12 for Classic and Skate.   

Vista Valley:  set 4/6/12 for Classic and Skate.

Kannah Crossing: set 04/04/12 for Classic and Skate.

Scales Lake:  set 03/30/12 for Classic and 4/3 for Skate.   Corridor still strong, some causeway built to cross the dust now in the open.   Wonders of the blade.

Will’s Hill:  Skate pass 4/7/12

County Line: More dust than Skyway.

Dog Loop:  set 04/04/12 for Classic and Skate.

Dog Loop Cut-off: set 04/04/12 for Classic and Skate.

Tower: set 04/04/12 for Classic and Skate from Kannah to Dog Loop.

Overlook: set 03/30/12  for Classic and 4/3 for Skate.  Logs a showin’.

Scales Glade: set 03/30/12 for Classic and with a 4/3 refurbish for Skate.  

Ward Creek Ski and Snowshoe Park:  not rated well.

Ward Trail:   Fading fast at the lower altitude.

dc 04/09/12

Wednesday, the rare February 29,  6:00 a.m.

Highway 65 over the top of Grand Mesa continues to be closed from mile markers 28-35.   Avalanche control work to begin this morning. This prevents access to both Skyway and County Line.   Non-groomed trails are accessible down low, and a Ward groom is scheduled to begin this morning.    Check in at http://www.cotrip.org/home.htm for the latest update.   New snow amounting to anywhere from 15″-30″ depending on where you stand.  There will be gardens and crops it appears.

Thursday  03/01/12 5:45 a.m.

Welcome to March.  In like a lion, out like a lamb is off to a good start.  The wind is your training partner, and the groomer’s sworn enemy.  Steady breezes continue today and on into the night with forecast snow once again.   Temperatures to run in the low 20′s today with the chill pulling them down below zero.

Skiing is a mixed bag of groomed in the trees, drifted and unsustainable in the wide opens, and many ” now you see them , now you don’t” areas of track in between.   Excellent turns on Twilight yesterday at Ward as we waited out the Highway closure.   Practice extreme caution in any back country travels.   Report any observations of avalanche activity to CAIC as very little field information has been received this season regarding the Mesa.

Skyway:

Sunset: set 02/29/12 for Classic and  Skate late.

Winslow:  set 02/29/12 for Classic and Skate late.

Lion’s Loop: set02/29/12 for Classic and Skate

Arroyo: set 02/26/12 for Classic and Skate.   Unsustainable to the track.

Vista Ridge:  set 02/29/12 for Skate with Classic track holding in the trees.

Vista Valley: set 02/26/12 for Classic and Skate late.   Probably won’t want to be there today.

Kannah Crossing:  set 02/29/12 for Classic and Skate.

Scales Lake: set 02/26/12 for Classic and  Skate.  Serious drifting south of Lion’s.  First on plan this a.m.

Will’s Hill: set 02/22/12.   Will get a pass on the way home today.

County Line:  15″-30″ new on the ground.  Grooming to begin this a.m. on selected sustainable trails.

Dog Loop:  set 02/26/12 for Classic and Skate.

Tower: set 02/26/12 for Classic and for Skate.

Overlook: set 02/25/12 for Classic and Skate.

Loop 1: set 02/24/12 for Classic and Skate

Loop 2: set 02/24/12 for Classic and Skate.

Scales Glade: set 2/26/12 for Skate.

Ward Creek Ski and Snowshoe Park:

Ward Trail:  set 02/29/12

dc 03/01/12

1/23/12  4:22 a.m.

Highway 65 is once again open and grooming will begin early this morning.   Reports of heavy drifting, incredible waving and more snow coming have all filtered in in the past 12 hours.   Had a peak at Skyway yesterday-whoa!

Skyway:

First off Monday a.m.-use Vista Ridge and Kannah Crossing to access County Line.

County Line: On a delay.

Ward:

Ward Trail- packed and rolled over 18-24″ new  top to bottom.   Observe the slide off the highway below the lower parking lot.   Much of that about the state.  Who will be first?

dc 01/23/12   Happy Birthday Maya!

01/24/12 6:59 a.m.

Snow continues to fall Tuesday morning throughout the system with 3″ new on the floor and more on the way.  Should clear by noon and we’ll get back on the groom then.   The last storm totals ranged from 15-24″ with drifts of rather large stature.  Expect to see some minor track blow in and drifting again today.

Skyway:

Sunset: set 01/23/12 for Classic and Skate.

Winslow:  set 1/23/12 for Classic and Skate

Lion’s Loop: set01/23/12 for Classic and Skate.

Arroyo: set 01/21/12 with sprint course work in progress.  Use caution.

Vista Ridge:  set 01/23/12 for Classic and  Skate.

Vista Valley: set 01/19/12.  First off later on today.

Kannah Crossing:  set 01/23/12 for Classic and 1/19 for Skate.

Scales Lake: set 1/23/12 for Classic and Skate.

Will’s Hill: set 01/23/12

County Line:  

Dog Loop:  set 1/23/12 for Classic and Skate.

Tower: set 1/23/12 for Classic and 1/19 for Skate.   What a difference some snow makes!  Almost out of the trench of the haul road.

Overlook: set 1/23/12 for Classic and Skate.

Loop 1:  natural-excellent snow shoeing.

Loop 2: natural-excellent snow shoeing.

Scales Glade:  exploratory scheduled for Wednesday.

Ward Creek Ski and Snowshoe Park:

Ward Trail:  set 1/22/12 with a track pack and roll.

dc 01/24/12 7:05 a.m.

Friday 12/16/11  5:27 a.m.

Tree’s up.  Took her down(with permit) south of County Line.  Like a bad country song.  Straight trunk.   Standing room only in the house now.

Three guys on sleds hit County Line yesterday, also with permit.  We got jacked off of skid roads, dusted by drifts, and yelled at by skiers.  Sorry if the magic squeegee elf helicopter was broken.    I guess some were fooled by the rollers we were dragging, latest thing in back country ‘doo riding.

Groomers Holiday today.  Hot tubs, back rubs (I hope) and a fixin’ or two of some equipment.   None of us are getting any younger, and nobody got hurt.  Not even the new guy, but he has now mastered the Fred Flintstone maneuver.  Welcome to the club Shawn!

Here is the very latest, and what shape it has taken!

New snow is still skiing soft.  We will be back out tomorrow pounding it into submission.

Peace on Earth.

Skyway:

Sunset: set 12/15/11 for  Classic and  Skate.

Winslow: set for Classic and Skate 12/15/11. Mini Coaster.

Lion’s Loop: set 12/15/11 for Classic and  Skate.

Arroyo: set 12/15/11 for Classic and Skate

Vista Ridge:  set 12/15/11 for Classic and Skate.

Vista Valley: set 12/15/11 for Classic and  Skate.

Kannah Crossing: the big drifter- set 12/15/11 for Skate.  Classic set was to be on the way back from CL yesterday.  Broke the setter.  Was thinking about dragging the new guy with his feet spread apart precisely on the way home, then thought better.

Scales Lake:  set for Classic 12/14/11 and Skate 12/154/11.

Will’s Hill-no track set, but plenty of groomed room to get through for the thrill of will and the hill.

County Line: 

Wheeeeewwww.   Some day.    We hit it all, skid roads, trucking highways, even a few new shots.   All trail are now rolled, no track set.  Poles would sink anyways.   We’ll be holding our own little opening weekend come Saturday with a set.  Maybe Andy Daly and a Gart brother will show up!  Andy-I still apologize for the burnt pancakes back in ’84.  Just look at us now-

Ward Creek:

Ward Trail: Rolled two wide on Thursday.   Setter in the shop (my garage).   Actuator failure actually.

dc 12/16/11  5:48 a.m.

11/02/11

After 10″ of new last night,  Scales Lake Rd was set in its entirety for both Classic and Skate.  Conditions are soft, coverage is good.  Should see some firming overnight.  Forecast calls for clearing and sunny skies into Thursday and Friday, a slight chance of more snow Friday night was mentioned.

Please be aware that although the road is impassable by wheeled vehicle at this writing, you may see some workers from the various lease holders using snowmobiles and/or cats to gain access as they move to shut off valves and head gates associated with the public water system.    The microwave tower has been recently serviced,  but that does not eliminate WAPA from the equation either until they can access using the S & P trail.

dc    2 p.m. Wednesday

GMNC is now accepting applications for the position of Lead Groomer for the 2011-2012 season.   For a complete Job Description click on the link below.

Qualified parties are urged to apply with an outline of their relevant qualifications and experience to gmnordic@gmail.com.  Place “Lead Groomer” in the subject line.

Grand Mesa Nordic Council Lead Groomer Job Description 2011

With our still healthy and shiny Pisten Bully up on blocks for the Summer season, the Council continues to move forward with several projects.

REI has graciously provided us with a grant of $5000.00 for some trail improvement at County Line coupled with the development of a host program to further encourage membership, involvement, and stewardship of the public lands we utilize.

Our fundraising arm has been hard at work with a goal of raising $10,000.00 for a warming hut.   More on that below.

My tomatoes are kinda off this year, but the fact that I am getting some at all reminds me of the approach of Summer’s end, and thoughts of wax, fast skis and early season grooming aches and pains.

dc