Methow Valley Cross Country Trip Report

Friday 3 of us set out for the Methow Valley. We arrived in Winthrop about dinner time. The roads there were ice covered, but easy to drive. We stopped for groceries, checked into our cabin, and then went out to get pizza. We spent each evening talking, enjoying a bit of wine, and watching movies.

Saturday we woke to falling snow. It was brisk, about 15 degrees. The Methow was a beautiful, winter wonderland. There was new gear in the group to get used to so we set out for the Mazama area. We skied some of the green, beginning trails around Base Camp. In the early afternoon we left Mazama and headed for Sun Mountain. We parked at Chickadee and skied up to Sun Mountain Lodge for lunch. After getting something in our stomachs we decided to explore some intermediate trails. With a few falls and boots that would not cooperate and stay tied, we made it back to our starting point before dark.

Sunday was, as Chip put it, a "Bluebird Day!" The sun was out. The sky was a deep blue. It was a chilling 6 degrees! We bundled up and headed to Rendevouz. We skied up some of the blue, intermediate level trails to Rendevouz Pass. Chip had not been on XC skis in years and this trip was MJ's third time on skis. We decided to take a couple of the black, more difficult level trails down. We stopped at Gardner Hut for lunch on the way down. They did great and we all had fun zipping down the mountain!

Monday started leisurely. We slept late, packed, looked around Winthrop a bit, and headed for home. When we got to Blewett Pass we began to get into snow which continued all the way to Seattle. It was not long until the roads were ice covered, but my trusty Prius took us through with no problem.

We all want to get back there again next year.

I posted a few pics with my trip report.

Roy

Methow Skiing

Methow Valley Cross Country, Chip and MJ

Methow Valley Cross Country, MJ and Roy

Methow Valley Cross Country, Roy