![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OT5Jl61zmTI/Sc6lIHqIP8I/AAAAAAAADnM/E1bCddHhES4/s400/OvernightA.jpg)
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OT5Jl61zmTI/Sc6k-lMQRbI/AAAAAAAADnE/TrOF3t--4NM/s400/OvernightB.jpg)
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OT5Jl61zmTI/Sc6k3PDx9mI/AAAAAAAADm8/TPbbCdYhYto/s400/OvernightC.jpg)
The trail was firm and rideable where the groomers had recently been but in sections that hadn't been groomed in a couple of days the trail was soft and churned up from the constant snowmachine traffic.
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OT5Jl61zmTI/Sc6kwS7cjZI/AAAAAAAADm0/z5Sp1hh1dAo/s400/OvernightD.jpg)
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OT5Jl61zmTI/Sc6ko4HUVcI/AAAAAAAADms/3dZsly0QeXg/s400/OvernightE.jpg)
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OT5Jl61zmTI/Sc6khQ4yupI/AAAAAAAADmk/ykTNdjPD0aU/s400/OvernightF.jpg)
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OT5Jl61zmTI/Sc6j_N9Fx2I/AAAAAAAADmU/rdM3gGiBTQc/s400/OvernightG.jpg)
I had a rough idea where I wanted to ride but as I got further down the CD Trail, and further from Togwotee Lodge's groomers, the conditions worsened and I was pushing far more than I was riding. Sometimes I was even pushing downhill. To be perfectly honest, I was not mentally into pushing for hours on end on this trip so I spun it around and headed back uphill to a camp spot that caught my eye earlier.
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OT5Jl61zmTI/Sc6kUrv_BvI/AAAAAAAADmc/-Rza6LGbcO8/s400/OvernightH.jpg)
I was very pleased with my campsite. A giant spruce had fallen over at some point and its root ball stood exposed 6-7' above ground. The mass of roots and dirt provided an excellent wind break for the night.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OT5Jl61zmTI/Sc6jvq9hEJI/AAAAAAAADmE/bLCAANL5-9I/s400/OvernightI.jpg)
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OT5Jl61zmTI/Sc6jm-DhpeI/AAAAAAAADl8/jgqq8t5HB_E/s400/OvernightJ.jpg)
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OT5Jl61zmTI/Sc6jgQK3RqI/AAAAAAAADl0/JjF4krPQLYM/s400/OvernightK.jpg)
At some point during the night, the "groomer fairy" came to visit. The first hour of riding today was some of the best snow biking I have ever had. Firm, freshly groomed trails and absolute silence were my reward for sleeping out and rising early enough to beat the snow machine's to it. I wonder if the snow machiners love the "freshly groomed" as much as I do?
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OT5Jl61zmTI/Sc6jZCDETLI/AAAAAAAADls/I2nE5nwAugk/s400/OvernightL.jpg)
The speed at which this storm moved and the resulting deterioration of the trail made me feel good about my decision to cut the epic short.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OT5Jl61zmTI/Sc6jQjbwKuI/AAAAAAAADlk/pw6li6zbe1c/s400/OvernightM.jpg)
I need more practice at being an efficient winter camper. I had a great adventure and learned a few things which was the #1 goal all along.