Sorry for the late report - the snow's taken a toll on my energy reserves.

On Saturday, I informally joined Alan Shapiro on a small Sierra Club outing to Los Griegos. We climbed Ladera to Griegos Junction, then decided on an "exploratory" venture down Squirrel Canyon.  Frances and I had hiked Squirrel after the El Cajete fire and doubted then that we'd ever ski there again. The deep, debris-laden erosion channels that had been created by post-fire rains, made prospects look pretty dismal.  Well, there's been a lot of snow there this winter, and, although I anticipated likely bushwhacking to get down, it turned out to be an easy trip, through unbroken medium weight snow. 

There was more snow on Sunday, and I decided to solo the same route on Monday. When I arrived, two skiers were just returning to the trailhead, and reported that the snow was getting sticky.  After traveling ~30 yards down the trail, I enthusiastically agreed, and stopped to apply Maxiglide. I followed their track up to Griegos Junction, where they apparently continued on, up Upper Ladera. Squirrel was almost what I was hoping for with deep, but not fluffy, unbroken snow. It was entertaining to note the huge sitzmarks that I had left behind on Sunday! (By now, I've figured out how to get in and out of my bindings in less than 20 minutes.)

The snow is deep on LG, and there were no exposed roots or rocks, nor scritches. There was no need for skins, but, if you go, bring Maxiglide! Snow density and moisture increase as you descend.  There are a couple places where the erosion channels are noticeable and easily avoided. My Monday track is attached.

The parking area was plowed on Wed., but the road conditions are variable. On Wednesday AM NM4 was snow-paced and icy, and clear as a bell by afternoon.

Happy trails,

Mike
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