Jan 3, 2020
If it isn’t one thing, it’s another. The PLPP Live Grooming Report has these remarks…
“…the snowcat now has mechanical difficulties and is sitting on Tyrwhitt trail, about 300m north of the highpoint. Before the cat had issues, one grooming pass was made from Elk Pass trailhead and up Hydroline to the Lookout junction, and from there Hydroline is groomed only to the south Elk Pass junction. Tyrwitt has reopened but had only one and a half grooming passes (and one track packing pass) packing down over a metre of snow. Lookout only had one grooming pass (and one track packing pass) and will be narrow with some soft and uneven surfaces; the sharp S turn corners on both sides will be particularly rough as grooming was incomplete so the corners were not left clean. Use great caution if skiing Lookout. Also be aware of the snowcat sitting on the trail on Tyrwhitt, as noted, about 300m north of the highpoint.”
I hope the snowcat operator had warm clothing for the long walk back, in the dark, to his vehicle.
We skied Goat Creek on Thursday , Jan. 2. Existing tracks were snow covered but quite good. Skied from Goat trailhead to Goat bridge. While resting at bridge we witnessed two skiers approach the steep downhill with far to much speed. One person baled out into trees ,the other hit the bridge hard knocking her equipment into Creek. Amazingly she said she was okay and her friend was able to pick her equipment out of water. We’ve only skied this trail 3 or four times but it’s the second time we’ve witnessed a major crash at bridge. Moral of story is heads up at Goat Bridge.
A timely reminder, thanks. This would also be a good time to remind skiers of this video of the steep descent to Goat Creek bridge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE-xsNlvVCw