Grooming report January 15, 2013
Despite a so far milder-than-normal winter for the Silver Valley and the rest of the Northwest, snow continues to pile up across Shoshone, giving winter sport enthusiasts fresh powder for the plenty of snow-related activities in the Silver Valley like riding snowmobiles on the numerous mountain trails.
While much of the back-country in Shoshone County is untamed, a great deal of the trails traversing the area are kept periodically groomed by volunteers to ensure snowmobile riders have safe and pleasant riding conditions while exploring the snow-covered wilderness.
The Idaho Parks and Recreation's newest grooming report, which is compiled from information given to Parks and Recreation by volunteer groomers, was released Friday, updating which trails across the Silver Valley have been groomed for optimal snowmobile riding.
Trails in the East side of Shoshone County groomed recently include from the Fish Hatchery to the Montana Warming Shelter and back groomed Jan. 7. The trail from Mullan to Wallace to Moon Pass to Bullion Loop and Back to the Warming Shelter was groomed Jan. The trails up to Cooper and back, up to Lower Glidden Lake and up to Sonora and back were groomed Jan. 2. Also in the East Shoshone, the Top of Dobson Pass to Sunset Peak was groomed Dec. 31.
In the West side of Shoshone County, the trail from Shoshone Camp to Magee Warming Shelter and back was groomed Jan. 8. Steamboat over the top to Magee to Stohl Saddle and Long Tom Loop to Short Creek were groomed Dec. 31. The trails at Lake Elsie and Steamboat loop were groomed Dec. 30.
In Avery, there was a whole foot of new snow Jan. 11, but the trails weren't groomed due to wet conditions. Though on Jan. 3, Fishhook past Breezy Saddle to 217, 217 through the Roundtop Warming Hut and 201 past Rutledge Warming hut to Mammoth Springs were all groomed. The trail from 1988 to Bear Skull, 216 was groomed.
Snowmobilers in Avery are asked to unload at Lick Creek.
As always is the case with activities in snow-covered mountains, avalanches can be a danger to snowmobile riders in Shoshone County. The latest avalanche report from the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center is reporting a current danger level of "moderate" with isolated areas of "considerable" in much of the areas where Shoshone County snowmobile riders frequent, including the Coeur d'Alene/St. Joe Divide.
Idaho Parks and Recreation reports moderate avalanche danger on wind-loaded aspects steeper than 35 degrees above 5,000 feet. Additionally, the report said natural avalanches are unlikely while human-triggered avalanches are possible.
To be safe, snowmobile riders should call (208) 765-7323 or 1-866-489-8664 for the latest avalanche report before hitting the trails. Moreover, riders can visit the Coeur d'Alene Snowmobile Club website at cdasnowmobileclub.com/8steps.html to read tips riders can take to avoid an avalanche disaster.