Methow Valley - New Year's 2016

Well, not really backcountry, but not really lift access either. But, hopefully you'll enjoy some skinny-ski talk to mix things up a bit. Third year staying at North Cascades Basecamp at the upper end of the Winthrop / Mazama trail network. 200 km of corduroy to skate just out the door. Highlights of the week include the excellent kids ski camp (1 day classic, 1 skate) put on by the local ski club, the 'try biathlon' day (much harder than it looks on TV!), the Rendezvous hut system (beautiful huts about 1000-1500' above the trailheads (again, skate groomed all the way)), and astonishing windless, cold, clear conditions. Blower powder was exactly the same one week later. Hard to wax for -10 deg morning skates, however. People from 5 - 80 years old were out enjoying their skis. Not a bad way to ring in a new year.