Hello Skiers,
On Saturday, February 29, 2020, ten Ski Club members enjoyed a sunny day in the Coyote Call Area across the highway from Valle Grande on the Valles Caldera National Preserve. The Main Gate to the VCNP was closed due the very muddy condition
of the road to the check-in station in the western part of Valle Grande.
1. Class I Group -- This group of Anne Hickman, Leslie LaBry, Karen Kwam, Mary Donato, and Sam Beard skied in the meadows near NM-4 highway and skied a total of about 1.5 miles. In the morning the snow as extremely hard
and crusty, and skiing across the slopping meadow was difficult. After reviewing a few beginner basics including using edges on the crust, the group skied an old road to the west about one-half mile and returned on a somewhat more level route just above the
highway. After lunch at the trailhead, the group started skiing to the east on the lower Coyote Call road, but the snow in shade was still hard and very difficult to ski. We turned around, skied across the main meadow and returned to the trailhead by traversing
with about one inch of soft snow on top of the crust. (Sam Beard)
2. Class I-II Group
-- The group of Jim Whitfield, Deborah Hollis, Mike and Frances Meier, and Michael Arndt took on the late season icy conditions on the Coyote Loop Trail. Temperatures were a warm
38 to 46 degrees. We all successfully ascended the the icy moderately steep road up the east segment to enjoy lunch on the large boulders in the Scooter Peak - Rabbit Ridge Saddle. We discovered, after removing our skis, that knee deep snow drifts still remained.
In the afternoon, the conditions down the west segment of the loop and across the meadow to the trailhead continued to be challenging. (Michael Arndt)
Photos of the outing are presented in the attached Word document.
Sam