Pack Creek Ridge

Clearwater National Forest, Idaho

Warm weather (temps around 30 degrees) and mostly blue skies made Geri Lynn and I decide to go see how much snow the storm from last weekend left behind. Fresh snow made for a great way to get to the high point on Pack Creek Ridge. Two guys were doing some backcountry skiing over towards where we were headed, and theirs were the only tracks we saw. Acres and acres of untracked hillsides made for a great backcountry playground. I am pretty sure that on Saturday the hills will be covered in folks out playing in this great snow. Conditions are the best of the season so far.

Views are fantastic when you are the first one out, but the downside is breaking your own trail. In some places the snow was really firm and I was sinking in 3 inches, on some of the slopes I was sinking 18 to 24 inches on each step. Can't imagine trying to do this route without snowshoes.