Tollgate Trailfinders Grooming Report

Grooming Report for March 14, 2024

Good grooming the last 2 days with 6 to 8 inches of new snow the first of the week. The early morning temps were in the teens but did climb to above freezing by 1pm Wednesday and by 10am today. We have groomed 64rd, Skyline to Bone Shelter, 6411rd, McIntyre loop, Target Meadows, 3719Rd loop Gordan loop, Balloon Tree loop, Pole trail, out 31rd towards Ruckle Shelter, in and out of the Snoparks and to the store twice. Temps are raising every day now and will be into the 40s and low 50s by Sunday and also be above freezing at night. The forecast shows rain and 6000 foot freezing level by Tuesday next week. I will monitor the weather, but it doesn't look good for grooming next week.

Jess Thompson TTF Grooming Chairman



Grooming Report for March 7, 2024

Good week of grooming as we have had more new snow, about 4 to 6 inches, and cold temps 10 to 28 degrees. We have groomed out to both shelters, 64rd, 6411rd, Elk trail, Skyline 6403rd, 31rd to Ruckle, Gordan Creek loop, Balloon Tree loop, 3719Rd, Pole trail, McIntyre loop, In and out of all the Snoparks, Target Meadows, up through Spout to Woodland, to the store and back several times, to Baldy and back several times. We have had 2 weeks of good snowfall and cold temps. Going up tomorrow to ride the lower trails but Corwin corner still lacks snow along the highway to build a snow road and mud flats was mud 2 weeks ago. I will take a look.

Jess Thompson TTF Grooming Chairman


Grooming Report for March 2, 2024

Went out early morning hours to groom today on Saturday. Groomed out through Morning Creek Snopark to Spout to Woodland snopark to Andes Snopark to 31rd. I groomed on out towards Ruckle over 9 mile ridge to High ridge road through the big cuts to Phillips creek intersection. I turned around there as the Temp had climbed to 35 degrees and the snow was getting wet at that lower elevation. I was within 4 miles of the shelter and none of the drifts I went through were big. Came back same way to snopark than on around Gordan creek loop to spout than 3719rd to the store to the shed to Baldy mountain and back to the shed. Repaired the hydraulic hose on the Idaho we tow and called it a day.

Jess Thompson TTF Grooming Chairman



Grooming Report for March 1, 2024

Groomed early today out 64rd to Jubilee to Bone shelter and back to Morning Creek Snopark and back to the shed, to the store and back. We also groomed out Elk trail, Skyline, 6411rd, and back Skyline to Baldy. Allen removed a big tree on Skyline and I removed a small one on 64rd today. Good snow to groom today with about a foot of new snow at the groomer shed and almost 2 feet at Bone Springs shelter. Temps were good 26 to 28 degrees untill noon when it climbed to 32 to 33 and the started getting sticky. We have a bad Hydraulic hose on the Idaho we tow behind the 20 cat. I am getting a new one made and hope to have it fixed tomorrow otherwise both cats ran well today.

Jess Thompson TTF Grooming Chairman



Grooming Report for February 27, 2024

On the mountain today to check conditions and ended up grooming the rest of the day. About 6 to 8 inches of new snow and 24 to 28 degrees. Groomed up through Morning creek Snopark, 3719Rd to Spout to Woodland Snopark, to Andes Snopark to 31rd, and back Gordon loop to Woodland, than back Pole trail to Morning Creek Snopark, out to Baldy and back to the store and back to the shed. More snow coming the next few days but with above freezing Temps and a mix of rain with wind. Hopefully by the end of week it should get cold and turn back to all snow and let us get back to grooming.

Jess Thompson TTF Grooming Chairman


Grooming Report for February 21, 2024

On the mountain today to check conditions and the shed. It was 40 degrees at the lake when I parked at 9am and also at the groomer shed. There has been a couple of inches of new wet snow since the weekend on top of the packed trails. The trails are good with small bumps except by the cabin area at spout where the snowblower has blown snow on the trail. It has been warm night and day at the Snotel sites since this last Sunday and it doesn't look to improve till next week when the forecast looks to be back to a winter pattern. When I left to come home it was 42 degrees.

Think Snow.

Jess Thompson TTF Grooming Chairman


Grooming Report for February 16, 2024

Had a good day grooming today with 4 to 6 inches of new snow and 8 inches in the high country. Temps started at 17 up to 29 when we quit for the day. Both cats ran well today without any problems. We groomed both sides of 64rd out to 11A and on out to Bone Springs shelter and back Skyline, Elk trail, 6411rd, Target Meadows, to the store and back, Morning Creek and back. TenEyke meadow crossing has finally froze over allowing us to groom to the store. Watch for bare spots and water holes.

Jess Thompson TTF Grooming Chairman


Grooming Report for February 12, 2024

On the mountain yesterday to check conditions and service both cats. The 20 cat is back from Halfway and with a little cleaning of road grime and grease and fluid check is ready to groom. The 23 cat had a cap on the carrier boogie missing and I have a new one coming from Tucker to be in Wednesday. Otherwise grease and fluid check is all the cat needed. It was snowing and 35 degrees with about 3 inches of new wet snow. More snow is coming later this week with cold temps in the forecast. Should be able to groom later this week as the forecast looks good for 6 to 8 inches of new snow.

Think Snow

Jess Thompson TTF Grooming Chairman



Grooming Report for February 6, 2024

On the mountain today to check condictions and trails. It was 37 degrees at 10am when I got there and 39 degrees when I left at 11am. The trails are good for the most part and up through spout to Woodland is really good. Into Morning Creek Snopark has small bumps as from there back to 64rd. Jubilee 64rd has small bumps in the corners but the straights are good as I could run 25 to 35mph on the VK snowmobile. The trail on the backside of Baldy has a tree down but the snowmobiles are getting around it without problems. There are 2 spots of dirt showing through on the trail. The water hole on TenEyke meadow hasn't froze over yet as I could stick a snow pole down through it into the flowing water. Again watch for bare spots, open water holes and flowing water in drainages. Some snow is coming later in the week and colder temps, but only 2 to 3 inches is predicted. Think Snow.

Jess Thompson TTF Grooming Chairman



Grooming Report for January 31, 2024

On the mountain yesterday to ride to Ruckle Shelter to check condiction of the trail, 31rd. It was 45 degrees and the trail was in good shape, not even any drifting problems like we normally have on 9 mile ridge or in the big cuts. The snow is melting down to bare ground around the Shelter and many other spots at that elevation. Water holes and flowing water is a problem now and also bare spots in the road. So be carefull when riding off trail. I also rode Ballon Tree loop and Gordan loop and they are in good shape but the open areas are bumpy due to melting. There is one tree across the Ballon Tree loop but high enough to get underneath. It is 4 or 5 inch in diameter but I didn't have my hand saw or I would have cut it out. Still rain and warm temps in the forecast for the next few days with some snow by the weekend.

Jess Thompson TTF Grooming Chairman



Grooming Report for January 29, 2024

On the mountain today to check condictions and the shed. It was 49 degrees, sunshine but breezy and the snow is slushy. There is 2 feet of snow at the shed, so we have lost another 6 to 8 inches of snow since the rain over the weekend. Rode the VK snowmobile checking the trails close to the highway and they are OK, with small mogels in places. But again whatch for water holes. The forcast still shows some rain showers till Thursday than rain and snow till Saturday, than changing to all snow this weekend. We will see what we get by the weekend but it doesn't look good for any grooming to happen this week. We can't groom slush as it just balls up and won't fill the mogels.

Jess Thompson TTF Grooming Chairman


Grooming Report for January 25, 2024

On the mountain today to groom on inner trails, snoparks, highway crossings. It was 31 degrees when I started with 2 inches of new snow. The snow is still wet underneath the new snow and didn't groom well at all. It would pile up in the front blade and come out the side as snowballs. By 10am the temp had climbed to 35 then to 37. I did what I could to smooth the trails but we really need cold temps and more new snow so I can make smooth trails. The forecast still looks bad for this weekend with rain coming in tomorrow afternoon into the weekend. Also watching the meadow between the grooming shed and the store as water is showing up on both sides of our crossing which could become a problem. I also noticed several other spots where water is starting to erode along our trails, so be carefull.

Jess Thompson TTF Grooming Chairman


Grooming Report for January 24, 2024


On the mountain yesterday to check condictions and meet Denny to transfer the 20 cat to Halfway. Their cat has a Engine Turbo issue and could take a few weeks to get a part. Temperature at 11am was 41 degrees at the lake and at the groomer shed. The Snotel sites are showing above freezing day and night for over a week now and snow loss of 6 to 8 inches. We have lost 6 to 8 inches of snow at the shed and the snow pole shows 2 and half feet of snow. More snow and rain mix coming in the next couple of days than rain Saturday. Again hopefully that will change but it doesn't look good for any grooming to happen this week. It is state wide problem this year as the wheather just won't cooperate. I have been asked about the low country down around the Chalet, Shumway loop but there is not enough snow down there to groom and especially by the Corwin corner along the highway to built a snow road. Keep doing your snow dance and colder Temps.

Jess Thompson TTF Grooming Chairman


Grooming Report for January 20, 2024


On the mountain today to check condictions of the trails. The temperatures since Wednesday have been above freezing day and night with 6 to 8inches of new wet snow. Today the temperature was 38 degrees at the grooming shed. Rode the VK out to Baldy and back, to Morning Creek Snopark and back and to the store and back. The trails are good except towards the store which has the usual rough spots. Wet snow dosnt groom and won't freeze up in this situation and mogels right out immediately. We need it to get cold and snow so we can make some good trails. The forecast right now doesnt look good in till late next week with rain and snow for the next 4 to 5 days and warm temps. Checked the crossings all the way to Andies Snopark and they are in good shape. Mother nature is not treating us very good this year so do your snow dance.

Thanks

Jess Thompson TTF Grooming Chairman


Grooming Report for January 16, 2024

Both groomers were out today to remove trees on Jubilee 64rd, Skyline 6403rd, 6411rd, and Elk trail. We removed 36 trees of various sizes from 4 inch to 24inch. We did make it to the Shelter at Bone Springs and cleared some snow from the door into the Shelter. Thanks to club members who went out yesterday and sawed and cleared trees on Elk trail and from Baldy to the Elk trail on Skyline. We also went to Morning Creek Snopark and back and to the store and back. More snow is on the way the next few days with lots of wind and warmer temperatures. The forecast right now shows by Friday we will have a mixed bag of snow, freezing rain and then rain into the weekend. Hopefully that changes.
One photo is of upper end of old skyline where there were very large frozen in place trees that we could not move.  Jess and Kurt are trying to push snow in around them to create a safe way around.  Second photo of Elk trail.
Jess Thompson TTF Grooming Chairman






Grooming Report for January 14, 2024

On the mountain today to groom trails for the first time this winter. The big storm they predicted didn't come trough. There is 3 foot of snow at the groomer shed and more in the high country. It was -12 degrees when I got to the lake and parked and 5 to 10 degrees during the day. I groomed on inner trails near the highway, snoparks, and highway crossings. The trails were in better shape than reported to me by email with the rough trails by Spout to Woodland snopark, near the store, into morning creek snopark, and on the backside of Baldy mountain. Gordan creek was good but soft with no base, 3719rd was smooth, Andes down beaver slide to the snopark to 31rd was good but soft. The crossings had high banks but the mountain machines went right over them, but now they are in good shape for the rest of the weekend holiday. Removed five trees from the trail today. We will start on outer trails the first of the week. Thanks for your patience as this seasons start is latest I can remember.
Jess Thompson TTF Grooming Chairman



Grooming Report for January 10, 2024

From our friends at the Wallowa Avalanche Center.  "THE BOTTOM LINE
Strong winds and new snow will continue to overload a weak snowpack.  Dangerous avalanches exist with human-triggered avalanches very likely and natural avalanches likely.  It's a good day to stay off of slopes where the wind has formed drifts or stiffened the snow surface, particularly at middle and upper elevations. "




Grooming Report for January 8, 2024

 Nothing to report as of yet. Please come back. 
 


Report for January 5, 2024

Good Morning Tollgate Peeps.  Keep up that snow dance.  Seems to be working! 



Grooming Report for January 2, 2024

Grooming Report 12. 31. 2023
Up on mountain yesterday to check condictions and the shed. No new snow and still only about 10 to 12 inches of snow on the snow pole. It was 42 degrees and sunshine, spring like condictions. Today looking at ODOT tripcheck cameras it's still warm 37 degrees with a little new snow. The forecast still is not good for much new snow or cold temps this next week. I saw lots of side by sides going by the shed yesterday so be careful on the trails. Have a safe New Years Eve.
Happy New Year 
Jess Thompson TTF Grooming Chairman



Powered By GrowthZone