Cross-country Ski - Cabin Creek

9:45 am at North Bend Safeway parking lot, 460 SW Mt. Si Blvd, 98045, by the tall "Safeway - O'Reilly Auto Parts" sign.  Safeway has the last indoor restrooms on the trip.  Finalize carpooling, then to Cabin Creek. For info on carpooling, please see:  https://www.mountaineers.org/blog/how-to-opt-in-for-carpooling 

All vehicles transiting Snoqualmie Pass in snow season must carry tire chains.  See WSDOT  requirements: https://wsdot.com/travel/real-time/mountainpasses/tiresandchains.   SnoPark special groomed permit required for Cabin Creek.  Details will be emailed to registrants a few days before trip.

Preference in registration will be given to recent Basic Cross Country Ski Course students until 5:00 pm on Friday, February 16. Other skiers may register at any time, but are subject to being "bumped" to waiting list before 5:00 pm on 2/16. Please note that this is not an instructional trip, nor intended for complete novices, although some informal tips may be offered. We will be on easy (green circle) to less challenging side of moderate (blue square) groomed trails. This trip will give recent basic XC ski course students an opportunity to practice skills used on their field trip, and will count as a Mountaineers-led trip toward graduation requirements. For other participants, it should be a nice day out on a pleasant trail system.  We will not be skate-skiing.  We will travel as a group at a pace which keeps us together.  Set tracks are cut at 75mm width. Your skis should be 70mm or less at widest point to ski in the track. Touring skis with or without metal edges are fine. Some of the trails are open, and sun protection will be needed.

We will park at Cabin Creek, carry skis to the groomed trails on the north side of I-90, ski The Road, which is pretty straight, not much elevation gain.  Once we are satisfied with our diagonal stride, we can move on to the Berg Course, with some turns and easy grades, work on snowplow and turns, and maybe do the South Loop after that. Check out Kongsberger Ski Club page at kongsbergers.org for maps and more information. 

We will stop every 45 minutes or more often as needed for hydration and snack breaks, clothing and equipment adjustment, party separations (porta-potties in parking lot; back to nature elsewhere), and at junctions and intersections as needed to maintain group cohesion. Pack a lunch, a foam sitting pad and maybe a thermos for a trailside lunch. We will finish up between 2 and 3pm. 

Please contact the leader or assistant leader with any questions, especially about gear, clothing, or whether this trip is right for your level of ability and conditioning.