December 9 - Mt Catherine Loop

Had only a half day.  Headed to Summit Nordic center trails.   Started from Silver Fir base -- new lodge looks nice.   Skinned up Silver Fir and White Rabbit to Grand Junction -- took a break in the warming hut there.    Ripsaw XC trail had 4WD tire tracks and was skiable down to the avalanche control station - I walked down that section to preserve P-Tex and avoid injury.   Coverage improved at the bottom of Windy Acres, 4WD tracks again at Windy Pass, but very road skiable to the zig-zag -- walked through the top zig-zag around rocks and water ice.  Saw a Subaru parked just below the water ice.  Skis on again down to bottom of Hidden Valley trail  -- very sketchy coverage up Hidden Valley -- walked up the steep portion.  Skis back on with blue kick wax once Hidden Valley trail leveled off -- pleasant kick and glide back to upper part of Hyak   Stem turns through brush down Creek Run.  Due to limited coverage walked most of the cross-over trail back to Silver Fir base.