Pederson to Deadwood Ski 12.22.10

Like someone said, the best ski ever... is the one you're on. Thirteen intrepid skiers from GPNSC and SONC drove up to Pederson Sno-Park and started out on the west side of Glasgow Loop. They then skied westward gently downhill through old growth, climbed across plantations, skied down along logging roads and beside an irrigation canal through 6 inches of heavy snow. Everyone had many chances to break trail and enjoy the glide of a firm track.The weather goddess cooperated: mild temperature, no precipitation, mixed skies of dark and light clouds, a bit of blue sky and some sun during lunch.

Christmas Party and Ski 12.18.10

Over 30 people from GPNSC and SONC showed up for skiing and a party at the Lake of the Woods. About 19 skiers skied a tour from the Marina through the cabins and Aspen Point Campground down to the junction with the Fourmile Lake Road. After carefully crossing Hwy 140, the group headed up the road on 3 inches of new snow and took a right for the Billie Creek trail. Taking the west side, we climbed through a few miles of woods including some nice old growth before heading back down on a fast glide through the woods. We were really moving, as fast as you wanted. A thank you goes out to one of Santa's elves who brought along a saw and trimmed a few snow-bent trees to make the downhill run safer and more fun.

Back at LOW there were ski lessons for beginners and a short tour enjoyed by over 10 skiers The party was great with pizza, hors d'oeuvres, snacks and treats galore. The traditional "ski-related white elephant" gift exchange was uproarious and even included a real white elephant ... on skis! Thank you to all who participated, volunteer leaders, set up crew and to the LOW Resort staff for the venue and decorations.

Mt Ashland Ski 12.08.10

Arriving at the Mt Ashland Lodge before the road was plowed, the group elected to ski from there. As the weather service predicted, it was blustery and snowing hard with whiteout conditions. After turning around about 2 miles from the Lodge, a brief break in the whiteout allowed this photo of the skiers on the back side of Mt Ashland. With the wind a blowin' at their backs, the skiers had a beautiful glide back down to the parking area. As the temperature had warmed a bit and it was sleeting, we then headed back to Ashland for coffee and conversation at the Apple Cellar. It was sure fun to get out.

Page Mountain Ski 12.01.10

Four skiers braved the rain on Wednesday, Dec. 1 to enjoy a nature-filled ski day at Page Mt. snowpark. We saw a juvenile bald eagle sitting in the top of a snag on the drive up. We skied to the top of the mountain, following bear tracks most of the way. At a trail juncture the bear went left and we went on up to the top. On the way down we decided to track the bear further and followed its tracks for another half mile or so until they went over a steep embankment. We left it to our imagination that the bear was holed up down there. We also saw some type of cat tracks (bobcat perhaps) and lots a rabbit tracks. Even though it rained on us most of the day the snow was still decent and we had a great time.


Ann

Fourmile Lake Road/McLoughlin Ski 11.27.10

These skiers are 1/4 of the two dozen skiers from the Grants Pass and Southern Oregon Nordic Clubs whose smiles are testament to the wonderful early snow conditions in the Southern Oregon Cascades.  Following a lunch stop at the Summit Shelter, the group divided into two crews: one returned on the Big Mac Trail as we had come up, the other crew headed north up the McLoughlin Trail for a loop of another couple of miles. Great fun for all.

Turkey Trot 11.24.10

Eight skiers from the Grants Pass and Southern Oregon Nordic Ski Clubs broke trail through 20 inches of fresh powder up the Fourmile Lake Road and Big Mac trail to the Summit Shelter. Cold temps, blue skies, a few snow flurries and great conversation made for a wonderful day on the snow. We didn't spot any turkeys, but saw elk and rabbit tracks galore.

Page Mountain 11.13.10

Seven GPNSC members did some needed trail maintenance on Page Mountain yesterday. Working for more than three hours, they got 'er done before some rain set in. The crew cleared brush on a link between two roads and put up some blue diamonds to mark the way to the top of the mount. Now, we are awaiting the first big snow.

Crater Lake 11.11.10

Eight of ten skiers who enjoyed a brilliant Veteran's Day on the West Rim Drive at Crater lake. Five inches of new powder, abundant sunshine, and gorgeous views made for a relaxed, playful ski with plenty of time to chat and practice turns in the meadows.

First Ski Planned

At the first club meeting of the season, a ski was planned for Crater Lake on Thursday, November 11th. We will leave from Union Creek rest area at 10AM. Weather conditions will determine whether we ski on the West Rim Drive or the East Rim Drive. Check the Sno-phone for further details.

Brown Mt Shelter Ski 04.10.10

Skiers with Brown Mountain and Mt McLoughlin in the Background 

Nine skiers from the Grants Pass Nordic Ski Club and the Southern Oregon Nordic Club toured from the Ichabod Quarry punch-out up to the quarry, down through the woods and on out a snow-mobile road to Brown Mountain Shelter for a sunny lunch. Mild temperatures, a firm base and a soft top inch made for great spring conditions. On the way up the mountain the group enjoyed multiple runs down a 5 acre playhill called Manzanita Meadows by some. Nary a raindrop hit the skiers heads until they were getting back in their vehicles; who could ask for a better day.

Mt Ashland Formal Ski 04.03.10

Thirteen of the more than 2 dozen skiers from the Southern Oregon Nordic Club and the Grants Pass Nordic Ski Club who participated in the the annual Formal Ski. Making their way through 10 inches of dense powder with snow flurries about one half the way, the troop skied out to the Grouse Gap Shelter for a party with excellent high class hors d'ouvres, bubbly and great conversation. As the mountain was filled with down-hillers on the backside as well, the group got numerous nice comments on their outfits and many questions such as "Is it a wedding?."

Silent Creek Ski 03.27.10

Pictured above are two of a baker's dozen of happy skiers from the Grants Pass Nordic Ski Club who enjoyed a beautiful sunny day as they skied along Silent Creek down to Diamond Lake. Sharing trail-breaking through about 10 inches of heavy, new snow the skiers enjoyed excellent views of Mt Thielsen, Mt Bailey and Diamond Lake.

McLoughlin Ski Trail 03.13.10

(photo by Gene Hart, SONC)

This past Saturday, nineteen skiers from the Grants Pass Nordic Ski Club and the Southern Oregon Nordic Club shared trail-breaking through 12 inches of dense powder on the McLoughlin Trail in the Southern Oregon Cascades. The skiers broke into three groups on the climb up to the Shelter. After a lunch stop and having earned their turns, they gloriously skied down the broken McLoughlin trail through deep old growth forest with great glide and good control.

Lake of the Woods Weekend 02.26-28.10

The weekend opened with a tasty pizza dinner get together on Friday evening at the Lake of the Woods Resort. On Saturday, 28 skiers and guests of the Grants Pass Nordic Ski Club and the Southern Oregon Nordic Club enjoyed gorgeous weather and 1 inch of fresh new snow as they skied up to Ichabod Rock Pit off Dead Indian Memorial Road. The views were spectacular of Mt Shasta, Buck Lake, Brown Mountain, Mt McLoughlin and Pelican Butte. After a fun downhill play session on a five acre open slope, the group climbed to the pit, had lunch at the crest, then proceeded down through the woods on a technical ski to the Brown Mountain snowmobile road. The quick easy run back back to the sno-park was exhilarating. Another group of skiers practiced skate skiing on the roads near the lake.

The Saturday skis were followed by a big pot luck dinner at the Lake of the Woods Resort. A Full Moon moonlight ski across the Great Meadow on Highway 140 capped off the day's activities. While the snow was crunchy by our start at 8:30, no light was needed in the moonlight on the meadow. Clear skies also gave good views of the stars. Mt McLoughlin shone in the moonlight like a giant sugarloaf.

On Sunday, smaller groups of skiers returned to the Ichabod play hill or skied around the edge of the lake. A number of skiers talked about making this an annual event.

High Lakes Ski 02.06.10

Twenty skiers braved the High Lakes Trail from the Great Meadow to Fish Lake along the snow-covered bike path. About 5 others snow-shoed at Fish Lake or took an alternate ski near Lake of the Woods. Snowing, socked-in conditions crossing the Great Meadow gave way to a mix of clouds, a few flurries and some sunshine at the lunch stop with spring snow conditions. The group wound their way through deep forest, across lava fields and down some exciting hills. The last mile and a half was rather trashy with a lot of downfall and sparse snow covering which required many to remove their skis multiple times. As usual a bit of an apre`s ski party atmosphere ensued at the Fish Lake Resort. What a great work out; a day of real Southern Oregon Cascades back-country skiing!