Balsam Lake Mt. - ski 2/14/11

Great conditons. 3 feet packed powder from trailhead increasing to more than 5 at the summit. Perfect trail broken by snowshoers. Warm temps softened crust off sides of trail making for some mashed potato forgiving snow to slow descents of the steeps. In the trail things were fairly fast. No blowdown. No need to get on all fours to pass below hemlock and fir boughs near the summit. If you can get on this trail before Friday's forecast rain - do it! Light sleet fell in the late afternoon, but probably not enough to degrade conditions.
Bald Eagle perched watching Dry Brook for fish about 3.5 miles below junction with Millbrook Road. Nice rainbow on the dirve back north.
Snowshoes or skis - give a hoot, don't bareboot!