Trip Report
Cross-country Ski - Amabilis Mountain
Great day despite the lack of recent snow!
Barbara Motteler
- Wed, Feb 11, 2026
- Cross-country Ski - Amabilis Mountain
- Amabilis Mountain
- Cross-country Skiing
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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Temperatures were below freezing at night and the trail was freshly groomed. We encountered large brown (bare) areas on the first switchback. The rest of the trail was snow covered and groomed. Conditions were fairly slick despite the grooming so we made slower than usual progress on the uphill. Conditions improved gradually as we gained elevation. Later in the afternoon the sun significantly softened the surface in many places.
Walking past melted out area.
We met at Preston PR to form carpools and then at the Cabin Creek Snopark ready to start by 8am. The lot was mostly empty. Grooming report showed Amabilis groomed to the top. Hurray for fresh grooming!
We were the first skiers up the trail in the morning. Despite the fresh grooming, the lack of new snow and freeze/thaw cycle made uphill travel extra strenuous on our classic skis. It was a challenge to avoid slipping back on each step.
We reached the Y at around 10:30am. Conditions were still challenging. Although we expected the trail to soften in the afternoon, we discussed the possibility that the descent could be hard with icy conditions. After discussion, everyone was game to continue; we decided to go up the left leg to the warming hut and then re-evaluate.
We stopped for lunch near the warming hut around 11am. After eating we continued on in hopes of reaching the Lake Viewpoint before our 12noon turn-around time. Conditions were noticeably nicer with a dusting of fresh snow near the top. We reached the viewpoint just before noon.
We turned around after the viewpoint and descended the way we came up. We stopped and rested/regrouped frequently on the way down so that no one would feel rushed or pressure to ski out of control. The snow was definitely softer than it had been in the morning! We made it back to the cars in about 2 hours.
