John Sherburne Ski Trail 12/17

[NHpowderhound]

Just rolled in the door from this years first sled run down the Sherby. Conditions are GREAT! I brought the Swissbob sled but could have easily used skis. Coverage is very good with no rocks or ice that I could see. It was edge to edge and T2B snow. There was some new snow,about two inches, but the ski trail was pretty well packed. Lots of fresh snow on the edges but I would still be a bit cautious of the thin crust layer just below the surface. The waterbars are still very pronounced and the ones toward the bottom still have some open sections but are very negotiable. If skinning I would reccomend the bottom section of the ski trail then cross at the Boot Spur junction to avoid the worst of the waterbars on the Tucks Trail.
Temps at Hermit Lake were around 25 with a stiff gale. Visibility was barely to the Little Headwall so I cant give a firsthand report how the ravine looked.
Ahh, it's great to have winter back!
((*
*))NHPH

 

[Anonymous]

Nice. How was the ravine trail? Did you hike up in boots, snowshoes, skin up, or...?

 

[NHpowderhound]

T.R. trail was packed out T2B.Easily done with Gore Tex boots and a nice pair of thermal sox. I used leather LL Bean Guide boots but even just a pair of waterproof boot with some good sox would have been enough. That doesnt mean every day is like that though.
Yesterday skinning would have been easily accomplished except for a few steep waterbars at the bottom. Snowshoes were not nescasarry below the hut.
One thing I thought was interesting was that the southrn parking lot was only plowed to the Joe Dodge Lodge. Thats not even half of that part of the lot!
((*
*))NHPH