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Franklin Basin Ski/Snowshoe,
March 17, 2013
Ten Cache Hikers participated in a snowy St. Patrick's day trip in
Franklin Basin. The skiers were Dave P. and Dave W., while
Alexi, Jim, Christine, Tim, Jeanne, Michael, Meghan and Dan (the
trip leader) were on snowshoes. We left Smith's Marketplace
in Logan shortly after 10:00, just as a light rain started.
The weather worsened as we drove up Logan Canyon, and it was
snowing and blowing and the road was snow-covered and slick by the
time we got to Franklin Basin. We started out from the
Franklin Basin Winter Trailhead at 11:00, and hurried across a
meadow to calmer conditions along the Steam Mill Trail.
After about 1.25 miles on the Steam Mill Trail, Jeanne and Tim
headed back so they could attend an event at Beaver
Mountain. The rest of the group turned toward the north and
climbed to a ridge top. The blowing snow here encouraged us
move to a sheltered location nearby for lunch (Dave W.
shared green cookies to celebrate St. Patrick's Day). About
1:00 we resumed the trip by traveling along the contour for
another 1/2 mile. Here, five people started down, but Dan,
Alexi and Jim decided to continue up to a viewpoint on the ridge -
see the location marked "Dan's viewpoint" on the map, below.
Eventually the two groups reassembled, and we all headed downhill
to the Franklin Basin road and finally, back to the trailhead at
2:30.
The snow was good for the skiers, with 6 inches of new powder on
top of an icy crust. The snowshoers had more trouble,
however, as they frequently broke through the crust. The
trip totaled 2.5 miles with 450 feet elevation for Jeanne and
Tim. Dave W., Dave P., Christine, Meghan and Michael
traveled 3.7 miles with 650 feet of climbing, and Jim, Dan and
Alexi went nearly 3.9 miles with 750 feet of elevation gain.
Thanks to Christine and Dan for photos.
A cold, windy and snowy start at the Franklin Basin Winter
Trailhead, with Beaver Mountain in the background
Jim making his way through blowing snow
Enjoying St. Patrick's Day lunch in a sheltered spot, out of the
wind
Jim and Alexi on the windy ridge at "Dan's Viewpoint"
Our GPS track showed 3.7 miles with 650 feet of elevation (the
side trip to "Dan's Viewpoint" adds another 1/8 mile and 90
vertical feet)
Here is a satellite view of our route, from Google