Cross-country Ski - Lost Lake

Our starting elevation is 2,450’, and highest planned elevation is 3,250’.  Overall elevation gain is about 890 feet.  We will gain (and lose) 500 feet in the steepest mile and a quarter.  The forest road trails  (Forest Service Road 5480 & 5483) were designed as logging roads on which logging trucks or horse or mule teams could haul loads.  Most of what we will be skiing on are snowmobile trails in winter.  They are groomed three times weekly, but will not be as smooth as groomed ski-only trails.  For rating, consider them ungroomed.   The distance and elevation gain put this trip toward the high end of  U-XC 2 and G-XC 2: Advanced Beginner, and the terrain is within the skills for those ratings.  

If you have reasonable proficiency in the skills taught in The Mountaineers' Basic Cross-Country Ski Course,  you should do fine.   You will need an efficient Nordic classic stride for the distance.  You will need to do a sustained, strong snow-plow or linked turns to keep speed under control for a descent of 500 feet in a mile and a quarter of moderate downhill grade.  There are a few curves in the road, so ability to make easy basic turns is needed.   There are a couple of spots where climbing techniques such as side-stepping or herring-boning will be briefly needed.  You will need a reasonably good level of physical conditioning for this ten-mile trip. 

We will try to maintain a pace that everyone can keep, with stops at each intersection, as needed for group cohesion, and at least every half hour for hydration and snacks and other needs.   No skate skis on this trip, please.  They will not be suitable for the group pace, and probably would not fare well on the six miles r/t of snowmobile trail. Skis wider than 70 mm won't fit in the set track on about a mile of trail in each direction, but you can ski outside the tracks.  

This is an adult trip.  If a parent or guardian who is registering for this trip wishes to also register a youth age 16 or older, they may do so in accordance with The Mountaineers’ policies and requirements for youths participating in adult programs.  Registering adult must be sure that youth can keep adult pace and follow the instructions of leaders and responsible adults.  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, and whether this is the right trip for you at your present level of skill and ability.

We'll meet at the North Bend Safeway shopping plaza parking lot, 460 SW Mt Si Blvd, North Bend, WA, at 7:30 a.m. by the tall sign that says "Safeway - O'Reilly Auto Parts". Participants can caravan or carpool from there to the Crystal Springs Sno-Park. Pass or permit with Special Groomed sticker required. Tire chains must be carried in Snoqualmie Pass during snow season.

For info on good carpooling practices and how to contact other participants, please see this Mountaineers article on "Carpooling and Mountaineers Activities/Courses": https://www.mountaineers.org/blog/how-to-opt-in-for-carpooling