Nordic Pulse

It was beautiful sunny skies for most of yesterday and it is calling for more of the same today. Temperatures got down to around 30 degrees last night, so the trails should be firm and potentially icy in spots until it warms back up to around 40 degrees and softens them up. There is still good skiing to be found out on the trails and winter hasn't fully given up on us as there is a new pattern heading our way that will bring us some cooler temperatures and hopefully some precipitation in the form of snow in this upcoming week. Osprey Lodge remains our only open trailhead and it has limited parking as Thousand Trails is kind enough to share it with us.

Ginzu's were out last night freshening up skate lanes on the BCT from the northern terminus down to where the trails are closed just before the Stonewater bridge making passes on the Campground Loop, Grizzly Mtn., Swamp Creek Loop and Beaver Creek Loop on the way. Decent coverage and corduroy can still be found on the BCT both directions around the trailhead and south of the Swamp Creek Loop. You will find a mix of good and not as good classic tracks as setting new ones has been a challenge.

CLOSED TRAILS: Stonewater Loop lost the battle to melt outs and is now included with all of the trails south of there, along with the southern side of Grizzly Mtn.

CAUTION AREAS: The main exposed areas are in the trees just before the road crossing and before the 2 foot wide gap that is filled with PVC pipes and the bare driveway crossings once you get over the road crossing, but if you are up for the adventure, you will find good skiing south of the Swamp Creek Loop, which is showing a few more bare spots on the southern parts of the loop. Grizzly Mtn. is now a 2 way trail and there are a couple of narrow and exposed spots.

PARKING LOTS:  The OSPREY LODGE TRAILHEAD is our last remaining access point to the trails and has limited parking. The MEADOW LOOP AND THE BEAVER CREEK parking lots are CLOSED due to muddy conditions. 

TOUR de PLAIN UPDATE: Because of the current conditions, we have made the difficult decision to cancel Race #3 this weekend, but we are still planning to have the Race #4 installment as part of the Washington Nordic Cup race on Sunday, Feb.22. Details to come.

TRAIL DAY PASSES ARE DISCOUNTED TO $15 and can be purchased HERE, and as always, kids ski free, but they also need an online PASS.