Cross-country Ski - Palouse to Cascades Trail

This is NOT a formal class, but an opportunity to practice your SKATE ski skills, so we will be skiing at a sensibly fairly sedate pace. We will make a few stops along the way to hydrate, snack and look at the pretty views. With 2 leaders, we might be able to split the group into two if there are faster skiers who want to motor on ahead of the group.

We will ski for about 3 hours total along  Lake Keechelus, so we may or may not ski the entire length of the lake. It will depend on the group as a whole. Expect to ski at least 6 miles, up to ~12 miles if the group gets ambitious and the snow lets us. We will not stop for a full sit-down lunch, but will take quick hydration and snack breaks.

Please test your gear before leaving home to ensure that it is in proper working order.

Make sure that:

• you understand that this is a SKATE-skiing only outing (NO classic skis),
• you understand that priority is given to students, current, and last year's who still need a trip to complete their requirements,
• your equipment is good to go. 

If you're not a student, please wait till Saturday to sign up if there are still spots available.

Carpools can be arranged by the participants.  Check out the Mountaineers Good Carpooling Practices for details.

Heated restrooms and water are available in the parking lot.

You can check the latest road conditions on the WA-DOT website.  For kicks and giggles, you can keep an eye on the weather & avalanche forecast and the general grooming status.

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Trailhead talk at 9 am (ready to ski) in the Hyak snowpark. (We need to start pretty early as the parking lot fills up very quickly on sunny w.e.) If you didn’t find me in the parking lot, we’ll gather by the trailhead at the south end of the parking lot. We should be done before 1pm, depending on weather, snow and participants' ooomph.

Getting there: I-90 Exit 54. Turn south at off-ramp (from Seattle, make a right turn off the freeway). From Cle Elum, make a left turn to the intersection. Turn left, go about 1/8 mile and turn right. Sno-park is on first right.

(Note that you need a non-motorized WA State Sno-park Pass with the groomed sticker. If you haven't bought it yet, a day or season pass can be purchased at the booth at the entrance if manned, or at a machine by the restrooms.)