The 2008 North Cascades Cross Country Ski and Snow Shoe Adventure began on Saturday, January 26, 2008. The trip, sponsored by the Sierra Club National Outings Program was the first winter skiing trip attempted by the club's northwest subcommittee. Led by Bob Goldstein and Brian Stata, both of Seattle, the trip featured one night in Chelan, three nights at the Stehekin Landing Lodge and two nights at the Sleeping Lady Lodge in Leavenworth. The trip included airport pick-up and a roundtrip boat trip from Chelan to Stehekin.
Trip leaders were hoping for a good snowfall. They got their wish in spades. During the week of the trip the North Cascades received nearly six feet of snowfall in some areas. The trip to Chelan took nearly seven hours (normally a three hour drive) as the the group stopped in North Bend to purchase chains for the rental van. Several stops were made to scrape ice off the windshield. Most of the drive was through a snowstorm.
Snow conditions in Stehekin were excellent. Residents reported that this winter had provided the most snowfall they had seen in the valley in years. On Sunday, the day of arrival, the group spent a few hours skiing the lower valley via a trail that began at Rainbow Falls, then looped through the woods along the Stehekin River to Buckner Orchard. The next day the group skied the Upper Stehekin Road, beginning at the end of the plowed road (Stehekin Valley Ranch). Early that same morning, a ranger skied ahead to start the wood stove to warm up the ranger cabin for us at High Bridge. Most of the group lunched about 2 miles up the road at the washout. The following day the group snow shoed along the north shore of the Lake, breaking trail most of the way. The last day in Stehekin, the group skied the airport runway and freelanced in the woods.
In the Leavenworth area, the group skied the morning at Chiwawa Loop, which is located near Wenatchee State Park, then they skied the Icicle Creek Trail near the lodge in the afternoon. Initially, the group was headed to the Nordic Center at Stevens Pass, but the leaders decided to abandon that idea after encountering heavy snow and blocked traffic at Coles Corner. The return trip was nearly as difficult as the trip over. Seven Pass was closed part of the day due to heavy snow and accidents. Chains were once again required. After going nowhere for about 1 1/2 hours, the State Patrol finally allowed traffic to flow again over the pass. But it was slow going.
The meals served at both lodges were excellent, gormet quality. Among the entries were salmon, chicken parmesian, and steak. There was also a variety of vegetarian dishes to choose from.
Trip leaders were hoping for a good snowfall. They got their wish in spades. During the week of the trip the North Cascades received nearly six feet of snowfall in some areas. The trip to Chelan took nearly seven hours (normally a three hour drive) as the the group stopped in North Bend to purchase chains for the rental van. Several stops were made to scrape ice off the windshield. Most of the drive was through a snowstorm.
Snow conditions in Stehekin were excellent. Residents reported that this winter had provided the most snowfall they had seen in the valley in years. On Sunday, the day of arrival, the group spent a few hours skiing the lower valley via a trail that began at Rainbow Falls, then looped through the woods along the Stehekin River to Buckner Orchard. The next day the group skied the Upper Stehekin Road, beginning at the end of the plowed road (Stehekin Valley Ranch). Early that same morning, a ranger skied ahead to start the wood stove to warm up the ranger cabin for us at High Bridge. Most of the group lunched about 2 miles up the road at the washout. The following day the group snow shoed along the north shore of the Lake, breaking trail most of the way. The last day in Stehekin, the group skied the airport runway and freelanced in the woods.
In the Leavenworth area, the group skied the morning at Chiwawa Loop, which is located near Wenatchee State Park, then they skied the Icicle Creek Trail near the lodge in the afternoon. Initially, the group was headed to the Nordic Center at Stevens Pass, but the leaders decided to abandon that idea after encountering heavy snow and blocked traffic at Coles Corner. The return trip was nearly as difficult as the trip over. Seven Pass was closed part of the day due to heavy snow and accidents. Chains were once again required. After going nowhere for about 1 1/2 hours, the State Patrol finally allowed traffic to flow again over the pass. But it was slow going.
The meals served at both lodges were excellent, gormet quality. Among the entries were salmon, chicken parmesian, and steak. There was also a variety of vegetarian dishes to choose from.
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