XC NEWS

We try to keep this page up to date and free of errors, but you know how it is with volunteer help -- there may be errors that we missed. Comments (polite ones) are welcome -- send them to our (volunteer) web guy, Dave Uherka: uherka[AT]netutah.com.

     Contents of this page:
Recent Events
Next Event
Next Meeting
Current Trail Conditions
Schedule of Club Events (The event coordinator is Murf Karns, nordic62[AT]live.com .)     

RECENT EVENTS:
     Sat., Jan. 28, 2012: Eleven people had a nice ski on Burt's Road in Brian Head on a beautiful day. I'm waiting for photos to be submitted.
     Until then here are some photos by Jim Riehle from the previous week: Jim R's photos

NEXT EVENT:      On Sat. Feb. 4, 2012, we plan to ski at Cedar Breaks, where there may be groomed ski trails. We expect to ski about 4 miles round trip, including a stop at the Cedar Breaks Yurt. The ability level will be "easy to intermediate." Let's meet at 10 AM at the Cedar City Main St. Park, 200N & 100E, for car pooling. As usual, bring appropriate layered clothes, water, lunch and ski equipment. For any last minute changes, check this "Ski-Update" page. Please bring a little extra water to heat for cocoa at the yurt.

[ Deer Valley grooming: Because much of Highway 14 east of Cedar City will be closed till summer 2012 due to a landslide, it looks like there will be little or no grooming at Deer Valley in the winter of 2011-12. ]

NEXT MEETING:    The next members' meeting will probably be sometime in April 2012. A notice will be sent to members before then. An offer from a member to host the meeting will be appreciated.     


CURRENT TRAIL CONDITIONS (as of Feb. 3, 2012)
If you have an update to any of these conditions, please send an email to the club webber Dave Uherka at "uherka[AT]netutah.com" .

Overall Conditions: Snowstorms brought Brian Head and Cedar Breaks about 6" of new snow on Feb. 2 after 16" the previous week. The Snotel station at Midway (intersection of 14 & 148) now shows about 40" of snow which includes a few inches of new snow.
We can't reach Midway and Deer Valley from Highway 14 which has been closed for the winter due to a landslide.

See our main web page for descriptions and directions for the sites below:


FEB. 3, 2012, SNOW REPORT: As of today there are about 1-3' of snow in the Cedar Breaks area. WARNING: Due to a landslide, highway 14 east of Cedar City will be closed between miles 5 and 27 till summer 2012, so the following ski sites will be impossible to reach by auto from Cedar City this coming winter: Deer Valley, Midway, Bristlecone Pine, and the SUU Mountain Road. Duck Creek can be reached from the east on UT-14 but not from the west by auto.

CEDAR BREAKS: (can be reached from Brian Head on Hwy 143 except in blizzard conditions)
    a) North end (Rattlesnake trail area : 1-3' of snow. Skiing is good in most places. Blowing snow has made the snow somewhat mogul-ish in the wind chutes. Skiing is better in the treed areas near the rim. The trail (ungroomed) into the Park from the Rattlesnake Trailhead is marked with orange poles.
    b) Middle (Alpine Pond Trail) : 1-3' of snow. Skiing is pretty good in the trees, but getting from the parking area to the yurt at the north end of the Alpine Trail might involve some thin snow spots on the road. You can avoid the bare road by skiing off to the side. The Upper Alpine pond trail is marked with orange poles, about 1 mile each way, starting at the yurt, and is occasionally groomed.

DEER VALLEY / NAVAJO LAKE TRAILS: Should have about 1'-3' of snow, but Hwy 14 is closed.

MIDWAY VALLEY TO DEER VALLEY PATH: Should have about 1'-3' of snow, but Hwy 14 is closed.

BRISTLECONE PINE TRAIL: Should have about 1'-3' of snow, but hwy 14 is closed.

BRIAN HEAD (BURT'S ROAD): This private road is skiable and is sometimes groomed by USFS but is often rutted by snowmobiles despite signs banning them.

DUCK CREEK CAMPGROUND: Unknown. Let me know if you know. This site can be reached from the east on Hwy 14.

SUU MOUNTAIN ROAD: Probably has no skiable snow now, but can't be reached by car from either direction anyway, due to closure of Hwy 14.

CEDAR CITY GOLF COURSE: It got about 5" of snow on 2/2/2012 and may be skiable for a couple days.


SCHEDULE OF CLUB EVENTS: (Subject to error and to change)

The Club event coordinator is Murf Karns, email: nordic62[AT]live.com . NOTE: This season we will not establish a full season schedule ahead of time, but will announce each event week by week, as we get members to volunteer to lead a ski. I hope they will volunteer or we will look pretty silly with no events.

Nov. 12, 2011: Annual fall meeting for members at the Karns home.

Dec. 10, 2011: Murf & Kathi Karns led a ski at Steam Engine Meadow in Brian Head.

Dec. 17, 2011: Dave and Dorothy Uherka led a ski at Cedar Breaks. We also helped Peg and Jack Simons mark an ungroomed ski trail at the north end of the Park. Peg and Jack then gave us hot chocolate. Thanks, Peg and Jack.

Dec. 31, 2011 to Jan. 1, 2011: Club members skied on the groomed Ruby's Inn trails at Bryce Canyon, on marginal snow, with a potluck dinner on New Year's Eve.

Mon. Jan. 9, 2012: Gary Bocarde plans to lead an event.Details are shown in the "Next Event" section near the top of this page.

Sat., Jan. 14, 2012: Ski at Deer Valley /Navajo Lake.

Sun., Jan. 22, 2012: Ski at Steam Engine Meadow in Brian Head.

Sat., Jan. 28, 2012: Ski on Burt's Road in Brian Head.

Sat., Feb 4, 2012: Ski at Cedar Breaks Park. See details under "Next Event" above.