On the move!

[Darrell]

Did a trail check this weekend from the car and found the most used trail was down river from Chena pump camp ground.
Tanana looks good from Rosie creek overlook, smooth.
First track on the Chena by Nordale bridge this weekend.
Any other sighting?

[billy6384]

Just called Alpine Creek Lodge on mile 68 of the Denali Hwy and they have a foot on the ground out there.

[Darrell]

Good news at the lodge.
Put 75 mile on today in the swamps south of town. Went from chena pump to clear creek butt didn't really see where Shawn or his crew have been working on the Bonnifield.

[john]

How was the river trail to the Salchaket ?

Many open leads ?

And how much snow on the ground on the flats ?

[Darrell]

First after leaving the boat launch at Chena pump i went up the Chena to Chena small track road where everyone left the river. Just one old track up river from there.
Down the Chena river again with one small open spot below the mouth, no problem, smooth and good till you get to Chena ridge bluff, trail swings up river away from bluff about quarter mile and cross ice flow. Across some gravel toward Howard Luke's.
At the next bluff stayed to the river and toward Salchaket slough and onto the long straight away towards mouth of rosie creek within a mile there was open lead from bank to bank, turn around back tracked to the first slough past Salchaket in that slough and if you stay to the right will bring you on out on the river below the open lead. Went down river to past the cabin and at the mouth of Rosie creek turn around there was a track ahead but lots of flow ice. Went into the swamps on the air boat trail.
Ran airboat trails so dirt was not a problem some grass spots and swamps gas holes in the ice were something to watch for but not a big deal.
I have some inside ski lift so cornering a 90 mile an hour was a bigger problem.

[john]

Humm, 90 MPH on turns, must of been thinking of that open lead you were expecting

[Darrell]

Went to clear creek Butt to day. Trail over the butt is not open on the town end...

[Darrell]

Heard from the Army trail breakers this am. They will be going out tomorrow to check the trails, clear creek butt and Bonniefield . To take off from Salmon loaf and head south.

[Darrell]

Ran from the Nordale bridge up to flood project. 11/27 Ice is smooth. When the temp breaks would be a good run for you. Hope to run toward town next, when the temps break.

[john]

Need to stud your tracks folks if were doing lots of river running this year.

Between Fairbanks and Hurricane, the best snow was in the Healy area, around 6 inches, unheard of as it's usually the worst, but wasn't wind blown.

Cantwell has maybe 2 to 4 inches on the ground and it just got worse farther south.

On the good side, it was warmer down by Hurricane :<) low of 5 above.

[hvhavel]

Since my local ride is canceled for lack of snow, should we do a different ride this weekend - maybe in Healy?

[Summit800]

6" is not nearly enough snow, unless your in a hayfield.......
I need a foot at an absolute minimum

looking like one of those years

[Darrell]

Then the swamps and rivers are the only place to go...and still scratchers maybe needed..

[john]

As long as you got the hay field in between the rivers and swamps

I rode on the tundra along side of the trail we were following and even that was only because I had to.

I think I'll wait for more snow.

[Darrell]

Talked to the ARMY trail breakers they said they where over the clear creek butte and south on the Bonniefield half way to the wood as of Tuesday. Now we need the weather to break.... Will report when I get to run it.