December 29, 2002, FS#73 - Grand Park
12/29/02
3364
3
Our trip may not be worthy of reporting here on "Turns All Year", but if you enjoy this area as much as we do and have time off this week, it may be worth the trip as access to GP usually requires an overnight stop along the way in mid-winter.
Thanks to a very late start, we did not make it all the way into Grand Park, but did get up to Lake Eleanor and down to what we call the lower meadow.
What is notable is that the FS has not closed either of the gates yet, so a good 4WD with decent clearance and some caution on the steep sections can get you within about 1 mile of the standard "trailhead". Even with our late start we were the first to break trail up the road parking at the spur road turnout on the left just short of the "trailhead".
The trek from the road to the lake was challenging as this area really needs about 20 inches of snow to be good (which would mean closed gates and a 10 mile ski up the road!). Not sure we'd recommend following our track if you give it a shot, although it worked! Lots of small stuff still poking through the surface and some tricky log crossings. Once to the lake, the official NPS trail is very nice down to the first meadow where we had to turn around due to time. The mountain was not in view today, but the beauty of the lower meadow flooded with sunlight made us wish we had the time to trek into GP.
We made it back down to the truck and out before darkness fell. It was rumored that some "turns" were had on the road descent. It should be noted that the FS will likely close the road with the next good dump, so go quick if you want to enjoy the easy access!
Thanks to a very late start, we did not make it all the way into Grand Park, but did get up to Lake Eleanor and down to what we call the lower meadow.
What is notable is that the FS has not closed either of the gates yet, so a good 4WD with decent clearance and some caution on the steep sections can get you within about 1 mile of the standard "trailhead". Even with our late start we were the first to break trail up the road parking at the spur road turnout on the left just short of the "trailhead".
The trek from the road to the lake was challenging as this area really needs about 20 inches of snow to be good (which would mean closed gates and a 10 mile ski up the road!). Not sure we'd recommend following our track if you give it a shot, although it worked! Lots of small stuff still poking through the surface and some tricky log crossings. Once to the lake, the official NPS trail is very nice down to the first meadow where we had to turn around due to time. The mountain was not in view today, but the beauty of the lower meadow flooded with sunlight made us wish we had the time to trek into GP.
We made it back down to the truck and out before darkness fell. It was rumored that some "turns" were had on the road descent. It should be noted that the FS will likely close the road with the next good dump, so go quick if you want to enjoy the easy access!
JP good on ya fer being so bold. That is a great tour Ive been doing it for years trying to get the timing right on both ends of winter. Laurie and I have done it as late as July and still had fun. Some awsome veiws up there as well.The trail ski back down from "Grand Park Central " is a hoot. Gotta get that early start next time eh?
Great info, J.P.
Thanks for the info.
Thanks for the info.
JP - this trip is definitely worthy of being reported here! You provide useful info about not only the snow on the skiing portion, but also access considerations for now and upcoming weeks.
In addition, despite the title of this web site, backcountry skiing does not have to be simply about turns. Some of my favorite ski trips have had very few turns, and some of those have been to Grand Park. The trip into Grand Park with snow involves map reading and forest navigation skills, and can provide beauty and solitude which is hard to match with many of the more common turn-ful destinations. Thanks for contributing.
In addition, despite the title of this web site, backcountry skiing does not have to be simply about turns. Some of my favorite ski trips have had very few turns, and some of those have been to Grand Park. The trip into Grand Park with snow involves map reading and forest navigation skills, and can provide beauty and solitude which is hard to match with many of the more common turn-ful destinations. Thanks for contributing.
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