It was a late and short backcountry skate season this fall as autumn temperatures were once again unseasonably warm. Around November 12th, legendary back country skater Steve White and I started poking around various “early season” locales and discovered ice up to two inches; plenty thick. From that date it was ice season 2018, until a light snow knocked out those early lakes.
In four days of skating we glided thirteen alpine lakes on 8-9+ (quality) ice; a short but fine season blending quantity and quality. With 30+ inches of snow now blanketing the back country will more lakes come “in”, or are they all buried? Time will tell.
