The First Pond Hockey Session of the Year
OT – Natural Surroundings Thursday, November 18th, 2010by Mammoth Flyer, PhilaPhans’ Outdoor Living Correspondent
After checking ice conditions for the last three weeks we were finally rewarded . Since the search began I have hiked over forty miles, cross country skied, don’t tell my snowmobile friends, and driven well over a hundred miles.
We recently had snow just after a long warm spell so I knew the ice would be happening very soon. After the storm it got really cold but also closed all the access roads that were stuffed with 12 to 18 inches of snow. The snowshoes came out of the closet and I was walking if I had to. With lows in the teens for three straight nights, I know there is ice out there somewhere. The only problem was on that third night another small system came through dropping 2 to 4 inches of snow. This would inevitably ruin whatever ice had formed. None the less I was still going on the hunt.
For a few days I searced the local, lower lakes and had no luck. As the temps rose a bit and I took a break from skiing, the resort opened last Thursday, I began to start gaining elevation to check out the high alpine lakes. Anything that froze after the first storm was doomed by the second storm. Fortunately the second system came in with lots of wind and broke up the lakes that had thin ice. The temperature in town was in the mid fifities during the day but was dropping into the twenties at night. Last Saturday I grabbed some cross country skis and headed into the high country. This was my first time on the skis and let me tell you, it’s a lot harder than it looks. It is also pretty damn fun, great exercise, and an easy mode of travel across snow covered terrain. An hour of skiing eventually led me into the Lakes Basin to find all the big lakes still open water and the smaller lakes either too thin or affected by snow.
The search for ice was really getting me down. Usually there is a lake frozen by the beginning of November but this early storm really limited access. Then it happened. Tuesday night at work I got a phone call form a friend who said two fiends were skating up in Rock Creek Canyon. I organized a posse and we were off at 8am with sticks and skates hanging off the backpacks. We made the nine mile drive up the windy canyon road and had to park way before the normal summer trailhead. The USFS closed the road by the horse corrals just above Rock Creek Lake. This added a little under a mile to the hike but we still made it in an hour and ten minutes. Total hiking was 7 miles round trip and 975′ in elevation gain. Long Lake is located just under 10,600 feet above sea level making it pretty tough playing three on three hockey. There were a few other local heads out there skating and enjoying the scenery. Here’s a few pictures.
Hiking up the trail
This lake was affected by this past weeks lame snow.
One we got to Long Lake the ice didn’t look too good.
as you walked around the corner the goods appear.
perfect ice
gearing up for a little shinny
did I mention the perfect black ice?
Playing some hockey. This is our only option this year since the town isn’t putting up the rink. It’s really fun but I am going to miss playing with boards. To satisfy our urge six of us are entering the US pond Hockey Championships in Minneapolis, MN. Check it out here:
snacking in between periods.
We beat it up pretty good but there is so much ice you could never track it all up.
It was a great day and sadly will be that last high country skating of the year. We are expecting 2-4 feet of snow this weekend locking the high country in full winter mode. As bummed as I am, I am also happy that we’ll now be able to ski the hell out of it. The lower lakes shouls be freezing real soon after this storm with the sun getting lower in the sky. Love the chaging of the seasons. There is always something fun to do no matter what time of year.
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Posted by mammothflyer
on Nov 18 2010. Filed under OT – Natural Surroundings.
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