Cross-country Ski - Snoqualmie Summit East

7:30PM  

Summit West or Summit East parking lot depending on conditions .

Trip leader will provide exact meeting spot 24 hours  prior. 

Note these trailhead/meeting area lacks any bathroom facilities (Lift services   @Summit West and East are closed on Tuesdays).   However the "Traveler Rest" on HWY-906 between Exit 52 and Exit 53 is easily visited  enroute.   https://goo.gl/maps/YtQxQG7R58WWJekcA

Mid-week "after work" work out session for developing ski touring muscles and fitness.

The trip is listed as a "cross country  ski" so folks that don't yet have avalanche safety training may enroll -- however we will be skiing on a downhill ski area.  So you will the gear and skills to ski  an "easy black" downhill ski run.    At Summit East we typically descend "Hyak Face" to return to the base -- most of this run is a "blue" run, but there is a somewhat steeper portion in the middle. 

Because this trip starts after sunset and uses part of the ski area NOT lighted for night skiing -- please bring two strong headlamps with fresh/fully charged batteries.

These trips lies entirely within a developed ski area where the ski patrol manages the avalanche risk.  Therefore I will not be requiring people to bring avalanche gear nor will I be performing beacon checks.   

Since this is a workout -- carrying your regular ski touring pack and gear gives you more of a workout -- or you can go lighter if you prefer.    The trip leader is old and slow, so I will be going light -- so that other won't get as cold waiting at the top.

We will do laps for a couple hours -- hopefully at least 1500 vft of elevation gain.

When using Summit West due to low snowpack we will stick to the Pacific Crest run -- as it requires the least amount of snow for skiable conditions.    When conditions permit using Summit East we will generall skin up Hyak Face and then ski down the backside.   But this could vary depending on conditions -- e.g. if  the snow is very firm, a gentler ascent route will be used than Hyak Face in lieu of using ski crampons and/or struggling with edging and slipping and sliding.

I'm setting the roster count to be quite large, so anyone that wants to come and get a workout can come.    I won't be able to keep track of every single person during the session, especially since  most people are faster than me on the up track.    So at the start I will ask people to form smaller "stick together" groups who will watch out for each other while traveling uphill at a the fastest pace they can manage.    Those looking for a more relaxed experience can skin up and ski with me.