Cross-country Ski - Erling Stordahl

Trip

Cross-country Ski - Erling Stordahl

Easy groomed trails just east of Snoqualmie Pass, where recent ski class students can practice their basic skills. Hope to beat the crowd on a weekday. Registration preference given to Basic Cross Country (Nordic) Ski students until five days before close of registration, then open to all.

  • G-XC 2 Advanced Beginner Groomed
  • Easy
  • Mileage: 4.5 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 100 ft
  • High Point Elevation: 2,500 ft
  • Pace: 2.5 mph with stops for instruction

Crystal Springs Sno-Park is the gateway to the Erling Stordahl trails, the Dog Sled trails and other easy to moderate ski trails.  Preference in registration will be given to recent Basic Cross Country (Nordic) Ski Course students until 5:00 pm on Friday, February 21. If you are an advanced beginner, intermediate or better skier, and would like to assist in leading, and offering some tips to recent ski students, please register as assistant leader if you have a ski leader badge, or email leader if you don’t.  Other skiers may register at any time, but are subject to being "bumped" to waiting list before 5:00 pm on 2/21.

Please note that this trip is not intended for complete novices. 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 at an easy pace.  We will not be skate-skiing.  We will travel as a group at a pace which keeps us together.  Groomed 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 to the sun, and sun protection will be needed.

We will park in the Crystal Springs non-motorized area near the porta-potties.  We’ll practice our diagonal stride on some of the flat trails in Erling Stordahl.  This trail system is named after a blind Norwegian folk musician and skier, and was developed by the Sons of Norway (Trollhaugen Lodge) and Ski for Light.  Sometimes the trails are groomed with two pairs of set track side by side, so that a companion may ski alongside a visually impaired skier.  Depending on conditions, group ability and preferences, we may do a loop in the Dog Sled Trails.  Check out https://parks.wa.gov/find-sno-parks/crystal-springs-sno-park for grooming reports, maps and more information. 

We will stop every half hour or as 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. 

This is an adult trip.  If a parent or guardian who is registering for this trip wishes to also register a youth age 14 or older, they may do so in accordance with The Mountaineers’ policies and requirements for youths participating in adult programs.  The primary leader is a Qualified Youth Leader.  Contact leader for more information on how to register youths.

Please feel free to email the leader, Mike Forsyth at adktripper@earthlink.net or call at 315-884-3673, with any questions, especially about gear, clothing, or whether this trip is right for your level of ability and conditioning.

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.  We will check on I-90 Snoqualmie Pass road conditions if weather is a concern, 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 Crystal Springs.  Details will be emailed to registrants a few days before trip.

Route/Place

Erling Stordahl


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