Cross-country Ski - Mount Catherine Loop

Email leader for permission prior to registering with the following information:  have you done any 15+ km days on Nordic skis this season, have you done any steep ascents such as Challenger or Ozbaldy?  Those who were registered for the cancelled 2/22 trip do not need leader permission again. 

Participants must be confident in their uphill technique and stamina, have an efficient diagonal glide, be able to double-pole, and snowplow and half-snowplow for a sustained downhill run.  Participants must be able to thermoregulate - control sweating and adjust clothing layers as needed to stay dry and warm over a long day. 

A trail map and grooming report are available on the Nordic Report page of Snoqualmie Summit.  

We will start near the bottom of East Peak Chair and take the MT trail up to Union Station, gaining 850 feet of elevation over 2.5 km. This took 45 minutes my last trip.  From Union Station we will take 14F over to Grand Junction where we can warm up inside the warming hut, adjust clothing, and take a snack and water break.

From Grand Junction, we will take Trail 7 to the back side of Mt. Catherine and Windy Pass. If there is good visibility and a collective desire, we may do Trail 8 to the View Point at Windy Acres, which adds a few kilometers and 600 feet of gain. 

From Windy Pass, we will then layer up, put on windbreakers, thick gloves, and balaclavas, for the 1,200 foot descent down Trail 17. We will stop at the Jim Brooks Warming Hut and bathroom about 1/2 way down. 

If conditions warrant, we will shortcut the route and come down Hidden Valley instead. This would make for a roughly 12km day and descent down a black trail. Those who don't want to ski down the steep section can walk down. 

Hyak Upper Parking lot 7:45am. We will arrive early enough before any resort skiers. Parking permit required. I can take 2 passengers.

We will start one hour before the ski lifts open in order to avoid downhill skiers on our way up. The uphill route crosses downhill trails at several intersections.  Lifts open at 9am. 

We will start on our way up before the Nordic Center opens.  Those who do not have a season pass may purchase a day use ticket online or after we get down.