Sledhed and I hit Copper Creek on Saturday 4/3.
Overall both road and snow conditions are excellent.
Here's what I can tell you.
1. The road condtions are terrific. Occassional snow cover on the road and the usual washboard rumble to Indian Meadows Trail Head at 5.0 miles past the bridge over the creek. No mega drift blocking the road at 8.5 miles and unloaded 9.6 miles up and rode in mabe 1/2 mile or so to the Copper Creek trail head. Didn't have to ride a foot of dirt.
Shoulder of the road is soft so be careful.
2. Snow conditions are also terrific. Easily 12 inches of new stuff when we arrived. Probably wasn't the greatest day to have the hood off but what the heck. Only 10 or so other riders there all day. Although wicked temping we never attacked Main Bowl or the hills at Lake Bowl due to avalanch danger. Nobody laid a single track on main bowl. Also didn't venture over to left of Lake Bowl. One time we did have to dig out after getting stuck right almost at the top of the hill up to the wilderness boundary to the right of Main Bowl. Below the 12 inch layer of new snow was some serious bullet proof hardpack......kinda made me feel a bit unsure of that hill too. Due to low snow and wind blow there is lots of stuff showing that I have never seen before but still great snow cover for all areas.
The weather conditions on Saturday were brutal (I mean brutal) so our riding was severly limited. Didn't even take photos except for maybe a couple as we loaded up to head home.
Sunday would have been the day to go. I also understand that Friday was beautiful too.
I think there's still another 4 weeks easy for riding up there. Hopefully the snow settles in.
Overall both road and snow conditions are excellent.
Here's what I can tell you.
1. The road condtions are terrific. Occassional snow cover on the road and the usual washboard rumble to Indian Meadows Trail Head at 5.0 miles past the bridge over the creek. No mega drift blocking the road at 8.5 miles and unloaded 9.6 miles up and rode in mabe 1/2 mile or so to the Copper Creek trail head. Didn't have to ride a foot of dirt.
Shoulder of the road is soft so be careful.
2. Snow conditions are also terrific. Easily 12 inches of new stuff when we arrived. Probably wasn't the greatest day to have the hood off but what the heck. Only 10 or so other riders there all day. Although wicked temping we never attacked Main Bowl or the hills at Lake Bowl due to avalanch danger. Nobody laid a single track on main bowl. Also didn't venture over to left of Lake Bowl. One time we did have to dig out after getting stuck right almost at the top of the hill up to the wilderness boundary to the right of Main Bowl. Below the 12 inch layer of new snow was some serious bullet proof hardpack......kinda made me feel a bit unsure of that hill too. Due to low snow and wind blow there is lots of stuff showing that I have never seen before but still great snow cover for all areas.
The weather conditions on Saturday were brutal (I mean brutal) so our riding was severly limited. Didn't even take photos except for maybe a couple as we loaded up to head home.
Sunday would have been the day to go. I also understand that Friday was beautiful too.
I think there's still another 4 weeks easy for riding up there. Hopefully the snow settles in.
