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Summary of ride:
2-mile loop, 150 vertical feet of climbing
upper-intermediate to expert snow riders
Deep-snow Season: January through mid-February. Altitude
5100 feet.
Usual packed Route(s): Bi-directional 2.0-mile loop of High
Bench and Middle trails, 150 vertical feet. Counterclockwise is usually
easiest. (Packed via snowshoe, hikers, and local riders. No formal
grooming.) Other trails south of Box Elder Drive may be good to ride
depending on snowfall and activity, most commonly Lambert Luge, Poppy,
Ruin.
Photo: Northbound on the High Bench trail, (clockwise ride). 90% of
High Bench is in trees and holds snow well. |
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Characteristics: Very narrow singletrack with some
moderate-sized rocks and roots. With deeper or unpacked snow, expert snow
skills are required. Highly-variable day-to-day. Middle is usually
the first trail to receive tracks; snow is deeper on High Bench so it
sometimes waits for a hero to break trail.
Timing: On sunny days, finish your ride before 10. All-day
riding can be done only when stormy or cloudy on the day after a hard
freeze.
Photo: Southbound on Middle. Open (sage brush) areas respond
quickly to sun with bare trail, mud after 10 a.m., and puddles of standing
water. |
