Bucks Lake

You can see from our picture that we have dug our sleds out. It only took 6 man and woman hours. The groomer has punched through to our place, so we took a ride to the summit. It is not as bad as we expected. The plows have done a pretty good job, but they have not yet done anything to get more parking. I suppose they will do that early next week. (In time for the next one?)

The groomer has been on all the basin roads at least once, so you can now get around, and very aggressive riders are doing some powder riding. A snorkel might be a good accessory.

The low last night was 8, and the lake has now frozen over. BUT THE ICE CAN’T BE VERY THICK. Don’t do anything stupid. You are on your own, and we have no way to rescue you.

So, we are doing a little better all the time. I really hope the next one is just “ordinary.” Yorba Linda, are you reading? I think we are sitting on enough water for you to fill your swimming pools next summer.

This is as of 4 pm on Friday. The Big Creek lot is plowed. The plowing crew tried to get up the summit road, but ran into too many stuck vehicles of people trying to make it to the summit, so they had to give up. What were those people thinking??

The blower is fully engaged in getting two lanes back between Meadow Valley and Quincy (!!)), and when it is done with that, it will attack the summit road. That may or may not be tonight.

The Big Creek road is NOT groomed, but the groomer is track packing down there right now, so it may get rideable some time early this evening.

The groomer has been to the summit, but even after the summit road is opened, unless they immediately plow out some parking, there will not be any, because there is at least 4 feet on the level.

And, of course, the power is still out, with no estimate of when it will be repaired.

You can see from our picture that we have started to dig our sleds out. This snow is absolutely bottomless, even if y0u are wearing snowshoes, as we were, and unless a road has at least been track packed by the groomer, it would take an extraordinary rider on an extraordinary sled to get anywhere.

Given all of the above, it just would not be smart to try too hard to get here this weekend.

That’s right…..48″ of snow in the last 24 hours. And the power is off again, with an informal report of major damage to the main line going up the canyon wall from Bucks powerhouse, and the groomer has a dead battery and so is getting a late start on what is going to be a very tough effort to open the roads. Not exactly paradise……, we are well and truly buried.

At least it looks like the storm is starting to break up. I hope.

Power came back on between 12:30 and 1 am.

THANK YOU, PG&E!

At 1:45 pm on Saturday, the latest word is power will be off for another 1 -3 days.

And it continues to snow off and on……

And, since some people have asked, my best count of the total snow fall since last Wednesday, is 73″. Which is more than enough……

PG&E is now saying there may be a problem with the main line that runs from Bucks power house to Grizzly Forebay. If you thnk of that terrain, it is just possible to work there on dry ground. With a ton of snow on it, it has to border on the almost impossible. And no doubt it will take some time in any event.

I’ll post here when the power comes back on.

I don’t know if the county has the summit road open yet, but Big Creek is now groomed and the road is plowed to at least there.

PG&E is here and looking for the problem.

And it is only snowing lightly.

But, be forewarned. We got 58″ of snow in two days and it is so bottmless that even the groomer is having trouble. The PG&E snowcat is following the groomer. What does that tell you?

You will rarely see me say that, but right now it is the best advice. First, the county just started plowing to the summit this afternoon, and they do not expect to reach the summit till some time tomorrow. Even when you can get there, the summit is a disaster, with at least 3 feet on the level.

Jay has been working hard in the groomer, but has just managed to track pack from the summit to around Haskins and Countryman. He did the Dam Road only to Mile High and then came down to our driveway to get us opened up. He was pushing a mountain of snow and dealing with numerous slides.

Snow fall so far, (estimated) Wednesday 31″. Today, about 15″ so far. Right now there’s another 7″ predicted for tonight, and 5″ tomorrow, but that keeps changing.

And the power to the entire basin just went out at 4:30 pm.

So, stay away until it gets measurably more civilized. Also, time to stop praying for more snow…….

How about 24″ over night? We got that much, and it overwhelmed our dish heater and shut our internet down. Jay is out in the groomer right now breaking trail, and it is tough. We needed it, we got it, and now is the time to enjoy it.

After we dig out…..

Both parking lots are in good, dry condition. By the way, that means the white lines are visible. And THAT means that a few of you should get out your toilet bowl bulls eyes, and sharpen your aim….parking will be at a premium.

Big Creek will be a practical alternative. I groomed there Wednesday and it is in good shape. You will need to get around a few thin (black) spots in the bottom quarter mile, but after that it is great.

In fact, all of the roads are in great shape. The grooming is the best it has been this winter. However, if you are going to ride early, be sure you have scratchers, and use them.

So, the food will be great, and the weather will be great. And the route will be long and scenic. Saturday will just be a great day, and I hope you can be here and enjoy it.