Snackcountry
My philosophy on getting outdoors in the winter is that you should maximize fun and minimize hassles. This opens the door for a mindful, moving meditative practice in the snow.
Groomed trails can be fun and sporty but I'm maximizing on "smiles per mile". Prepared with good maps and an open mind I like to explore new destinations whenever I go out.
Gear
- Good Maps
- Wide, go anywhere XC Skis (mine are Madshus Panorama M72s with Alpina Alaska NNNBC Boots)
- Warm clothes
- Snacks
Explore
- Experimental Big XC Map (WIP)
- OpenSkiMap
- GaiaGPS - "Winter" layer has improved a lot lately, get the subscription in a bundle with Outside+ and you'll get the magazine and Trailforks all at once
- onX Backcountry
Inland Northwest Snackcountry
- Moscow Mountain - MAMBA maintains some trails at the top of the mountain with a snowdog, Tamarack trailhead outside of Troy
- Latah Trail (grooming to start near Troy with snowdog)
- WSU Golf Course (used to be groomed by Tom)
- Palouse Divide Nordic
- Mount Spokane Nordic Area (Selkirk Lodge)
- Snowhaven (free rope tow for tele turns practice, T-bar to the top of nordic area) gaia- Schweitzer
- 4th of July Pass Panhandle Nordic Club
- Bear Basin Payette Lakes Ski Club
- Ponderosa State Park
- Jug Mountain Ranch Nordic Center
- McCall's Activity Barn
The Other Side of Washington
Mt Rainier
- Paradise Visitors Center has XC right out of the lodge
- Glacier Vista - Myrtle Falls Loop
- Mazama Ridge Loop
- Mount Tahoma Trails Association - Great overnight huts, big trail system
Mt Saint Helens
- Marble Mountain Sno-Park - access June Lake, Swift Creek Ski Trail
White Pass
- White Pass Nordic
Snoqualmie Area
- Hyak Nordic Center - ride a lift to 70km of trails at about 3,600'
- Ellensburg XC Club
Wenatchee Area
- Echo Ridge
- Wenatchee State Park
Methow Area
- 100+ miles of trails, you can throw a rock and hit an XC trail
To Explore
-
Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park
-
Ellensburg Club Maps (still have to parse an map on OSM)
- Voluntary Non-motorized Areas
- Areas Officially Closed to Snowmobiles:
