What are the snow conditions for snowmobiling?
CDT and Horse Creek trails are being groomed, 3-5 feet of snow in mountains
by Pinedale Online!
December 28, 2010
In general, the valleys have several inches to a foot of snow on the ground in the Upper Green River Valley. The surrounding mountains range have from one to five feet of snow. The Wyoming Range has from 3 to 5 feet. The west slope of the Wind River Range has from 2 to 4 feet of snow. We don’t typically get a lot of new snow in January. The best snow months are typically starting the end of January into February and March. There can be some great late-season snowmobiling in early April in the high country.
Randy Belton, from Big J’s Auto Parts in Pinedale (307-367-4329), reports that for this time of year, this is the best snow he has seen in several years, especially in the Upper Green. He advises staying on the trail until more base is built up due to rocks, stumps, deadfall and down-tree hazards for off-trail riding.
"It hasn’t been this good in 10 years," said Gary Neely, owner of Bucky’s Outdoors in Pinedale (www.BuckysOutdoors.com, 307-367-4561). He said anyplace up Horse Creek is good for boondocking off-trail now. The Upper Green snow depth is getting better, but he advises still watching for rocks and downed trees for any off-trail riding. "Avalanche danger is pretty high, so be careful," he added.
SNOW DEPTHS (SNOTEL REPORTS):
Blind Bull Snow Depth – Wyoming Range (Dec. 21-28): Decreased from 60" to 54"
Triple Peak Snow Depth – Wyoming Range (Dec. 21-28): Decreased from 57" to 54"
Snider Basin Snow Depth – Wyoming Range (Dec. 21-28): From 40" to 42" down to 37"
Kendall Ranger Station Snow Depth – Upper Green (Dec. 21-28): Decreased from 33" to 31"
New Fork Lake Snow Depth – Wind River Range (Dec. 21-27): Decreased from 29" to 26"
Big Sandy Opening Snow Depth – Southern Wind River Range (Dec. 21-28): 33" to 37" back down to 33"
TRAIL GROOMING REPORTS:
As of Monday, December 27, 2010.
Horse Creek: Grooming. 36" to 50" Off Trail Base. 1-4" new snow.
Big Piney/LaBarge: Grooming. 13" to 40" Off Trail Base. No new snow.
Continental Divide Trail:
South Pass to Irish Canyon to Pinedale to The Place: Not Groomed (The Place is closed, no services available)
Upper Green: Grooming. 20-36"
Gros Ventre: Limited Grooming. 12-24"
Granite Hot Springs: Limited Grooming. 20-50"
Dubois area: (Dec. 27 2010)—Use Caution on Union Pass Road. Logging contractor has plowed sections of the road in order to remove equipment for the winter.
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Food, gas, lodging, permits, repair services available in Pinedale. Food and gas available at Daniel Junction. The Place is closed in the Upper Green – no services available beyond US 191 junction on CDT. Food and gas services available in Big Piney, Marbleton, Boulder and Bondurant. Snowmobile trail maps available at the Bridger-Teton National Forest ranger station offices in Pinedale and Big Piney, the Sublette County Visitor Center in Pinedale, the Pinedale BLM Field Office.
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