Southern Oregon Nordic Club
Ski Touring
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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

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
 

Ashland Mountain Supply (On the Plaza at 31 N Main, Ashland, 488-5402)

Touring & Backcountry

 

Ashland Outdoor (37-3rd St, Ashland, 488-1202)

http://www.outdoorstore.com/

Backcountry

 

Blackbird (1810 W. Main, Medford, 779-5431)

http://www.b-bird.com/

Touring

 

GI Joes (2370 Poplar, Medford, 772-9956)

http://www.gijoes.com/

Touring

 

Rogue Ski Shop (309 E Jackson, Medford, 772-8047)

Touring

Groomed Track Skiing
 

Mt. Shasta Nordic

Ski Park Hwy. North of California Hwy 89

http://www.mtshastanordic.org/

New for 2006-07:  The Nordic Center opens under the management of Mt Shasta Nordic Ski Organization, anon-profit, public benefit organization.  Mt. Shasta Ski Park will assist with weekend and mid-week grooming.  Trail use is on a donation basis.

 
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)

            Metal edges or not?  Usually not needed

 

Boots that match bindings

 

Poles

 

Clothing Basics                                                           Dark Glasses (Not ski goggles)

 

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

 

            Materials

                        Synthetics or wool

                        NO COTTON

 

            Core protection

                        Base layer insulate and transport moisture

                        Thermal insulation

                        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)

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.

 

 

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)

            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.