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Blackhills Conditions #2
- Thread starter skidoo56
- Start date
Conditions re really good right now. All the trails have snow cover. Off trail is getting real good. There is 6-8 inches of fresh snow over a light crusty layer. You can pick you way through the trees without hitting anything unless you are carving hard or nose diving going down hill. Sounds like a little more fresh snow to the South. Areas close to the trails are tracked up but you do not have to go far to find untracked snow. I rode the M7 this afternoon and found lots of untracked snow and I never got more than 1.5 miles from Hardy or Trailshead. Off trail is 3+ feet deep.
Rode for 3 days this weekend. The area around 8 was awesome and surprisingly right along the trail was not tracked up and supper deep. Probably one of the best presidents weekend in recent history for snow conditions.
It has been a tough snowmobile patrol season so far this year. We have responded to 20 reportable accidents which has included 2 fatalities. One involved a mother riding with her husband and 2 teenage childeren. The other fatality involved a child. One of the non-fatal accidents resulted in a DUI arrest. We also had a snowmobiler whom I knew well die of a possible heart attack. I was present at the accident involving the mother. She was alive and talking to me when I arrive but coded in route to the ambulance. I also responded to the heart attack victim. Today I came across a couple with a teenage girl on trail 3 South of 3B. They had stopped because the teenage girl was cold and not feeling well. I noticed she was shvering uncontrollably going into hypothermia. I escorted them to Trailshead by shortest quickest route I knew. When we arrived at the lodge she had quite shivering and could not get off the snowmobile or stand. We had to carry her into the lodge to get her immediately warmed up. She was an exchange student from Brazil. Her host family took her out snowmobileing in sub 0 temperatures. She was wearing light gloves and light 200 gram hiking boots. Her gloves did not completely covered her wrists and she was developing some serious frostbite.
That is sad to here. I have seen very poor trail etiquette with young people this year if the parents aren't giving them lesson of rules of the road or what. Please inform beginning sledders to stay to the right and ride single file. I've seen to much riding side by side. In sd, wy, and mt.
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We gave up trail riding 20 years ago, too many close calls with speed bums and etc, not worth dying for, for us its off trail meadow to meadow or stay home.
How are meadows holding up? we are coming up next Thursday? riding out of trailshead probably north one day and south the next
Meadows are good. They are tracked up near the trails but untracked meadows can be found if you look. Especially way to the south near moon and south of 6 mile.
any reports from north. schoolhouse, rattlesnake, wagonwheel?
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How are the conditions on the trails? Any guesses how long good conditions will last?
Any updates on off trail conditions?
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Trails are in great shape. They are hard and smooth. This is the first time in a long time I cannot report any bad areas. The weatherman says we are to expect much below normal temps through March 16th. Trails will be open and groomed through the end of March snow conditions allowing. Off trail is still good if you go out and look. Much of the areas near the trail and the popular meadows are tracked up but untracked areas are there if you venture out. There is a slight crust layer and if you are easy on the throttle you can ride almost anywhere. If you are on the throttle you can dig down to the sugar quick.
Some off trails pics from today
hows it looking out there duane?? u gonna get hammered these nxt couple days!!??? we seen you sunday at trailshead and waived but u were on a mission, hope the rest of the year treats you well sounds like the first half was rough
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Next weekend
We’re heading out from northwest Iowa on the 20th. Off trail powder 90% hoping for great conditions :face-icon-small-coo. We’re out presidents weekend and conditions were prime and had snow fall everyday. One can hope!!
We’re heading out from northwest Iowa on the 20th. Off trail powder 90% hoping for great conditions :face-icon-small-coo. We’re out presidents weekend and conditions were prime and had snow fall everyday. One can hope!!
Looks like hills are getting pounded. Heading there Friday am. Hopefully we can track down snow cop this time!
You are going to have to travel further West to find me this weekend. Leaving early Friday morning for the Big Horns (not for work).
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Reports on what the Trailshead area got yesterday/last night?
