Fairbanks Snow Travelers

Dave, are you still leading the 27 November ride? Where are we going?

Paul

It was scheduled for Cleary Summit to Chatinika but I am not to sure with this weather like it is, most of the snow around my house has turned to mush and of course turning to ice now. If some one else feels more confident and wishes to lead please let them. I don't think it will get much better until we get some more snow at this time. What do you think?
Dave

I think you are right but I would wait until Wednesday or Thursday to officially cancel the ride.

Paul

We got about 3 inches of very wet snow last night up here on Cleary Summit. We haven't lost any but it is 33 degrees and raining very lightly right now. I haven't been out riding except packing the ski trail around the top of the hill here at Skiland. The riding up here should be good unless we get some severe melting before it cools down. I'll keep you posted. You can always call me at 389-2594.

Cleary Weather: http://www.dot.state.ak.us/iways/roadwe ... &siteId=29

Chuck

It just keeps snowing up here. The two sleds that are buried in the picture were dug out and ridden two days ago so you can see how much more snow we've gotten since then. Yesterday I rode from here at Skiland on Cleary Summit to the Chatanika Lodge and back. The trail from the Circle Trail to the Lodge is in pretty good shape even though it was badly rutted and then eroded by a large number of 4X4s that used it during breakup last spring. Just be cautious, especially on the part from the "Ditch" to the top of the ridge. About halfway up that hill you will see a track going to the left, north. Take it as it bypasses the worst of the trail damage and parallels the trail to the top of the ridge about 20 or 30 feet to the north.

The riding up here on top should be somewhere between great and really great.

Chuck



Picture taken this morning.

I am hoping this ride is still a go. Been down in Anchorage for work, so this will be my first ride of the year. I did get out a little on Sunday, but it was more so just to get out didn't really go anywhere.

Paul are you talking about the hill that is always muddy and slick with ice?
If going down can you see the by pass or is it hard to see?
Dave

Dave,

I haven't been in this conversation since Monday. That is Chuck Johnson who has been sending you all the reports from Cleary. He lives up there. His phone number is in a Tuesday post.

Paul

I took the groomer out today and did some packing. It's 12 degrees up here and snowing. Riding is great!

Chuck



Circle-Fairbanks Historic Trail Trailhead


Fairbanks Creek Road



Circle Trail

Why wait I'm going today

Darrell wrote:Why wait I'm going today

Hey Darrell,

Come on up. We're going to be out there today and make a run to the Lodge from here. I want to mark the bypass from the top of the ridge to the ditch and do some brush cutting from the ditch toward Chatanika. This ice really pulled the brush and trees down. I knocked it off pretty well where I ran the groomer yesterday but can no longer run the groomer down this hill to the ditch because of the severe erosion that took place this last spring.

Chuck

Chuck, how's the Alpha C trail ? Plan to ride from 10 Mile CHSR to Chatanika for lunch, might see ya on the trail or at the lodge.

john wrote:Chuck, how's the Alpha C trail ? Plan to ride from 10 Mile CHSR to Chatanika for lunch, might see ya on the trail or at the lodge.

Hi John,

We haven't been out that way yet. I ran the groomer to the Alpha Trail Head a week ago and the there was a single track coming out of there. Guess you'll have to tell us. Stop by when you come by tomorrow. We plan on riding tomorrow. We just got back from riding to Chatanika and doing some brush cutting. Ron is going to run the groomer from the Lodge to the Ditch and toward the Elliot some time tomorrow. It's plus 12 up here right now and snowing.

Chuck

Chuck Sorry did not make it over to you today. Went from CHSR to small wood and up to Gilmore trail but over flow on every creek and brush over hanging the trail keep us from getting to Gilmore road with time left to get over your way. Found with ice on road can run the road with no skag damage.
I would think, John you may have trouble in fish creek valley. Good luck and carry a saw.

So how was the ride ?

Didn't make it across Fish Creek, not enough ice build up to cross and I couldn't find the lower crossing point up the creek. Played on the different trails off of Iowa Dome and rode to the Fairbanks Creek Mine area.

Snow was great and fresh.