Mixilplix Posted January 18 Report Posted January 18 Got out on the skinny skis for an attitude adjustment late this afternoon. Did just over 3 miles and 187' of vert. Caught a nice sunset and some really weird fog layers. 6
GrilledSteezeSandwich Posted January 18 Report Posted January 18 1 hour ago, Mixilplix said: Got out on the skinny skis for an attitude adjustment late this afternoon. Did just over 3 miles and 187' of vert. Caught a nice sunset and some really weird fog layers. You’re killing it the first half of the weekend!!
AirheadD8 Posted January 20 Report Posted January 20 I discovered this place a couple weeks ago. Wildlands Conservancy Black river sanctuary.Parking 50’ uphill from the main road. I wanted to get out here on Sunday but got stuck on snow removal. Someone beat me to it but at least left a booter . One run and a few little rock scrapes. 1
toast21602 Posted January 20 Report Posted January 20 17 minutes ago, AirheadD8 said: I discovered this place a couple weeks ago. Wildlands Conservancy Black river sanctuary.Parking 50’ uphill from the main road. I wanted to get out here on Sunday but got stuck on snow removal. Someone beat me to it but at least left a booter . One run and a few little rock scrapes. That place is super rocky, fyi. Great for a hike or run, but I'd keep the skis away from there with so many other options in the area.
AirheadD8 Posted January 20 Report Posted January 20 1 hour ago, toast21602 said: That place is super rocky, fyi. Great for a hike or run, but I'd keep the skis away from there with so many other options in the area. Thanks, I stuck to the road. Whoever skied it before me up top ventured into some rocks. 1
Barb Posted January 24 Report Posted January 24 (edited) I was supposed to go to Grad Mesa this morning which is a 2 hour drive. Woke up at 4:30 to check the snow, saw how deep it was and decided to go back to bed and make other plans. Met a friend at the air strip to XC ski. We took turns breaking trail. I measured it at my house and it was just over 12”. The trail breaking was tiring but a great workout. Ended up doing 3 miles total and by the time I skied back to my house the plow guy had finally woken up and plowed the roads so it wasn’t a slog the last 1/2 mile. My friend is not too much of a stop and take pictures (or breaks) person so I just got a few of her. There’s a pretty area in the trees next to the river that feels like Narnia. Super quiet and can’t see any houses or people. i jus signed up for Nordic race on Independence Pass next month so i better get my ass out more and start practicing. I say “race” very loosely. There are super serious athletes and there’s people who just enjoy the views. I am the latter. We had to pick a team name; we are “Dead Last”. Edited January 24 by Barb 9
Johnny Law Posted January 25 Report Posted January 25 1/25 -Burning tree Lane/William Penn Forest I have often dreamed of a town where you ski everywhere instead of drive. While gravitationaly impossible I decided to make a grand tour of my hood by skis and see if I couldn't make my way up the top of Gibraltar Hill. I got to claim a sweet first decent of the road down the hill I live on which was actually surprisingly soft turns for a road. Once down I knew I could cross the highway via two par 4s and in quick work i was over by the gun club. I don't know what exactly happened after that but after an hr or so ended up back on a road I've biked on but is actually around the top of the hill. Oh well I'll have to find it next time. It was 5 miles of solitude and rolling hills, with deep soft I didn't even need skins except to go back up the hill home at which point I skied to my door. I basically got lost in the woods for 6hrs or so but what a magical way to spend a day. 8 1
AirheadD8 Posted January 26 Report Posted January 26 Jim Thorpe Switchback After a multi day snow cleanup I sat down and took a nap and not really feeling it pushed myself to go. Turns out those who didn’t go today made the right decision. The scenery as a conciliation. Arrived 2:30 26f a spot I frequent in the summer for hiking. Helps to know the locals after three tries to get up the hill I drove down the street looking for a spot and gave up and started getting my shovel out but the fellow who lives in the house across from the trailhead offered to move his pickup a bit so I could slide in. I figured I wouldn’t be first tracks and was correct, dang boarders beat me to it. I wasn’t complaining too much because they made my skin easier. Up top I had to stop at the overlook, the view of Glenonoko never gets old, No Copperheads present. My last couple BC outings started off with skis feeling very sluggish, I found some glue residue so I brought alcohol wipes and cleaned up first. Much better! A very ugly run as the top inch of snow was very firm but fortunately no skin .Backseat and going back and forth from packed to untracked was challenging. The lower hundred yards was packed from kids sledding so I didn’t look out of control when I skied out onto the ball field. I decided to just walk through town up to where I parked but everyone was out shoveling and wanted to chat left at 5:00 . I feel for the people who live in town…one more sizable storm 😬 6 1
EdBacon Posted January 27 Report Posted January 27 2 hours ago, AirheadD8 said: Jim Thorpe Switchback After a multi day snow cleanup I sat down and took a nap and not really feeling it pushed myself to go. Turns out those who didn’t go today made the right decision. The scenery as a conciliation. Arrived 2:30 26f a spot I frequent in the summer for hiking. Helps to know the locals after three tries to get up the hill I drove down the street looking for a spot and gave up and started getting my shovel out but the fellow who lives in the house across from the trailhead offered to move his pickup a bit so I could slide in. I figured I wouldn’t be first tracks and was correct, dang boarders beat me to it. I wasn’t complaining too much because they made my skin easier. Up top I had to stop at the overlook, the view of Glenonoko never gets old, No Copperheads present. My last couple BC outings started off with skis feeling very sluggish, I found some glue residue so I brought alcohol wipes and cleaned up first. Much better! A very ugly run as the top inch of snow was very firm but fortunately no skin .Backseat and going back and forth from packed to untracked was challenging. The lower hundred yards was packed from kids sledding so I didn’t look out of control when I skied out onto the ball field. I decided to just walk through town up to where I parked but everyone was out shoveling and wanted to chat left at 5:00 . I feel for the people who live in town…one more sizable storm 😬 Way to get after it. Had some plans to skin some stuff around Port Clinton as conditions allow but now seriously thinking about the incline plane because of how open it is...
AirheadD8 Posted January 27 Report Posted January 27 31 minutes ago, EdBacon said: Way to get after it. Had some plans to skin some stuff around Port Clinton as conditions allow but now seriously thinking about the incline plane because of how open it is... Tread lightly though, not as much snow as I expected. Here’s two lines for next week if we get the goods . 🤞
toast21602 Posted January 28 Report Posted January 28 New spot today. A little out and back for a total of just over 6 miles and ~1,300' of vert. Snowmobile tracks made the uphill a bit easier with packed snow. Some pretty nice sustained pitches throughout. Will keep this spot in mind for the future. 9
toast21602 Posted January 30 Report Posted January 30 On 1/28/2026 at 8:04 PM, Mixilplix said: Fuck yea dude... How was the down hill? The last 1.5 miles down and ~800' vert were really nice and sustained. I had to scrub speed a few times because I was moving pretty quickly. you could just skin and ski that section for the turns if we get more snow ever. The rest of the way between there and fire tower is kind of rolling and fun for the experience and effort to get there, but would be a lot of work in fresh snow. 3
Mixilplix Posted February 7 Report Posted February 7 (edited) Hit the game lands skin track with @mbike-ski after skiing Blue. Nice skin up through some woods and open areas. Mike had a fish scale set up which was far superior for the downhill. Took a spill when one ski decided to go an submarine. It's a nice trail, but more suited for a fish scale ski. I usually don't drink after skiing, but after that downhill I needed it. Thanks Mike. Edited February 7 by Mixilplix 8
mbike-ski Posted February 7 Report Posted February 7 Yea me legs are cooked, fishscale were key today. Legit ski for sure. 7
Barb Posted February 7 Report Posted February 7 That snow looks a lot better than the garbage ice I XC skied on McClure Pass 2 days ago. Well done. So all that elevation gained in about 2.5 miles. On XC skis that’s def legit!
Barb Posted February 11 Report Posted February 11 Snow is finally just starting to fall here at 2:44pm. It was raining this morning! I checked out Ashcroft Nordic ski area near Aspen. When I called to ask trail conditions he said I may have to remove my skis and walk over “some” sections. In the first 3/4 mile I think I had to take my skis off 7 times to walk over dirt. sections like this I kept skis on and carefully walked over the dirt staying on the snow. I did a 3 mile loop. First section kept you next to the river and in the trees. If there was more snow it would have been really scenic. once out of the trees the wind picked up a lot. Signage was not great but finally found my return trail. There is a fancy schmancy restaurant at the turn around point that people get shuttled in by horse and carriage if they don’t want to ski or snowshoe The first section of the return was some more walking but then I was able to keep skis on and dodge the obstacles. It wasn’t steep but you would be surprised how fast you can gain speed on Nordic skis with solid sheets of ice. Lots of terrifying snow plows wondering if I would stop in time to miss the next rock. It would be a fun place to go back when there is more snow. 4
Mixilplix Posted February 16 Report Posted February 16 Figured Blue would be a mess this morning so went and did some non resort snowboarding. Got to the GL parking lot at Eckville around 7:45 with a temp. On the trail by 8. Most of the snow was pretty caca. I found some fairly deep untracked but the snow was like soggy styrofoam. The snowmobile track was OK at best. Took a nasty spill tweaked my knee so we will see how that goes. 8.5 miles/1600' of elevation/3200 calories burned Fun day despite shitty snow and effin my knee up. 4 2
Barb Posted February 16 Report Posted February 16 Sorry about the knee. My friend got that same backpack and loves it. An 8.5 mile backcountry day is a lot of effort. Kudos to you 1
Barb Posted February 20 Report Posted February 20 Such a fun morning with the local Marble ladies. Due to snow all day and so far we have probably got about 2’. We met at the local cafe (only thing opened here in town in winter) and skied in and out of people’s property. The ladies knew where all the hills were. They were all on those Hok skis and I was in my XC fatties with fish scales. So they for sure beat me in the uphill. The downhill I had more fun. Not a ton of pics because it was just too beautiful to stop. 3 2 1
GrilledSteezeSandwich Posted February 20 Report Posted February 20 Nice report and what are Hok skis?
Barb Posted February 20 Report Posted February 20 25 minutes ago, GrilledSteezeSandwich said: Nice report and what are Hok skis? https://us-store.altaiskis.com/product/hok-ski-updated-2016-copy-blank-skis/ cross between snowshoe and skis. I bought some when I first moved here but I personally don’t love them or really use them. They have a permenant skin on the middle 1/3 of ski. They are short. I like my backcountry fat Nordic skis better. And they were super fun today. 1
mbike-ski Posted March 1 Report Posted March 1 Due to unforeseen circumstances our plans to to ski another day at Greek got kaboshed but I was able to squeeze in a quick morning loop at Kennedy SF 8
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