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Posted by Larry
on August 19, 2009, 17:46:22, in reply to "Wow, Great Advice !!"
74.100.29.188
I was completly stoked the first trip I took. I had hiked up the weekend before (there was no snow yet) and stupidly left my camara somewhere up the creek. So I went back looking for it. At the time I was bummed bedcause we got 2 feet of snow during the week. I went anyway's hoping for some luck. I hiked as if I was heading to Vivian but kept going staright up Mill Creek toward the jump off (just follow the actual creek). I noticed a pair of ski tracks heading back down. I followed them as far as I could before I started sinking into the snow (about 1.5 miles). Never did find the camara but man I wanted to ski it. So the next weekend I brought my skiis up and did the same route. My return trip was on skiis. It was like four wheel driving but on skiis. It was really tough skiing. I wouldn't have gotten any points for form or style but what a kick in the arse! I was hooked.
So the next weekend I went up south fork with a friend. We hiked up about 1/2 a mile past poopout hill. I saw enough to convince me to bring my skiis. The next weekend I did that. When I got to the split for Dry/Dollar lake I kept going straight. There was a set of ski tracks in the snow, so I did the same thing, followed them as far as I could go (no snow shoes). They went right up the drainage and turned right towards the Charlton's. I didn't make the summit but had one of the most memorable ski runs of my life. I came back the next weekend with rented snow shoes and my skiis. Man it just kept getting better every week. I made the summit of Charlton and had an even better run because I knew where I was going.
So hike early on a sunny day when the snow is hard and packed. By the time you reach the summit the snow has softened and the turns are sweet. The tree's are spaced out perfectly. I'm soooooooo looking forward to this winter.
Try it, you will like it!
--Previous Message--
: Trying out the south fork trail to get
: a feel for hiking in the snow sounds
: like a good idea. If I'm confident
: enough then I could try the dry lake
: route on up.... Cool!!!
:
: About 50% more time up in winter
: snow than in summer. That's what I
: was hoping for. In the back of my
: mind I was thinking maybe 2 or 3
: times longer.
:
: The ski thing sounds awesome but my
: feet have never even touched a pair
: of skis. what's the best way to
: learn? I'm assuming going to the
: local down hill deal and taking some
: type of lessons? The group meet up
: idea sounds like a really good one
: as well. For all of you who Cross
: country Ski...what's your
: recommendations for someone like me
: who would love to Ski the back
: country but currently knows very
: close to nothing about skiing? Skis
: are the long skinny things that
: attach to your feet.... Right?? LOL
: ;-)
:
:
:
: Man, now I'm getting excited, back
: country in the snow, a whole
: different world, probably a lot less
: people AND a whole new sport to
: potentially become addicted to :-)
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
: Great advice and personal experience
: stories Thanks!!!!!
:
: David
:
:
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