Breaking Trail

Swung into Rockwood, (well not exactly since the parking lot wasn't plowed), around 1pm. I parked along the road. We received a good 12" of fine grained snow, pretty lofty and staying that way with the cold temps, over Saturday night. I had to wonder who else was turned away from snowshoeing or skiing Rockwood due to the parking lot being inaccessible. I parked along the road. I figured I'd let the plow know where to go next ;) So I broke trail all the way to the Shorty Cut-Off trail, then skied the Ridge trail for the first time. If anyone followed my tracks later, they would see the Ridge trail is pure fun. If you're on the Shorty Trail (Southwest Map), you might start along the ridge from where the Shorty crests the top of the ridge, but I skied down the Shorty toward Big Bowl and then picked up the Ridge Trail at the bottom. It was a challenging climb to the ridge while breaking trail at the same time. After skiing the ridge east, I descended to the main trail and came out right where the old gate and sign stand in the woods, which is an old town marker of some sort. It was a nice loop. On the way out, I skied the Camp Road Trail to the chimney and then did the loop back to the main trail. A few chickadees and woodpeckers keeping me company in the woods. Was out about two hours. Skied my Fischer Snowbounds with three pins on them this year. Nice day, 21 degrees. All the trail are clear in Rockwood as far as I see it. Thank you to whomever cleared them of downed trees.

Nice Ridge Trail

Rockwood received 1 -1/2" Saturday night. Quite cold, windy day in the woods, on foot.

I swung into Rockwood and drove the roads to see if they were open and free of downed trees and they are. Then I walked the C-Connector Valley trail and that one has been cut out. Nice. Big Bowl has also been cleaned up.

I brushed out another less frequented trail by hand that leads to a very nice, sharp backcountry ridge with great views to the South and the path of the sun in winter. The trail starts off of the Shorty Trail (see the Southwest map) in view of the descent into Big Bowl, and climbs a bit before reaching the ridge. You can turn onto the ridge here but it may not be clear-going. I continued on the trail until it turned South and climbed to an old road-cut in the ridge, then followed the spine of the ridge East under mature trees with no underbrush. The sharp ridge (an esker?)is clear as day just north of the C-connector Valley Trail on the map, all the way to D-Spur. A nice new loop for 2014.

Wrapped up the Nordic Backcountry ski season at Nick Stoner Golf Course on April 6, with a couple laps on the course. I thought of seeing if any snow was left at Rockwood, but knowing my chances were better at Nick Stoner persuaded me to go there. It was worth it, with a few inches of corn snow and still some firm base. But it's over now. I've hung the skis up.