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With the end of regular grooming we will only clog up your spam filter when events warrant. Yesterday’s spectacular skiing, today’s expected great skiing and the dearth of skiers clearly warrant a report.
If you have any information on other trails please do let me know. I will pass it on to the other reader.
March 19 at the Mead Bypass intersection.
Forestville: So, I arrived at the trailhead smack in the middle of Goldie Locks zone expecting to be relegated to one of the overflow lots because the valet would be swamped. As it turned out, there was one lonely car parked right next to the building. I thought I was in one of those Twilight Zone episodes where the world had ended.
Terminating regular reporting seemed the proper thing to do. Years of tutelage on Goldie Locks zone divination and the easy accessibility of synthetic goat entrails would allow both of you to identify great Goldie Locks skiing on your own. I know Joe figured everyone was scratching their head over Niels and Werner’s troubles and if they would ever find the trail head but the critic assured me neither of you cared.
Be that as it may, you missed spectacular skiing yesterday. Spring corn is fully transformed so a warm dry day leaves even the soft snow quite fast. I began at 11:00 AM and made the turn at 510 after noon. The down hills were thrilling but the snow was forgiving. This is not to-win-a-bet skiing but rather real skiing. I took my skis off to cross the powerlines and at the two steep south facing hills on the Mead bypass. There is a spot near the pine plantation that (if you like your skies better than I) you may remove your skis. Watch out for several jökulhlaups where spring breakup overloads the French drains but they were all skiable yesterday. Last night’s hard freeze will mean today’s warm sun will be a re-do of yesterday’s wonderful spring skiing.
One of the joys of skiing in general and spring skiing in particular is the opportunity to view critters. Gliding through 20 miles of back woods you are bound to see some. I surprised two deer on Chiwagi yesterday. Standing smack in the middle of a wide section looking right at me as I rounded a bend, they didn’t know what to make of me. Humans on skis don’t look at all like that guy that tried to shoot them in November so they just stare. I glided up to maybe 20 yards when they bounded silently into the forest. Then I had the great good fortune to watch a ruffed grouse. Famously dumb animals, he looked like a guy late for something looking for his keys; dashing first this way then that (I have never seen a women behave in a similar manner).
I would shudder to think my run to 510 won the Last Ski To 510 contest. I have a dumb-things-I-godda-do list today so may not even get out at all. So I expect one of you will end up with the fabulous cornucopia of prizes that await this year’s winner. Remember to send in your photographic evidence. You know, like in the kidnapping scene in film noir where they show the victim holding today’s news paper. There is extra credit if you know why Niels and Werner keep getting lost.
See you out there,
Sondo