Upper Buskin Classic 4/3

[patrick]

I got to the outlet of the lake around 1:30 and it was not looking good. The snow was half slush (and why I decided not to ski at swampy acres). But by the time I got around 3:10 is was a full on blizzard - even at Boy Scout Lake. So I think Swampy Acres would also be good.

But Buskin was outstanding. Believe it or not there was very little wind. Even on the lake. It is screaming out here at Mill Bay, but since it is out of the north I think the trees in Swampy Acres sort of act like a break for the Buskin.

I skiied across the lake and got to the beginning of the canyon. Around 4-5 inches of new snow up by the canyon and 2-3 inches of wet stuff by the outlet to the lake. And I think it might be cooling off - so it should only get better! Patrick

[Philip]

Nice. We're gonna hit that tomorrow in the afternoon. Forecast calls for

[patrick]

:)Pretty darn good! I went around noon. It was pretty windy on the lake but once I got into the trees the wind was a non-factor. The wind was REALLY bad just by the outlet to the lake. I went classic and it was wind blown powder over a soft crust. The wind was blowing the powder into the tracks pretty quickly.

If it wasn't so windy the lake would be excellent skate skiing - so would the lower river. But up by the canyon I noted that the crust is too soft for skate skiing. I might try skate skiing tomorrow at either the buskin or swampy acres.

Today I met more people skiing on Buskin lake than I have ever seen before. I think I counted ten people. I also met a snowshoer who was horrified when I told him that skiiers do not like their tracks mucked up. I noted on my way back down river that he had hence forth meticulously avoided our tracks. He went so far as to jump them when he had to cross them. A very nice guy. He had snowshoed in from the Ski Chalet. Patrick

[mrsquishy]

I met Patrick on his way out and I was skiing in - excellent conditions and a very nice track for skiing out EXCEPT some jerk skied in behind me and back out again with his/her dog(s) who ruined the track, completely obliterating it in some spots. What should have been a superb sunny ski down the river in well-formed classic track was awful - skis breaking through where the dogs had post-holed,etc. Leave the dogs at home, please!!!

[patrick]

Today Zoya and I skate skiied around on the lake. Absolutely perfect - no wind and the perfect soft crust. I even popped off of the lake in places and it seems to be good everywhere. Even an inch or so powder on the crust off of the lake where it did not blown by the wind. But up river towards the canyon I know it would be punchy. I plan to post photos of our ski on our family blog later today:
saltonstall.blogspot.com/
I also posted a few from yesterday already.
Patrick