Feb 2 Search for Blue

[windzup]

After a white out morning at Skyline, Rob drops by my place in the Mount and says he needs to find blue skies for a quickie photo shoot of some new gear. He threatens me to deliver good weather or else. We double check the weather online and realize that Skyline northward is socked in, likely for the day and evening, but clouds were breaking south of I-70.

We load a couple of bigger snowkites, harness and skis into the truck and we were southbound. Hogan was the call, it had enough snow a couple weeks back, and its been getting more since. Apparently too much, as the gate was closed to highway 72 just at the turn off from I-70. Bummer, and odd as the road is supposed to be open, but likely a closure due to high winds and blowing snow, and other roadways with higher priorities.

So off the backway we went, doubling back on I-70 and heading south on the next highway westward... toward Fish lake. There is a ridge at the entrance to Fish Lake that sits around 9,000 feet. The problem was the recent snow (which hasn't appeared there until now) had been blown off and the good terrain was rock strewn and wind scoured. We dropped back down the road a few miles to an area with rolling hills and some protected powder stashes. Not a big area, maybe medium to small, but plenty long of a ridge for fun exploring in and out of bowls. And clouds were blowing back revealing the first blue skies of the day.

While we stayed on the freshies and found snow from butter to icy, it was really good conditions all in all. I'd be lying to say it was good tho, it was like strawberry early season with a lot of sage sticking thru and submerged creating air pockets. Was kind of cool tho, with amazing views over Koosheram, and at the end the Tushars popped out in the distance.

Wouldn't recommend going there to ride, as its way off the beaten path... but worth taking a look at if you are heading to Hogan or ice fishing at Fish lake. If the snow ever piles up there, the desert offers HUGE potential....if ever.

Windzup,
Brian Schenck

[windzup]

Some pics from the pocket cam.