North Slope Conditions

2010-04-27T21:00:00.002-07:00

I received a call today making it official that there will be no more trail grooming this season. The snow conditions were less than ideal for a good part of the season, but the trail groomers did us a great job of keeping the trails very usable. Thanks again guys!

2010-03-31T12:01:00.001-07:00

The Forest Service will continue to groom through the early to middle part  of April as long as conditions allow.  Currently the trail is holding up  fairly well, we did have some warm dry winds this week which resulted in  very soft trail conditions, but hopefully the forecasted snow for the  remainder of this week will improve and extend the skiing.  Thanks to  everyone for keeping the trails cleaned-up.  Have a great visit.

Ted

2010-03-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

I skied the Lily Lake Trail system the afternoon of 3/18. The trails had been
freshly groomed, but the afternoon snow had completely covered the tracks by the

time I left in the early evening.

Dean

2010-03-21T11:12:00.002-07:00

It was a magnificent day to be on the trails yesterday. The sun was brilliant, the temperatures warm, but no too warm, and the grooming was excellent. It may be the last week that they will be able to set tracks. The trails were pretty fast, but not icy - likely the last time we will be able to say that this season. Temperatures will be up quite a bit today, if the forecast is right.

What a great day.

2010-03-16T12:48:00.000-07:00

We went in late Friday night and came out Sunday morning. Snow conditions
were a little icy going in, but the storm Saturday and Sunday added a few
inches of fresh powder making our trip out a bit sticky. Deep tracks mark
the trail from Ridge Yurt to Boundary Creek Yurt as of Sunday, and I don't
think the storm would have covered them, but if the wind blows enough they
may be covered. The Boundary Creek Yurt is well stocked (including a dutch
oven!) and everything was in working order when we left it Sunday.

Enjoy,

Blake Emett

2010-03-14T12:06:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Went out East Fork Loop and then up and out via Bear Claw. Early spring conditions
with nicely groomed trails and some icy spots.

M MaGee

2010-03-11T09:46:00.001-07:00

This trail update is for the week of 3/8-14/10. Last weeks nice little
storm added about a foot of new snow to the area which has helped out the
conditions and we received another couple of inches on Tuesday of this
week. We will continue to groom as long as conditions allow, however this
time of year it becomes a little more difficult with the warmer
temperatures. Thanks to everyone for keeping the trails cleaned-up.

Ted

2010-03-08T15:18:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

Met up with the Kessenichs and Orton/Beattie to ski the Deadhorse trail system, up
out of Mountain View, on Saturday.  Sticky snow but it was a nice day to check out
new trails.

M MaGee

2010-03-08T15:17:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

Very mixed snow conditions for the trails today.  Sticky, slick and soft all within
the same stretch of trail.  Nevertheles we were glad to be out skiing.

M MaGee

2010-03-02T14:03:00.001-07:00

I stayed at the East Fork Yurt over the weekend....had a good time. Thank you for
your all your efforts.

FYI....the amount of usable wood in the pile is running out...it will probably be
gone by this weekend. The remaining wood, which is considerable, comes in lengths
that are about 3' long....too long for the stove. I don't think too many people are
going to be spending their days sawing wood with the bow saw. I tried it and gave up
after 15 minutes. I dug through the wood and found a few pieces that I could split
but they are few in number. It might be advisable to have someone snowmobile up
there with a chain saw and cut the pieces of wood in half so that they are usable.
Otherwise the propane will end up being used exclusively.

Thanks again,
Brad

2010-02-22T14:03:00.000-07:00

Moonlight Ski

The BRORA annual Moonlight ski is coming up this Saturday night (Feb 27, 2010). If you’d like to join us, come to the Warming Hut around 5:30-6:00 pm. Bring a can of soup to add to the Klondike Stew pot. BYOB. We’ll provide bowls, spoons, bread, and cocoa. See you there!

Mike

2010-02-22T14:02:00.001-07:00

As just about everyone already knows, BRORA threw a great progressive dinner party for the 25^th Anniversary. Everyone knows, because everyone was there! The turn-out was overwhelming. The last head count was 36, not including canine friends. Most of the local gang came and we had Utah folks show up from all along the Wasatch Front.

Thanks to Main Street Artisans (Linda, Eric and Rhonda especially), Rick Stevens, and Tom and Betsy Wagner for the taste delights. We started the day with quiches and muffins at the newly rebuilt Warming Hut. The Bear Claw Yurt tempted us all with pasta salads, jumbo shrimp, Deviled eggs, Swedish meatballs and cheesy rolls. Rick and sis-in-law Tina outdid themselves with Dutch oven pork tenderloin, savory salmon, rice dishes, veggies and rolls. Those of us who could still make it up the hill headed back to the Warming Hut and those famous Wagner crepes, and chocolate-raspberry cupcakes.

Thanks to the Joe Wright (for organizing), the USFS, the BRORA board, and everyone who helped make it a memorable day. Skiers, show-shoers, photographers, friendly folks all around; we enjoyed a day of giant snow flakes (Yes, even the weather was perfect!), beautifully groomed trails, fresh air, friends, and fun.

There’s a rumor that we might have to have a “2^nd Annual 25^th Anniversary.” It was that good!

Cami

2010-02-22T14:01:00.001-07:00

Happy Today. The x-c skiing was great this afternoon, if a bit chilly. The temp. stuck at 16* while we were out.

Cami

2010-02-18T11:43:00.002-07:00

Jeff sent a series of EXCELLENT photos of Saturdays 25th anniversary progressive dinner. I will get them onto the "new" website within the next day or two. Thank you very much Jeff.

On a related note, contrary to my assertions Saturday, I am eating again.

Tom

2010-02-18T11:40:00.002-07:00

All -

My wife and I had a great time on Saturday.  It was a lot of fun spending
time with your group.  As promised, here are a bunch of images from last
Saturday.  You are welcome to use them as you'd like though I would
appreciate a photo credit if you use them in any publications.  I have
high resolution files available if you need them.

Thanks!

2010-02-18T11:26:00.001-07:00

After last weeks series of small storms the trail conditions have
improved greatly.  We have about a 12-14" base and have been able
to get the snowcat out on all of the trails.  It's looking like
we may have a wet weekend and we will continue to keep up with
the snow as time and conditions allow.  Have a great visit.

2010-02-10T22:00:00.001-07:00

Greetings-
We recently returned from a nice weekend at the Ridge Yurt, which was graciously donated to the Cache Valley Nordic United fundraiser and won by us. Snow conditions were low, but we had a nice tour and some turns out the front door.
A few issues: The wood rick is practically empty - some wood inside, split and ready. Little TP. No white gas for secondary lantern. Large stock pot has large crack in bottom (unusable for snowmelt), medium pot on the way out. Not sure if you support them, but bleach and a drying rack could be nice.
Thanks for the access and yurt!
Cheers, Alex

2010-02-03T12:10:00.001-07:00

Sorry about the typo. Yes That's what I meant- 01/28.I can't wait to go
back. Keep me advised on volunteer days so I can put in a leave request.
Thanks.

2010-02-02T11:29:00.001-07:00

My wife and I stayed at the East Fork Yurt Thursday 10/28. The yurt is in
good shape. One of the bench seats has a bolt coming out of it so it's a bit
wobbly. The snow level is quite low at the moment, and the avalanche
conditions above Deadmans Traverse are considerable. The trail was groomed
by the time we skied in the morning and was our best day yet in the
backcountry. Thank you for the opportunity to use the yurt, and ski the
incredible terrain out here. - Dave & Pat

New website

2010-02-01T11:39:00.001-07:00

Doug has the new website up. There is some work to do on it, but if you would, please take a look and leave comments.
The ULR is www.brorayurts.org.

Tom

Perfect Day

2010-02-01T11:36:00.001-07:00

We went for a run Saturday (1/30) and found the best conditions of the year. We took the East Fork loop using the Canal trail cut across and it was delightful. The grooming in the East Fork chute was the best I think we have ever seen there - cool. I hope you didn't miss it.

We did note the Kessenich's comment in the log at the trail head. They had been out for that exceptional full moon, Friday night. Spectacular, they said. Although we did not get to see it as a moon light ski, it was pretty darn good from the back deck in Evanston.

Tom

2010-01-24T21:59:00.002-07:00

We went out for a loop up Sage Draw and down Bear Claw trails. The trails have not been groomed since the last snow fall of ~ 4 inches. So, the trails were softer and slower than last week, but it was a beautiful run. The snow helped, but more would be better.

2010-01-23T20:59:00.001-07:00

Skied out from E. Fork Yurt this morning. We had 3 new inches or so today
and thought the skiing we did was great. We are not super experienced but
didn't have much ice and skied with our 4 and 6 year old and loved it.

Although we did have storms we had great sunshine other times as well. Is the trail head always just crazy windy?

Jim and Marie

2010-01-21T10:20:00.002-07:00

At the board meeting last night, it was decided that, in view of the lack of snow in town, the learn to ski day will need to be canceled. If we get some sufficient snow soon, we will see if we can reschedule.

2010-01-21T09:48:00.002-07:00

I received an interesting email this morning. Most of us have used the SnoTel data for our own purposes - to see what the weather is like before we set out for an outing on the North Slope of the Uintas. I guess I had not spent much time pondering what happens to all that data. Mary Ann Wilson sent a link to the data accumulation, integration and interpretation of the raw data from the Lily Lake SnoTel. It also includes the historical data, which is available for download. This is some fascinating stuff. Ya gotta love the internet!

http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/snotel.pl?sitenum=579

Mary Ann also includes the location of the data for the Burton Miller Ranch Snotel just north of the Lily Lake unit

http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/snotel.pl?sitenum=1135

and the Hayden Fork Snotel, southwest of Lily Lake
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/snotel.pl?sitenum=517

Thanks Mary Ann. We will add those links to the new site when it is up an running.

Tom

2010-01-21T09:29:00.001-07:00

While our neighbors to the south have been doing quite well with regards
to receiving snow we are only getting meager amounts. The last couple of
storms have only left us with about 4" and a lot of that has been
blown-off the hard trail. We are pretty limited in our grooming options
right now, but we will try to freshen-up the trail for the weekend and
hope for more snow. Despite the thin conditions the skiing is not too
bad, but do watch for trail hazards. Enjoy your visit.

2010-01-17T19:31:00.003-07:00

For those of you who were not on the Lily Lake trails today, you really should give yourself a good slap! Especially if you were in that inversion that I encountered when I went down to the Wasatch Front last week.

When we looked at the Lily Lake snow-tel temperature chart before going up, we were sure it would be pretty ugly. The temperatures have been up to the mid 40s several days this week. But, it was another perfect day to be on the trails. The trails are hard packed and fast but in good shape. There has been some thinning of the base and there are a few more rocks showing up. Be sure to keep a close eye out for them.

2010-01-10T19:53:00.003-07:00

It was a spectacular day to be skiing the Lily Lake trails. The temperatures were mild, the sun was brilliant, the trails were in excellent shape and I am at a loss to think how it could have been better. We took the East Fork loop, including the East Fork chute. The chute itself was a little ragged. There were some holes in the packing and there were clearly some troubles with the grooming. Both of us took pretty good spills.

Overall, the base is still a little thin, with a few rocks showing through. The tracks were in good shape and the trail surface was hard and fast. A bit more snow would be a big plus, but in the meantime get out there.

Tom

2010-01-06T15:15:00.000-07:00

This trail update is for the week of 1/4-10/10.  The trail conditions are
not too bad considering the lack of snow.  There are still many rocks and
other obstacles in the trail, but we are still able to groom without much
problem.  We currently have about a 14-16" base with a few new inches over
the last couple of days.  For those users who are walking and snowshoeing,
please avoid walking on the set tracks that are provided for the skiers.
Have a safe visit.

Forest Service

2010-01-05T08:57:00.000-07:00

Am late in reporting that the trails were good on Thursday and even better on
Saturday due to their being packed and or groomed. Thanks Ted and Justin! Sunny
weather and just fun skiing! M MaGee

2010-01-05T08:54:00.001-07:00

>Hello!
>
>I have a question for your group. Who is the manufacturer of your yurts?

The yurt kits used in the Lily Lake Nordic trail system were made by Pacific Yurts - www.yurts.com

2010-01-03T18:02:00.003-07:00

We returned last night from a grand welcoming in the new year at Bear Claw Yurt. As we went in, the trails were in fair shape. But, by the time we were settled, fed and ready for the midnight ski, the trails (at least Sage Draw) had been re-groomed. Talk about service! The moon broke through the clouds enough to confirm the wisdom of our chosen venue for greeting the new year - of course, the champagne contributed to that, too.

By the time we were ready to return to reality Saturday afternoon, the trails had been groomed again for the weekend visitors. Thanks for all your work Ted and Justin.

There were a few problems at the BC yurt. 1) A little after sunset each day, there was a strong downdraft that wreaks havoc with the draw on the stove - that blew a lot of smoke into the yurt. There needs to be an extension on the chimney. Perhaps we need to have a work day soon to get that done. 2) The propane heater would not light. Since we really didn't feel the necessity of using it, I did not try to identify the problem. 3) The clean snow storage area is way too small this year. We need to get that expanded if possible. Since we had plenty of new snow and it was a small group, it was not a problem for us. Larger groups and older snow would be a problem.

The trails are in good shape and it should be a HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Tom

2009-12-30T14:44:00.001-07:00

We just wanted to thank you for providing the Yurts for our enjoyment.  Our
family had a great experience spending Christmas Eve at the East Fork Yurt.
We did want to notify you of a couple things.  The Carbon Monoxide detector
alarmed a couple of times.  We turned off the propane heater and things were
fine.  You may want to have the heater checked.

Also, the pre-cut wood is great ( I sure would not want to cut/chop it
all!).  Most of the wood lengths cut were a few inches longer than would fit
it the stove.    Maybe just a few inches shorter for next year.

Again, thanks so much for all the hard work and effort of maintaining the
Yurt's and trails.  Our family has enjoyed skiing the trails and staying in
the Yurts for years.  Keep up the great work!

Thanks,

The Pehrson Family.



p.s. The trails were in great shape this early in the season.

2009-12-30T14:29:00.001-07:00

BRORA is celebrating 25 years of Nordic ski trail grooming. Come join us for a day of skiing eating and camaraderie.

Progressive dinner, cost $10. RSVP to P.O.B. 2600 by Jan. 31^st . Please indicate extent of participation . ( all day, Just hors d’oeuvres, etc.) Please feel free to join in and leave at your convenience. The cost remains the same. Kids 12 and under free.

Agenda

10:00am. Warming hut coffee, juice, hot chocolate, pastries, breakfast goodies, etc.

Ski

12:00-1:00 Warming hut- hors d’oeuvres

1:00-1:45 Ski

1:45-2:45 Bear Claw Yurt- first course

2:45-3:30 Ski

3:30-4:30 East Fork Yurt-second course

4:30-5:15 Ski

5:15- Warming hut- desert

5:55 Sunset

Joe

2009-12-25T22:06:00.002-07:00

I have not gotten a trail update from Ted this week, due to the holiday schedule. But, I received a call from Eric Heltzel saying that he skied on the Wolverine Trail above Ridge yurt Thursday. The snow and conditions were excellent throughout. The grooming is good for early season - tracks not set yet. It is clear to me that the Lily Lake Nordic Ski trails are the place to be this weekend.

2009-12-22T11:47:00.001-07:00

Sorry, I'm a little slow in reporting. I stayed in the yurt the evening of December 12th when we received some much needed snowfall. It appeared the white gas lantern and stove were out of fuel with no extra at the yurt. No paper towels or TP or fire-starter paper. I'm wondering if these were all used for fire-starter. I managed to finely chop enough kindling to get a fire going. The chimney luckily drafted well enough to where I didn't need paper to get the smoke going up, just keep the doors mostly closed.  The propane lantern glass was gone and mantles pretty worn.  My previous experience with wood stoves like these was that they work much better with a minimum layer of ashes - maybe 1". The practice to clean out completely, sets it up for poor start-up for the next occupant. Then it just gets enough ashes to work well after about a days use. Is this really the intent?  Has there been any consideration to putting in another double bunk to replace one of the singles (recommended, if not on the list)? Do you still try to set-up a fenced-off clean snow area or was I just too early in the snow fall season? The Rendezvous yurts in the Tetons provide clean 5 gal plastic buckets for snow collection, then a stainless steel melting tank. Would a nicer set-up wander off?  Is there a way to find out yurt condition prior to travel. I would be willing to help pack in a few extra items, just need to make proper contact plan ahead. Thanks, Steven

2009-12-21T11:28:00.001-07:00

WOW, what a storm for the north slope, at the trailhead we received
upwards of 12-14" and in the higher elevations over 2' of fresh snow.
Actually, it is too much too fast, we went from no snow to looking like
mid-winter conditions in two days.  That means it takes twice as long to
groom the trails, we are having to make a couple of passes just to pack in
the new snow  before we can try and set track.  The conditions right now
are okay, believe it or not there are still rocks showing and we
anticipate having some track set for the weekend.  Be safe and have fun.

Attachments:

2009-12-16T22:17:00.003-07:00

Great news at the BRORA board meeting this evening. Ted missed the meeting because he was up grooming the trail. Of course, it is going to take a while before the trails are in top shape, but this weekend may a good time to start getting tuned up.

2009-12-09T12:10:00.000-07:00

A quick trail update for the Lily Lake Cross-Country Ski Area.  We are
still waiting for more snow to begin grooming, currently we have a
combination of dirt and snow with many areas of the trail having no snow.
Here are a few early season reminders to help you enjoy the forest.

               _  The trailhead and ski area are both part of the
National Recreation Enhancement Area and require a parking pass.  Passes
are available at the trailhead and Bear River Lodge located
                    at the forest boundary on Highway 150.
               _   If you are planning to be on the forest over weekends,
please try and park as close to other vehicles as possible, this will
allow others more room and help our folks who plow the area.
               _   While out on the trail, please be mindful of other
trail users.  Visitors who are traveling to Yurts and pulling sleds,
please do not ski or snowshoe over the prepared ski tracks and pets  
should be kept under control along with picking up after them.
               _   Watch for grooming equipment and be alert for trail
obstacles.


               Have a great and safe visit.

2009-12-04T21:58:00.000-07:00

25 Years of Nordic Grooming on the North Slope of the Uinta Mountains

The evolution of ski opportunities on the Uinta North Slope is something the original Lily Lake Nordic Ski Association couldn’t have envisioned. Originally we struggled to groom 6km of track for diagonal stride skiing. Now grooming has increased to close to 20km, groomed for skating and diagonal stride skiing. In the early years, our warming hut was a tipi. Now we have a log structure with a wood burning stove. Winter camping was, well, winter camping. Currently, we have five yurts which furnished over 3,000 user days of forest use.

How has this come about? Over the years, first Lily Lake Nordic Ski Association and then BRORA were fortunate to have board members with vision. That vision would have accomplished very little without the help of our partners: United States Forest Service, City of Evanston Parks and Recreation, Wyoming State Parks, Utah State Parks, and our many volunteers who have given countless hours to build and maintain our trail system.

We’ve seen the first 25 years. Won’t the next 25 years be interesting! These will soon be “The Good Old Days.”

Mike Kessenich

2009-10-18T09:28:00.002-07:00

Don't forget that the early reservations periods for those who have the necessary work credits opens tomorrow (10/19) at 8 AM. Leave a message at the Evanston Parks and Recreation office at (307)7891770. Marilee will return those calls in chronological order of when the messages are received.

2009-09-09T15:57:00.002-07:00

I neglected to get this photo of the results of the June work day posted. This is the new warming hut that was built to replace the one that was destroyed two years ago. I would speculate that if this structure were the one the vandels rammed, their pickups would have suffered more than the hut. A pit toilet has been added near the warming hut, too.

2009-07-21T09:32:00.001-07:00

We spent the night of 18 July 2009 at the East Fork Yurt. We found the yurt to be clean and everything was in working order. We did not feel the need to use the wood stove, but wondered if the flue was really functional...
We did find one disappointing thing: The entire area surrounding the yurt was thrashed by sheep. We were prepared for ATVs, of course, but didn't expect to have to deal with livestock...
This was our first experience yurting in the summer. We are well acquainted with having to melt snow for water in the winter, and knew we could filter water from the East Fork of the Bear River. But your website does not fully address water supply at the other yurts during the summer...
In betterment!
Martin Neunzert

2009-07-21T09:11:00.000-07:00

Went up the Tie-Hack trail for a hike. Hot but still pleasant. Herd of sheep with
lambs were at the top. Wasn't too sure where the non-motorized trails at the top
lead to so will have to check that out another day. Took 60 minutes up and 60
minutes back down. Nice outing.
M MaGee

2009-05-03T21:12:00.003-07:00

BRORA Notes

Warming Hut logs are waiting to be peeled. They are located on
Kessenich’s property, 7.7 miles south of Evanston on highway 150. Pull
into the Bear River City historical marker pull-out. The logs are on a
trailer. Draw knives, a hammer, and chisels are on site. (Bring your own
gloves.) Please keep the gates closed.
Please sign in and give time and number of logs peeled. The time you
spend counts toward early yurt rental sign-up and/or a parking pass.
As of 4-26-09: 2 logs peeled 58 to go!

Safe peeling,
Mike Kessenich

2009-04-15T09:44:00.005-07:00

Hiked in to East Fork Yurt Saturday & then back out Sunday afternoon. Trail looks great. It snowed about 6 inches Saturday night, to make for a beautiful hike out on Easter Sunday. The yurt was clean and taken care of; however, there are no more matches, so we left a couple half-full lighters. And all the cast iron in the hut has been scoured, cleaned, and seasoned! Thanks for a great weekend!

Rob, Mindy, & LC, a.k.a. The Dummer-Partridge Co-op

2009-04-07T09:54:00.002-07:00

We went out again on Sunday. East Fork was plowed about 1/2 way out to the picnic table. Lots of traffic coming out day but nice warm weather. Trail very used due to traffic.

M MaGee

2009-04-06T08:57:00.004-07:00

We were out Saturday on Sage Draw up to the top. There was lots of new snow, limited grooming, but lots of opportunities to make your own trail, as of early afternoon. Ostler and Bear Claw were not open but the sun was out and the temperature was nice.

M MaGee

2009-03-25T09:49:00.002-07:00

We were out skiing on Sunday 3/22. Spring like conditions but better than we'd anticipated. We actually got a decent workout. There are rocks showing and you had to walk down to and across the bridge but it was decent for the last ski of the season.

Margaret

2009-03-15T21:13:00.002-07:00

Betsy and I went out Sunday (3/15) and conditions were excellent. The weather was perfect, the trails were well groomed and traffic was light. The days have been getting warm enough that on some of the south facing runs (think Bear Claw) it is getting a little icy in the late afternoon. But, in general the trails are superb.

Tom

2009-03-15T21:11:00.000-07:00

Members , As of Friday 03/13/09 there is still 10 to 18 inches of snow on
the groomed areas from the Trailhead Parking through N and O. The return on
the Bear Claw Trail was icy in spots on the downhill. -Dave

2009-03-08T19:56:00.002-07:00

The moonlight ski last night was spectacular. The turn out was light, but the moon, the condition of the trails and the caliber of the tales (maybe not) made it a fun night.

You really want to get on the trails while they are in such good conditions.

Just for the record, to no-ones surpise, I went for a walk at the Purple Sage Nordic center. There is nothing left of the ski trails. It was a short season there this year.

Tom

2009-03-03T10:44:00.002-07:00

According to Mike Kessinich, the trail conditions as Lily Lake have been quite good. It has been warmer than would be ideal, but the trails are holding up well. There should be a little snow later in the week to maintain and improve conditions. It should be a perfect weekend for a ski outing.

The BRORA moonlight ski is scheduled for Saturday, March 7. East Fork Yurt has been reserved for the purpose. There will be a "hobo stew" dinner. Everyone should bring a can of soup to be added to the pot. The fire goes under the pot at 7:30 PM. There will be a progressive geo-cache laid out within the Lily Lake trail system. You will receive your first set of coordinates at the yurt. That location will reveal the coordinates for the next location, etc. etc. It should be fun entertainment, in addition to the tale telling, sledding, etc. that normally go on at these events. Moonlight skiers who would like to spend the night at the yurt are welcome to bring along a sleeping bag and do so. Come on out. It will be a fun evening!

Tom

2009-02-25T15:59:00.001-07:00

Went out East Fork loop and back about 10am and the tracks were slicks almost all
the way out to EF so the middle of the trail was a perfect place.  There wasn't much
sun but it was a comfortable temperature. Nice day out.  Margaret

2009-02-17T16:15:00.001-07:00

Today was a very good day for skiing in the Uintas.  New snow on the trails was nice
for grip, weather was fabulous and I didn't see anyone after the Sage Draw picnic
table.  Great trip out and back.  Margaret

2009-02-11T12:01:00.000-07:00

Trails on Sunday were very good.  The new snow gave some grip and the trails had
been groomed on Thurs/Fri. 
Well worth the trip.
Margaret

2009-02-11T08:58:00.001-07:00

We picked-up about 6-8" new snow over the last 48 hours and we are starting to do some mid-week grooming today in anticipation of a busy holiday weekend and expecting more snow the next several days. On a side note, for those folks who want some practice with their avalanche beacons we should have the rescue training area set-up this afternoon in the parking lot near the fee tube. Thanks-Ted.

2009-02-07T21:08:00.001-07:00

The Lily Lake trails were in great shape today. All were groomed Thursday and the temperature, wind and sun were just right to make for a great outing.

Tom

2009-02-07T11:03:00.002-07:00

The grooming and conditions are EXCELLENT at the Lily Lake trails. Hope to see you up there this weekend.

2009-02-03T08:47:00.001-07:00

Sorry I did not give you a grooming update last week, we did get through
all the trail system with the snowcat and the ski conditions were quite
good over the weekend with lots of folks out. Our plans for this week
are to try and freshen up things mid-week and see what this small storm does
near the weekend. Justin also groomed into the Ridge Yurt recently and it's in good shape for those going that direction. Thanks -Ted.

2009-02-02T20:24:00.003-07:00

We went to the Purple Sage course today. The conditions really were not good. It has been too warm, windy and dry to groom or anything else. But, we were able to find a way to stay on snow for a good work out.

Betsy

2009-02-01T21:36:00.003-07:00

Sunday was a spectacular day to be on the trails at Lily Lake. The weather was perfect and the trails were in good shape. There has been some traffic on the main trails to and including Sage Draw, but a lot of the system was in pristine shape. We did the Bear Claw loop from near the yurt down the west side and it was as good as it gets. Great fun. Don't miss this.

Tom

2009-01-30T18:06:00.000-07:00

We went out last night between 4:30 and 5:30.  Initially is was cold but the wind
dieddown and it was decent. snow was deep in some places and sparse in others.  Both
of us thought it was worth the trip and there should be a decent trail on the1st
nine (is that that the golf term) if no one walked on it. 

Walt said Lily Lake trails were great yesterday.  Soft fluffy snow, not set yet but
people have started a trail.

Margaret MaGee

2009-01-18T22:12:00.000-07:00

Skied out the East Fork trail today with the great weather today. The trail and tracks were good through the Sage Draw split. The trail the rest of the way was well used and we saw more people than usual. Only saw one rock so it was well worth the trip out!

M MaGee

2009-01-12T09:23:00.001-07:00

A quick grooming update, as of Saturday morning all trails were packed and tracks set. Friday's storm gave us about 10" at the parking lot so the skiing should be pretty good. Thanks-Ted.

2009-01-10T18:21:00.003-07:00

Conditions were much improved at Purple Sage today. Of course, the trails have not been groomed since last Friday, but it was much less windy and we were able to ski pretty well on the old trail. We aren't talking prime stuff here, but a very nice work out in reasonable conditions.

2009-01-09T19:26:00.003-07:00

We went out to Purple Sage Nordic Center with the hope of getting a ski in, but it really wasn't possible today. There is too little snow for them to groom and the wind damage has pretty much destroyed what was there last week. We need snow!

2009-01-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

Saturday Jan 3 we had about 10" new snow at the parking lot. We set track part way out the East Fork and up Sage Draw. Conditions are looking good and skiing is quite nice.

Ted

2009-01-03T16:58:00.003-07:00

We took a turn around the trail at Purple Sage Nordic Center this afternoon. Conditions were excellent. The snow is thin enough that they were not able to set tracks over a lot of the trail, but there is a good solid corduroy trail all the way around all three loops. Very little traffic on it yet.

2009-01-03T14:06:00.002-07:00

It's a few days out of date, but on Thursday, Jan 1 we began setting
tracks out the East Fork and up Sage Draw. The interior loops have still
not been packed with the snowcat. Skiing conditions are slowly
improving, but more snow is much needed and hazards still exists out there.

Thanks-Ted.

2009-01-01T20:13:00.003-07:00

I finally got out to the Lily Lake trail system today. What a great way to start the new year. The trails are in better shape than I had been lead to believe. The trail is packed and tracks set in the outer perimeter trails. I am not sure about the trail beyond East Fork Yurt - I didn't go that way. Most of the interior loops have been rolled (not all) and are building a good base.

Although the trails may not be up to our normal standards for this time of the year, they are well beyond servicable. There was not much evidence of a lot of traffic today. Be sure to get out there this weekend.

Tom

2008-12-29T16:44:00.001-07:00

Trail preparation update

First trip out with the snowcat today, just some early packing, no
tracks set yet, but hope to get things going soon. The coverage is not
bad, just the bigger rocks lurking. Have a great holiday

Ted

2008-12-28T17:12:00.004-07:00

I have not been able to make it up to the Lily Lake ski trails since the snows finally started in ernest. I did get out to the Purple Sage Nordic Center this afternoon. The trails are in surprisingly good conditions given what the groomer has to work with. There is a lot of wind damage and the golf course has a lot of bare ground showing. But, the groomer has been able to set a continuous track in three loops. We had a pretty agreeable work out.

The city has opened the pond at the BEAR Pavilion to skating. When I drove by there today there were several groups taking advantage of the good ice. You may want to go join them. It looks like fun.

I also drove by, but did not use, the ski tracks at the Bear River State Park. What I could see looked to be in better condition than the tracks at Purple Sage. I plan to give it a try tomorrow. You may want to, too.

Tom

2008-12-01T13:26:00.001-07:00

We enjoyed Thanksgiving 2008 at the East Fork Yurt. The weather was beautiful. We hiked in on foot as there was no snow at the trailhead. There were sections with ice on the trail, but at least it wasn't verymuddy. It would be muddier if it was any warmer. We filtered water from the river which had lots of ice on it... beautiful! Now just waiting for some snow so we can return on skis!

Blake Emett

2008-04-26T16:10:00.000-07:00

Despite a return to winter yesterday, we have finished grooming for the
season. The skiing conditions remain very good with plenty of snow and a
great time to be in the mountains for a few hours. We hope everyone
enjoyed the abundant snow this season and look forward to next year. Have
a safe summer.

Ted

2008-04-18T09:47:00.000-07:00

What a great spring it has been for skiing and grooming.  The trails will
be groomed for the weekend and this might be our last normal grooming
operation.  We will likely continue to maintain the trail system on a
intermittent basis as conditions allow.  It's a perfect time to ski in the
morning and get a bike ride in the afternoon.  Have a safe visit.

Ted

2008-04-16T10:05:00.000-07:00

Dear BRORA,

I visited the Lily Lake trails for the first time last weekend. Beautiful! I cannot believe I have not made the short drive from Salt Lake before.

I hope that you keep the grooming up a couple more times this year, but regardless I will be visiting often in the 2008-09 season.

Thanks for all your work!

2008-04-11T18:19:00.000-07:00

Winter just keeps visiting the north slope, we have received about 8" of
new snow with this last storm.  All of the trails have been groomed as of
Thursday evening.  This might be our last week of grooming if the
temperatures warm up too fast.  Even though the grooming might end there is
still plenty of great skiing out there and this might be the best time to
do some off trail exploring.    We will update the website as conditions
change.  Have a safe visit.

Ted

2008-04-07T13:43:00.000-07:00

Good skiing today.  It was a little sloggy before East Fork until down in
the bottom but great in the rest of the way and back out to Sage Draw and
Bear Claw Loop.  A group of walkers/snowboarders trashed the trail.  Too bad
they couldn't stay more towards one side of the trail!  There were several
snowmobile tracks within the non-motorized area from the trailhead all the
way to the top of Sage Draw where they just went over the top of the fence.
They entered by going over the fence at the trailhead, passing right next to
the sign indicating a non-motorized area.  I'll be reporting in to USFS
tomorrow to see what they can do.  Margaret

2008-04-04T10:19:00.001-07:00

The Lily Lake trail system continues to have good snow conditions, with
spring like skiing.  Due to the warm temperatures our grooming program is
very limited and not all trails are being groomed on a regular basis.  We
anticipate grooming as long as snow and weather allow.  It is a great time
to do some off trail exploring and see more of the forest.  Have a safe
visit.

Ted

2008-04-02T21:09:00.002-07:00

I have gotten the new map of the trail system up. Please click on "Maps" and take a look. I am seeking input on the resolution that I used. Of course, there is a trade off in the resolution and speed of download. Is the page loading too slowly to be usable? Or, is it too course a resolution to be read?

The other issue is the printable map. It is 3 megs, so it is very slow loading. But, since you would use this infrequently, that may not be a problem. It prints out a fairly readable map on my printer.

I find the artists rending helpful in understanding the map. But, if I removed it the page would load faster.

We are aware of the problem with the GPS coordinates for the Boundary Creek yurt and will get it fixed.

Tom

2008-03-28T13:24:00.000-07:00

The snow conditions continue to hold up and the few new inches we receive
with each little storm helps to freshen things up.  The trail conditions
are definitely spring like with hard frozen tracks in the morning and wet
slushy snow with the day time heating.   We will continue grooming as long
as snow conditions hold up.  Have a safe visit.

Ted

2008-03-20T10:55:00.001-07:00

As of Thursday evening all trails will have been groomed for the upcoming
weekend.  It's that time of year where timing is everything, if you are
skiing first thing in the morning you will find hard fast conditions, but
with the afternoon heating the snow softens up nicely. We are not
anticipating grooming again this week unless the storm slated to affect the
area puts down more than several inches.  Right now is a great time to do
some off trail exploring, with a mostly supportable base it's fun to poke
around in some places that are not feasible early season.  Be safe and
enjoy your visit.

Ted

2008-03-10T18:18:00.000-07:00

Uintas was fabulous today.  Went out East Fork Trail and back and then up
Sage Draw and out.  Beautiful warm weather with about 4 new inches of snow
probably from Saturday.   Mike and Cami were out ahead of me so I didn't
break trail all the way.  Great ski!

Also, John Kelly said the golf course was nice this morning. 

Margaret MaGee

2008-03-06T10:52:00.001-07:00

All trails are groomed as of late Thursday, March 6.  We have received
about 8" of new snow since Saturday.  The skiing conditions are quite good
for both traditional and skating.  Enjoy your visit.

Ted

2008-02-28T18:13:00.001-07:00

With a touch of spring in the air it's still winter on the forest.  The
trail conditions are holding up quite well even with warm temperatures.
All of the trails have been groomed within the last 48hrs and are set to go
for the weekend.  Please follow good trail etiquette and respect all users.
On Saturday March 1,  there will be a scout biathlon taking place on the
trail system, this approved event will involve supervised shooting.  Signs
will be posted.   Enjoy your visit.

Ted

2008-02-21T14:46:00.001-07:00

The trail conditions remain quite good with a light dusting of new snow
over night.  The tracks are holding up fairly well and will re-set and
freshen areas as need be prior to the weekend.  We are anticipating new
snow over the next few days and will groom as conditions change.  Have a
great visit.

Ted

2008-02-21T14:44:00.000-07:00

Went skiing out to the Uintas on Sunday.  Slow going in to Ear Fork trail but it was
perfect coming out. Took the first left by the picnic table and finished up via Bear
Claw and Osetler loops.  Great ski out and perfectly warm weather.  Unfortunately,
there were two sets of snowmachine tracks from about the septic ponds down to the
warming hut/Oestler junctions.  There was also a snowmachine track by the bridge
coming up the hill to the trailhead signage.  Will call Ted and Rick to let them
know.

Went out the golf course on Monday, great snow and weather despite the grass showing
through in some places.  Went to the state park after that which was okay, but I'd
probably go back to the golf course if I had the chance.

Margaret

2008-02-17T20:45:00.002-07:00

The trail and weather conditions at the Lily Lake Nordic Center were about as good as it can get today. There was no wind damage since the Friday grooming and the long overdue sunshine made for a perfect outing. After considerable thought, we agreed that the only way to improve on the conditions was if the purple sage lounge had been open for an apre' ski round. Give it a try!

Tom

2008-02-17T20:43:00.000-07:00

After digging out from two days of very strong winds, the ski conditions
should be pretty good right now.  Some trails might be a little soft and
others may have a few wind drifts, but it should be a great time to come
out and enjoy the snow.  If we have a normal spring melt, we should be able
to continue grooming into March.

Ted

2008-02-13T11:49:00.002-07:00

The snow has been dry enough and the temperature has been cold enough that the trails are not real fast. But, all of the town trails should be getting a good work out.

They are doing a great job of grooming at the State Park. Last weekend we made the loop up Huffnpuff and back to the travel center. The tracks were good and there was very little wind damage.

The Nordic Center trails are good, but they are subject to wind damage. But, they are certainly worth the trip.

Tom

2008-01-16T15:46:00.000-07:00

The snow we have been desperately waiting for arrived over the past couple
of weeks, putting down about two feet of fresh snow over the trail system.
We have been trying to get everything packed in and tracks set, but we've
had some equipment set backs and hope to have things up and running soon.
The skiing conditions are about as good as they get and hopefully we can
stay in the storm track the remainder of the winter.

Ted (USFS)

2008-01-16T11:54:00.000-07:00

We have been using the trails at the Purple Sage Nordic Center pretty regularly. The conditions have been great. The tracks are nicely set and there has been quite a bit of usage. Come out an join the fun.

We have not had a post from Ted in a while, but several people have told me that the trails are in good condition.

2008-01-02T16:53:00.000-07:00

The series of holiday storms allowed us to begin grooming and we even
ventured out with the snowcat. We have packed and set tracks on most of
the trail system and hope to finish the smaller loops before the next storm
comes our way. Still expect to find some of the bigger rocks and the
approaches to the bridge are still very thin.

Ted

2007-12-26T22:55:00.000-07:00

The good news is that the trails at the Purple Sage Nordic Center have been groomed. Margaret and Betsy both report that the tracks and the snow were excellent.

2007-12-19T15:58:00.001-07:00

We are still waiting for snow to begin grooming, currently there is about
5-6" of snow in the parking lot.  There are sections of the trail that are
skiable, but if you have old skis or snowshoes that would be a good choice.
We can do some rolling and packing with a snow mobile if we get a little
more snow, but we need at least 18" of compacted snow before we can groom
with the snow cat.

Ted

2007-12-10T12:06:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, this last storm did not favor the north slope trail head.
As of Saturday morning we had only received about 3-4" of new snow in the
parking lot and we are still lacking enough snow to begin our grooming
program.  The trail conditions are still very thin with lots of rocks just
underneath the little bit of snow that's out there.  We are hopeful next
weekends storm will bring more snow to the Lily Lake area.  More snow and
weather conditions are available by calling our office at 307-789-3194,
Monday-Friday 7:45-4:30.

Ted (USFS)

2007-10-03T15:31:00.000-07:00

Upcoming events:
Last scheduled Work Party October 20th. We will meet at the Trail head Parking lot at 10 am.

BRORA will have its General Meeting at the Bear River Pavilion November 14th at 6pm

BRORA Ski Swap November 17th at the Beeman Cashin Building in Depot square. If you have winter equipment you no longer need bring it in to sale or trade for other items.

BRORA News
BRORA has replaced the door and skin on the East Fork Yurt and replaced the skin on the Lily Lake Yurt,

Replaced the skylight on the Bear Claw Yurt along with other projects.

BRORA has purchased a trail groomer. It should arrive in Early December.

Winter Yurt reservation can be made starting Oct 29th

Jim

2007-09-11T15:04:00.000-07:00

Tasks to be completed before the end of the work season.

East Fork (Toilet seat) Stack fire wood, Replaced door and skin during Aug work day.

Bear Claw (Cracked Dome)(Toilet seat) (Add steps) Apply stain to wood. Replace picnic table Stack firewood Add large propane tank

Lily Lake (Replace outhouse) (Replace outer skin) Apply stain to wood Stack firewood Needs a new broom

Ridge Stack firewood

Boundary Creek (Install braces & Haul out equipment) Firewood

Warming hut. Tin is gone. There is still a stack of wood

All picnic tables need to be painted

I received a list of items from the July workday needed in the Yurts.

These items have been purchased and delivered to the yurts.

2007-03-22T21:51:00.000-07:00

Instead of a business meeting in April we have planned on Kathy Bella presenting a slide show on her trip to New Zealand. We had planned on the 11th, but due to the guest speaker having problems with that date we will have the meeting on the 18th of April at 6 pm.

The location is not yet finallized. We will let you know when that is confirmed.

These are the dates for BRORA Work days.

June 10 (River Fest)
June 16 (Yurt work day)
July 14 (Yurt Work day)
August 11 (Yurt work day)
Sept 15 (Yurt work day)
Oct 20 (Yurt work day)

The board has approved replacing the outer skin and the door on the East Fork Yurt.

Also we will replace the outer skin on the Lily Lake Yurt.

The Bear Claw will recieve a new dome to replace the broken one.

We still have to clean up the Warming hut mess. The board has not yet decided weather to rebuild the warming hut or give up on that location. The forest service from the Ogden district has offered Rick a couple of unused yurts. It may be possible to place one at the Warming Hut. The fear of more vandalism is a big worry at that location.

All that along with our regular cleaning and maintanace We will need all the help we can get this summer

Jim