Terminalian Ski Trails

Terminalian Ski Trails

On February 23rd, the last day of the year in the old Roman calendar and the feast day of Terminus, the Roman diety who ruled over boundaries, we celebrate Terminalia and the psychogeographic cross country ski areas at Alturas Lake and Park Creek. Skiers are encouraged to drift about the trails, attentive to their senses and emotions as they relate to place and the natural environment around them. Swish, swish, glide, ooooooo, ahhhhhhh, ommmmmmmm…. At Park Creek on Wednesday, Lupine, Camus and Shooting Star were rolled and Ginzu groomed for skate and classic. At Alturas Lake, the Trail to the Lake as far as the junction, Over the Hill, Sheep Thrills and South Loop were rolled.

Ski trails hit with new snow…

Ski trails hit with new snow…

On Sunday, February 19th, all ski trails to the east of Alturas Lake Creek were groomed with 2 passes of the roller. The roller stored on the west side of the creek was also dug out from under several feet of snow but suddenly intensifying snowfall persuaded wise old groomer Davinius to abandon any plans to roll on to the lake and he retreated back to the highway. On Monday, intense snowfall continues and we suggest all snow bunnies remain in their holes.

Ski trails – Pretty good to bad and ugly

Ski trails – Pretty good to bad and ugly

On Friday, the 17th of February, at Alturas Lake, the Trail to the Lake as far as the bridge junction, Over the Hill, and South Loop were groomed for skate and classic and looked quite nice. A single pass of the ginzu groomer on Sheep Thrills laid down an acceptable skate lane as warm snow began to build up on the ginzu knives. Switching to the roller, snow continued to stick and a double roll on the Connector and Wapiti resulted in a compacted trail that was a lumpy, bumpy wet mess. With warm snow falling on Saturday morning grooming at Alturas is on hold until temperatures fall a bit.

VALENTINE GROOMING

VALENTINE GROOMING

On Valentine’s day at the Alturas Lake ski area, the Trail to the Lake as far as the bridge, Over the Hill, South Loop and Sheep Thrills were groomed for skate and classic and looking good. The trail from the bridge to the lake was flattened with 2 passes of the grader but was still a bit rough. At Park Creek on Monday. classic tracks were added to Shooting Star, Camus and Lupine trails.

Ski trails reopening

Ski trails reopening

On Monday, the 13th of February, all trails at the Park Creek Ski Area are open and looking pretty good. At Alturas Lake, the Trail to the Lake as far as the bridge junction and Over the Hill are groomed for skate and Classic.

DIGGING OUT

DIGGING OUT

Grooming at the Alturas Lake ski area on Friday rolled soft trails to the east of the creek through 6 to 8 inches of new snow.  On Sunday, snowmobile passes beat down a rough route through up to 16 inches of snow covering those same trails. With the National Weather Service forecasting another 20 to 38 inches of snow through Wednesday night, skiing at the Alturas lake trails is not recommended until more digging out can take place. A new report from Park Creek reveals similar conditions there… no groomed ski trails there until a break in this storm.