Skiing and Snowmobiling Conditions
Torchlight Parade at White Pine on New Year’s Eve
by Pinedale Online!
December 29, 2008
After a slow start, Mother Nature has given us a full helping of the snow we asked for! A series of winter storms had brought plenty of snow to get the snowmobiling and skiing season in full swing.
SKIING
White Pine Ski Area has 57 inches of snow base and has been full with happy skiers and snowboarders. Lifts are open daily from 9:30 am to 4:00 PM. An adult full-day pass for all lifts is only $40. Half day pass is $30. Their Fireside Lounge is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for fine casual dining (reservations recommended, 307-367-6606)
"The skiing is wonderful!" said Mary Thompson, with White Pine Resort, on Monday afternoon. The resort has had over 48 inches of snow in a 24-hour period with the last storm cycle. "It is a record for White Pine," Thompson said. All of White Pine’s alpine ski trails are open. Thompson emphasized that they also have 11K of groomed cross-country ski trails accessible right from the White Pine Lodge, "and they are FREE!" she said. White Pine offers ten luxury slope-side cabins that come complete with full kitchens, fireplaces in the living room, and lots of room to sleep 8 to 10 people. These are perfect for larger groups that want to be together at the resort for their overnight skiing stay.
In addition to the White Pine X-C free trails, four miles of Skyline Drive is being groomed by the Pinedale Ski Education Foundation from the Upper Fremont Lake Overlook to Elkhart Park for Nordic skiing. Parking is available just beyond the White Pine Ski Area turnoff. Once the designated 17-mile X-C trail system gets enough snow, the Skyline Drive road portion will no longer be groomed. Snowmobiles are allowed on the upper portion, but the road is barricaded to discourage wheeled vehicles from going beyond the parking area.
White Pine will be hosting their annual New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade on Wednesday, December 31 to "ski in the New Year!" Lifts will load around 5:00 PM. Participants must be intermediate or better skiers or snowboarders. Dress warm and wear old clothes (the torches throw off sparks). Non-skiers are welcome to come up and view the torch lights as the skiers wind their way down the mountain. It’s quite a sight! There will be a Chili Fest in the lodge after the Torchlight parade. Come up and enjoy great chili, cornbread and drinks. Cost is $8.50 for adults. Children 12 and under for $6.00.
For more information call White Pine at 307-367-6606 or visit them on the web at www.WhitePineSki.com.
SNOWMOBILING
Avalanche danger is very high right now, so please check current conditions for the area you want to go to before you head out. Backcountry snowmobilers and skiers are urged to avoid avalanche paths and slopes. Right now, we have Avalanche Warnings posted with recommendations that backcountry travel in the mountainous regions is not advised. Large slabs can be triggered by a single skier or snowmobiler. So where is it safe to go? Groomed Trails: The Upper Green River portion of the Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail (CDT) is the only portion currently being groomed, above The Place, which had 13-15" of base as of the December 22 report. The Wyoming Range and LaBarge area trails are currently not being groomed. They have from 4-32" of snow base. Roads getting to the snowmobile parking areas snow-packed and slick in places.
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