[NMCCSC] Fwd: Snow: Rabbit Ridge 2019 02 07

[Mike Meier via NMCCSCeGroup]

Fellow snowgoers,

Frances and I attempted to ski Rabbit Ridge this morning, and we had a good
time, but did not get to the goal.  The weather was clear and cold, and, as
predicted by Weather Underground, the earlier winds had diminished to near
zero by the time we got on the trail.

On the meadow, the track was indistinct, and the surface was smooth and
windblown on the meadow.  Beyond the CC/RR intersections sign, the depth
increased to 1" - 3" with some drifts. We encountered some obstacles,
including debris and a downed tree, which we were able to get around
without much difficulty.  As we climbed higher, we found that the wind had
carved lovely "snow sculptures" - dune-like structures that crossed the
trail diagonally. They were pretty solid, but covered in powder, and so
getting over and around them slowed us down a bit.  Their presence also
destroyed the fantasy of an exhilarating powder run back to the meadow.

About 1.5miles from the trailhead, we were confronted with two trees that
had fallen across the trail. To get by, we would have had to remove our
skiis and crawl under, so we turned around and descended.  That decision
was made easier by the declining temperature as we got higher.  After we
got out of the "dunes," the going was very pleasant, and we cruised through
light powder, executing easy-going turns all the way down.

We met Alan Shapiro and Sarah Stout, who had started out somewhat later on
the way down.  They turned around before the top, but then went on to the
trailhead by way of the rest (east end and lower branch) of Coyote Call
loop.

The roads were plowed and sanded, and the trailhead parking was plowed to
accommodate 2 side by side, or 4 friendly, cars.

Our track is shown in the attached screenshot. Waypoints mark obstacles,
and the Coyote Call loop is north of our track.

Happy trails,
Mike Meier


-- 
“A melancholy lesson of advancing years is the realisation that you can't
make old friends.”
― Christopher Hitchens
<http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3956.Christopher_Hitchens>
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