Summit Saturday 26th

[billy6384]

I was going to hit up Summit for one more ride this year and extending an invite to anyone else that wants to go. Probably get there early 8ish and finish up around 2 or 3pm when the snow gets too rotten. I rode out behind Alpine Creek lodge in the Clearwaters on Saturday and it was gorgeous with really great and deep snow still. We drove our trucks and trailers all the way to the lodge. So the highway is open from Cantwell and at least 20 miles east or more of the lodge at mp68 if anyone was wondering. Don't know how far the Paxon side is plowed in, but I'm guessing the highway will be fully open pretty soon! Let me know if anyone wants to hit up the Hoodoo's on Saturday!
Nick

[michael]

I was thinking of doing an one last ride, theres a group of people wanting to go also, was thinking make a run to the caves if still possible, have a great idea where they are at just haven't been there yet.

[cleary]

We were down there last weekend. Riding in the Hoodoos was fine. Road was plowed to about mile 10. Tried riding to Meier's Lake but the bottom was out when you got off the pipeline. Quite a bit warmer down there than at Waters Edge http://www.alaska-highway.org/delta/wat ... /index.htm on the south end of Summit Lake where we were staying.

Chuck

[billy6384]

Thanks Chuck! Michael, I was out to the ice caves twice during arctic man. It's a lot of river and creek running/crossing to get out there. I'm guessing a lot of the small creeks are opening up by now. I was kind of planning to avoid the creeks as much as possible or only cross where possible to get up in higher evlevation where the snow should still be pretty good. Then get back down to the bottem by early afternoon. Right now its just me, a friend from work, and a third guy still undecided. So let me know if you want to come or combine groups.

[cleary]

All the creek crossings on the pipeline, on the flats and in the mountains were solid. Several groups trailered out the Denali as far as it was plowed and rode from there.

We've pickled the sleds and were on wheelers today so we're done for this season.

Have a good ride,

Chuck

[michael]

well then ill make it next season to the caves, you wouldn't happen to have numbers for them would you? was gonna go during arcticman but the group took off with out calling so didn't getta go, ill know tomorrow if im going or no, depends on work

[billy6384]

Sorry, I don't dont have it marked in my gps. Its really easy to get to once you've been there. If the creeks are still holding like Chuck said they are we could look at making a run back there, just depends on conditions. But yeah just let me know once you figure out if your working or not.

[michael]

well I hate to say it, sad day for me as I hafta work the next two Saturdays so my season is pretty much over for snowmachine,. yall have fun and burn up some powder for me

[billy6384]

Well dang that blows! Sorry to hear that. You were talking about a group of people wanting to go, do you know if they are still going or if so when they are headed down there? Otherwise its just me and one of my buddies, would be nice to meet up with a few more people. If not we'll manage and try to shread some sweet pow for ya! If I get some good pics maybe for once I will actually load them on the site.

[john]

So Nick, how'd the ride go.
I had lots of slush down by Hurricane.... Got my exercise for the month

[billy6384]

Ride was actually really nice! We got there about 830am and riding by 845. It was 19F and snow was hard most of the day. About 1" of fresh snow down low in the valley and found pockets of 4-6" of fresh snow up higher, found one pocket of 12" of fresh snow but kinda getting into glacier territory behind the tit. So we didn't track up that area too much. Hard pack was just barely starting to soften up by 1pm, but overall the snow stayed pretty nice up high. We got back to the arctic man parking lot around 230, and only then was the snow just starting to get punchy around the parking lot. Was 38F when we left at 230. I was actually trying to post pictures on the site this time, but couldn't get it to work. I got the pixel size down to the required size, but couldn't get the file size down on my pics. They were all 1.1 to 1.4MB each. Anyways we had a great ride and put on about 55 miles. I put on 2k miles for the season on my new sled, not new anymore!

[TheBearAk]

Counted 7 snowmachines and 6 4-wheelers heading down past Harding, I would guess the snowmachines are heading to the mountains. How is the snow holding up?

oh, this was 7 PM Friday.

[billy6384]

The 26th was my last ride, so don't know if anyone tried it out on the 3rd or 4th. My guess is there was still some rideable snow there, but probably poor condtion. I just checked the Isabel pass cams and looked like they lost a fair amount of snow this last week. I'm sure the warm weather we had last week beat up the snow pack down there, even if they weren't hitting 70 like up here.