April 21, 2007, Lake Josephine

A short report from Steven's Pass Ski Area environs.  For those who do not know, the front side of the area is closed to snowmobiles from the lodge up to the ridgetop.  However, the Mill Creek side (south side) is open to the machines now that the Nordic Center is closed.  The nordic center lot was full with more than 40 trailers.  Mill Creek was a 'biler's playground below the lifts and the powerlines.  Unfortunately, there was trespass into the wilderness around Lake Josephine as well.

When we could squeeze in a somewhat clean line between the high mark ruts, conditions were quite variable.  Seems like snow was accumulating on and off for most of the past week.  Sometimes fresh heavy snow, sometimes hard crust with a bit on top, sometimes breakable, sometimes deep mush.  Rapid changes in conditions with changes in aspect and elevation.  Not sure I ever saw such variability in close proximity.  Typically, after last week's weather, I would ski east of the Crest where little new has accumulated and good melt/freeze cycles are occurring.

Short story: leave it for the snowmobiles for the remainder of this season.

John