December 7, 20204 Nordic Patrol Report

[Brian Carpenter]

First day of the 2024-25 season was wet but productive.

Light morning rain turned to snow by late morning and snow was sticking on the road down to Narada Falls.  Poles were set from Narada Falls to Reflection Lakes and from Paradise down to Canyon Wye. There is a small gap in the section between Paradise and Canyon Wye, below Devil's Dip, that needs poling as the group doing this part ran out.  Poles on the trail down from Inspiration Saddle to Reflection Lakes will need to be re-routed sometime soon as the current route does not follow the main trail part of the way. Pole sets (10-12 poles) were left at Inspiration Saddle and at Reflection Lakes.  Visibility was poor today what with the blowing snow and rain, so the Mazama poles remain to be done as well. 

Ed got out something called a "Sked" which is normally only used for recoveries, but turned out to be very handy (at least on flat areas) for hauling large quantities of poles.  Takes a bit getting used to and you have to take turns pulling, but myself, Martell and Ray all passed the updated Nordic Patrol "fitness challenge," pulling the sked up the trail to Inspiration Saddle with it loaded down with poles.  Mush!  

No real PSAR today as there was not much in the way of public out and about. Team 1 saw nobody else going out to Reflection Lakes and back.  Only a few cars in the lot at Paradise. 

Let it snow!

Brian Carpenter