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Southern Oregon Nordic Club
Ski Touring
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Ski touring adventure
img_8504ac36_pumice_desert-mt_thielsen_1-02-2010.jpg
Crater Lake NP - Pumice Desert

Rating System

The Southern Oregon Chapter's ski tour ratings are based on a combination of factors including tour distance, elevation change, steepness, and navigation.  While ratings primarily reflect required technical skills (climbing, descending, turning etc.), difficulty ratings are adjusted upward as increased stamina is required.

 

All ratings assume average snow conditions (packed power).  Low snow cover, re-frozen snow/ice, deep new snow will increase the actual difficulty of the trip.

If in doubt, check with the trip coordinator.


Ski Tour Ratings:


1 Beginner

· Cross-country skiers with little or no previous experience

· Outings are generally 2-3 hours (bring water and a snack or lunch)


2 Novice

· Reasonable skill in the basic techniques: diagonal stride, sidestep, kick turn, step turn, snowplow, and snowplow turn.

· Control speed on gradual downhills and/or sidestep steeper pitches

· Able to ski 2-5 miles on rolling terrain (2-4 hours)

· Able to follow marked ski trails

 

3 Intermediate

· Proficiency in all the basic techniques plus the traverse and herringbone on moderately steep terrain.  Typically a full season or more of progressive experience

· Climb and descend long, moderately steep and short, steep sections of terrain

· Good stamina, ability to ski 8-10 miles or make long climbs (3-5 hours)

 

4 Advanced

· Excellent proficiency in all ski touring techniques and wide range of snow conditions

· Negotiate long, steep sections of terrain including densely wooded areas

· Strong skier able to ski 10+ miles with long uphill sections in widely varying snow conditions (4-7 hours)

· Navigate poorly marked trails


5 Expert

· Excellent all around ski tourer and mountain person

· Negotiate very steep terrain in nearly all conditions

· Exceptional endurance - ability to ski 15-20 miles with long climbs (6-8 hours)

· Navigate using a topographic map and compass

Trip Responsibilities¨

 

 

Trip Coordinator Responsibilities:

 

1. Identify yourself as the Trip Coordinator at the meeting point and/or at the trail head. 

 

2. Have participants complete "Trip Register" including emergency contact with telephone number. Communicate trip liability waver information.

 

3. The Trip Coordinator should remind participants of trail etiquette (ski to right, downhill skier has right-of-way).

 

4. Trip Coordinator should use a map of ski area to orient people to the route.

 

5. Trip Coordinator should inform participants when a lunch break can be expected and the ETA back to the vehicles.

 

6. Coordinator should identify a lead skier and the last skier. If enough people are on the outing, have a trouble shooter to roam back and forth among the group.

 

7. The Coordinator should remain until all skiers return.

 

8. Return "Trip Register" to Outing Chair.

 

 

 

Trip Participant Responsibilities:

 

1. Contact trip coordinator before participating in any outing so they know who to expect at the meeting point and understand the expected difficulty and duration of the trip.

 

2. Please participate in those outings that match your abilities.  Understand that trip difficulty and duration will be dependent on weather and snow conditions and on the abilities of the group.

 

3. Dress properly for the activity (Moisture wicking non-absorbing base layers and avoiding cotton base and insulation layers that retain moisture.  Dress in “layers” to avoid over heating.) 

 

4. Share ride expenses.

 

5. Cooperate with the Trip Coordinator and participate in making and abiding with decisions affecting the safety and well being of the group.

 

6. Participants should leave an item at the side of the trail (or tell someone) if you must leave the route for any reason.

 

7. Carry safety and first aid equipment appropriate for the outing and expected weather conditions.

 



¨  Revised Trip Coordinator and Participant Responsibilities as approved during SONC board meeting 1-15-2009.

Nordic Ski Rentals - Rogue Valley
Touring skis - Light touring (no metal edges), Typ 50 mm wide, groomed & skier set track
Backcountry skis - Metal Edges, Typ wider than 50 mm for flotation, ungroomed
Telemark skis - Metal Edges, Typ very wide (>90mm) with bindings suitable for heavy boots for Nordic downhill technique skiing
 
The following information (subject to change) is "reprinted" from the Southern ONC December 2008 newsletter (Thank you Suzzane):
 

Blackbird 779-5431

1810 W. Main Street  Medford

Hours: Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 10-6:30

No deposit required. Rental is $10/day. Ok to pick up the night before. Touring skis only. One pair of back country skis available.

 

Ashland Mountain Supply 488-2749

31 N. Main Street.  Ashland

Hours: Mon-Sat 10-6 Sun 10-5

No deposit, but requires credit card info on file. Rental is:

$12 –light cross country set

$14-back country set

$16 –full metal edge set

$ 20 lift/tele ski set

Rental is for 24 hours. Can pick up night before, and return following evening. Negotiable group rates for groups larger than 5.

 

Ashland Outdoor Store 488-1202

37 3rd Street  Ashland

Hours: Mon –Sat 10-6 Sun 11-5

$400 deposit required (equal to replacement cost).

Ski rental not available until Mt. Ashland opens-even Nordic.

Rental is: $15/day, and $10/day afterwards for multi day rental. Possible to pick up night before if pre-arranged, approximately 24 hour rental. Fisher classic kick & glide with partial metal edge, backcountry full metal edge, skate, and telemark sets available.

 

Kokpelli River Center 201-7694

3475 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland

Hours: Open Wed-Mon 8:00-5:30 (or 6) once Mt. Ashland opens. Closed when Mt. Ashland is closed (Tuesdays?)

No deposit, but requires credit card info on file. Rental is:

$15/day for Atomic light cross country set.

 

Mt. Shasta Nordic Organization

Mt. Shasta Nordic rents equipment suitable for groomed and trackset trails.  Their rental fleet includes light touring classic skis and skate skis.

http://www.mtshastanordic.org/nordic_center3.htm

Groomed Track Skiing
 

Mt. Shasta Nordic

Ski Park Hwy. North of California Hwy 89

http://www.mtshastanordic.org/

The Nordic Center is operating under the management of Mt Shasta Nordic Ski Organization, a non-profit, public benefit organization.  Mt. Shasta Ski Park will assist with weekend and mid-week grooming.  Trail use is on a donation basis.  Rental skis are available.  See Shasta Nordic website for details.

 

Diamond Lake Resorts

http://www.diamondlake.net/grooming.html

John Day XC Race is held on the "Northern Exposure XC Trail System


 

Wild Groomed Track

Wild groomed snow is sort of oxymoronic, but we do have groomed trails in the eastern hills of the Rogue Valley sort of suitable for skate skiing.  Of course, the mechanized folks think of these groomed trails as snowmobile (orange diamond) trails.  However, orange diamond trails are multi-use trails that both mechanized machines and human powered skiers may use.

http://www.roguesnowmobilers.com/grooming.asp

 

Backcountry Skiing Opportunities
 

Bureau of Land Management

BLM Buck Prairie Ski Trails:

Located at the summit of the Dead Indian Memorial Highway approximately 13 miles east of Ashland is the Buck Prairie Cross Country Ski Trail parking area. The trail system consists of approximately 17 miles of interconnected trails on public and private lands on the ridges just west of Howard Prairie and Hyatt Reservoirs.

http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/site_info.php?siteid=353

 

Buck Prairie Map and SONC Article from the Mail Tribune:

http://www.mailtribune.com/_images/oo/buckprairiemap.pdf

 

http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090108/LIFE/901080301/-1/OREGONOUTDOORS01

 

 

USFS Ski Trails

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/wintersports/

 

Pederson (Dead Indian Memorial Highway) Ski Trails:

Pederson Sno-park is located at the intersection of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCNST) and the Dead Indian Memorial Road.

 

Deadwood (Dead Indian Memorial Highway at Forest 37) Ski Trails:

Deadwood Sno-park is located at the junction of Dead Indian Memorial Highway and Forest Road 37, approximately 22 miles east of Ashland.

 

Fish Lake (Highway 140) Ski Trails:

From Medford (I-5 exit 30). Follow Hwy 62 north 10 miles to Hwy 140. Turn right and go east 30 miles to Fish Lake. Turn right onto the plowed access road and continue 0.4 miles to the Fish Lake Sno-park.

 

Bull Gap (Mt. Ashland) Ski Trails:
From the Ashland Ranger Station, drive east on Hwy 66 to Interstate 5. Take I-5 south 9 miles to the Mt. Ashland exit (exit 5). Follow the sign to the Mt. Ashland Access Road (0.7 miles). Turn right onto the Mt. Ashland Road and continue 7.0 miles to the Bull Gap Snowpark on the right (16 miles from Ashland).

 

Grouse Gap (Mt. Ashland) Nordic Ski Trails:

From Ashland, take I-5 south to the Mt. Ashland exit (exit 5). Follow the sign to the Mt. Ashland Access Road (0.7 miles). Turn right onto the Mt. Ashland Road and continue 9 miles through the Ski Ashland Parking Lot to the Nordic Sno-Park at the far west end. On “good weather” weekend days, the Sno-Park is generally full before noon

 

[See PDF of the preliminary Grouse Gap Nordic Trails map prepared by John Fertig by clicking below.]

Click here to download PDF of Preliminary Grouse Gap Nordic Trails Map

 
Cross Country Ski School
 
For ski school information contact:
Marjorie Bulkley 535-5979
 
 
Our dryland cross country ski school outline follows:

Introduction to Cross Country Skiing

 

Equipment

 

Skis w/ bindings

            Length and flex (rent before you buy)

                 Too soft?  A "belly dragger that will be slow (poor glide)

                 Too stiff?  You don't get any grip if you can't compress the camber

 

            Metal edges or not? 

                 Metal edge skis are usually not needed for touring.

                 Metal edges add weight but would be useful on hard-packed or ice

 

Boots that match bindings

 

Poles

 

Clothing Basics                                                          

 

The goal:  being comfortable (not cold, not hot) in a winter environment while exercising and while resting.

 

            Thermal insulation preserve warmth

            Wind barrier protect against wind chill

            Moisture control let perspiration escape while keeping melting snow and rain out.

 

The strategy: Multiple layers of materials that do not absorb and hold moisture.  Remove layers to stay dry.  Add layers to stay warm.  Stop after the 10 minutes of skiing and adjust your layers.

 

            Materials

                        Synthetics or wool

                        NO COTTON against the skin or as a mid (insulation) layer

 

            Core protection (upper and lower body)

                        Base layer - insulate and transport moisture away from skin

                        Middle layer - Thermal insulation

                        Outer layer - Wind and moisture barrier(s)

 

            Protecting extremities head, hands and feet

                        Cap

                        Gloves (Light X-C ski gloves, not insulated alpine gloves)

                        Wool or synthetic socks, medium weight

            `           Gaiters for deep snow

                       

            NO COTTON (Cotton promotes evaporative cooling

                        - not a good idea in a winter environment)

 

Dark Glasses (Not ski goggles)

Protect your eyes against the harsh light reflected off of the snow.  If you don't bring them, you will need to squint a lot and could damage your eyes.  Downhill (Alpine) ski goggles are usually not appropriate to XC skiing because Nordic skiing is a higher energy activity and goggles are likely to fog.

Pack

 

Low center of gravity (match body's center of gravity)

Stable support - pack does not swing

Supports weight from hips not shoulders

Needed for back country skis

            Extra clothes (the layer system)

            Water, food (lunch)

            The 10 essentials

            Survival stuff

The Ten Essentials:

     Map & Compass.

     Extra Clothing (incl. gloves & socks)

     Extra Food. 

     First Aid Kit. 

     Flashlight, Extra Batteries and Bulb (better yet, a headlamp).

     Duct Tape.  

     Multi-purpose Tool/Pocket Knife. 

 

     Bivouac Sack (2 HD plastic garbage bags)

     Matches & Fire Starter.

     Whistle & signal mirror.

NB!  The "Ten Essentials" of mountain and wilderness travel are suggestions as to what travelers should carry for backcountry emergency and survival purposes.   Some experienced skiers carry more and some less.  Each individual needs to make personal decisions as to the level of preparedness for a given trip and consistent with their individual skills and needs.  See the following link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Essentials

 

 

On Skis in the Mountains

The Mountain Rules

 

We Americans have our “Ten Essentials”. The Norwegian touring organization, “Den Norske Turistforening” or DNT for short, has a different set of ten essentials. The only item common to both lists is “map and compass”.  The American essentials are mostly equipment and gear oriented. The Norwegian essentials are mostly thinking oriented.

 

The Norwegian ten essential rules:

 

1. Do not go alone.

2. Do not set out on a long tour without training.

3. Tell someone where you intend to go.

4. Listen to experienced mountain folks.

5. Respect the weather and weather reports.

6. Be prepared for stormy weather even on short tours.

7. Bring a rucksack with mountain equipment.

8. Bring a map and compass.

9. Turn back in time. There is no shame in turning back.

10. Conserve your strength. Dig down into the snow if necessary.

 

Jeff Renner writes in Mountain Weather (Seattle: The Mountaineers Books, 2005):

 

“In the mountains, an accident and a mistake are different. Both can kill, but an accident may have been difficult in not impossible to anticipate. A mistake should never have happened.” Don’t make mistakes.

 

Heed the essential Norwegian mountain rules, bring the American essentials and have a god tur!

Getting ready to learn to ski

 

Conditioning cross country skiing is an aerobic activity.  Are you fit and in good health?

            Ski walking is a good start.

            Long and slow aerobic exercise

                        15 minutes and longer

                        Heart rate > 60 - 70 % of maximum (Max HR ~ 220 age in years)

                                 but < 180 minus your age in years (Carol Lee's suggestion)

            Start easy, check with your Doctor

 

Core strength - abdominals

 

Flexibility

 

Balance

On-Snow Syllabus

 

Getting up after the fall

 

Star turn

 

Diagonal stride

            Without poles

            With poles

 

Double poling

 

Downhill

 

Downhill control

            Side step

            Wedge (snowplow)

            Wedge turn

            Step turn

 

Kick turn

Last-but-not least

 

Nordic skiing includes risks and hazards which can never be eliminated because of the inherent nature of the activity.  Anyone choosing to participate in cross country skiing, including Oregon Nordic Club activities, should be aware of prevalent risks and hazards.  By making the decision to participate, each person must accept individual responsibility realizing that accidents can result in personal injury or death.

 

 

Note: Drivers should bring their Snow Park passes.