Grooming Reports and Rumors

2/1/2023 To many folks surprise skiing has been so good that the Groomsmen have been skiing instead of tracking. Both Va.Hill and East Pinkham were in excellent shape a week later. Edna had 3+" of champagne powder over maybe?track. Tracks off BearFlat spur show hare hunting and vertical junkers. Coming up plan to set East Pinkham Friday and Edna next after club ski at Dog Cr.

1/24/2023 Despite our sickly La Nina, skiing has been fairly good and patchy precip has left unexpected snow in areas. Foothills to pass gate was hard,fast snowplow below 8 mi. to <2" new snow at gate. Heard Va. Hill had a skiff of new Sunday and track intact. Saturday East Pinkham got 6 thumbs up.

1/4/2023 Set both legs of Foothills today with Pass leg best by far. Sinclair has roughage thru gravel pit,some stretches with only corduroy. Given warming day temps suspect best skiing will be as snow softens afternoons or if track adds a skiff.

12/29/2022 Set track on Orbit today at Va. Hill. Little trailbreaking done on interior trails we may need to shoe pack after precipitous thaw. Groomer test certified track, though we didn't venture far from the sleds. Indian Springs is likely skiable on fairways but machine tracksetting not happening pending snow. Have had no reports on Foothills conditions.

12/24/2022 We set track on both legs of Foothills with light snow and at one point moisture falling straight down.There was a noticeable inversion with warmest spot at the pass gate. Test ski certifies enjoyability and fine cold antidote. Days tally: 5 skiers,2 groomsmen and one Shepherd "tending the flocks by night"? Edna trackset still a concept but hope with volunteer trailbreakers to have a late Christmas gift with redo on Va.Hill.

12/23/2022 Set Indian Springs today over hill and dale and fairways both North and East Loops. Not too surprisingly the only company I had was a Vole following down the track behind the setter. It only went far enough to find a new snow cave

12/16/2022 Set track today at Indian Springs. It appears that some elk failed to replace divots and track is mixed. Best snow at edges of fairways. The cart path up on the South aspect had scant cover. Tracks set both North from clubhouse and East from Eagle's Nest? Also set Foothills both to Therriault Pass gate and Sinclair Trailhead gate. Snowing when we left and if we believe hard enough the tracks there should be briskly white.

12/12/2022 The parking area at Va. Hill was plowed this weekend and a Sunday morning ski recon had the track in good shape with skiff over Saturday's skiis. This Saturday we'll be holding our Fifth Welcome to Winter Ski. The time and place TBD by snow. See old friends,meet new and enjoy winter without offending a grounded snowbird.

12/8/2022 Today the Orbit loop at Va. Hill was trackset. Also broke ski track trails Cook's Run,Flattop,and Tepee. Video of a groomer test skiing is up on facebook. There is no information box set at Va. Hill, old trail signs need replaced but snow is great. Expect snowmobile or wheeled traffic this weekend but early risers get the goods.

12/4/2022 Groomer was out for first trackset of the season: Foothills Road to Pass Gate and Sinclair 7077 to Trailhead gate. Next day test glide certifies as 'you betcha' Also set track at Indian Springs. As these valley things go the light was really flat and will need relocation if we get more snow. The track is on North and East holes. Edna has not had track set and without a lead powder sled is not happening anytime soon. They are logging up West Pinkham so Still Loop is not usable. On the other hand, that means that a road is being plowed heading right for the Pinkham Powder.

11/10/2022 First ski of season found groomsmen trudging up Edna. Trail ran up Edna ~1mile and up 3528 about same distance. ~2" fluff over 4" with light crust. Out of wheel tracks hit no obstacles. All agreed next time we'll mechanically set a track.

Hopeful Links If you venture in our mountains at all you know that elevation and location make condition forecasting less than scientific. We find a couple of online sites helpful in making best guesses. The Grave Creek snotel gives real time snowfall and temps at 4400' generally Grave has more precip than say Pinkham or even Edna but serves to calibrate.https://wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov/reportGenerator/view/customSingleStationReport/daily/500:mt:SNTL/-7,0/WTEQ::value,SNWD::value,PREC::value,TOBS::value,TMAX::value,TMIN::value,TAVG::value

Also helpful are NOAA weather forecasts. Once you've requested 59917 a map appears and by clicking on it you can get spot forecasts for any planned ski area.

Dual Set X-C /Shoes 1/5/2021