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Topic: Blewett Pass area Ski Trail Work Party Sat Oct 20 (Read 506 times)
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Randy
Member
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Posts: 837
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Hello -- I'm organizing a ski trail work day with the WSTC (www.wstc.org) and I thought it would be good to invite TAYers as well
What : Ski trail maintenance work party on the XC-15 ski trail (part of the popular Tronsen Head Loop)
The trail runs from a little above Swauk pass to Haney meadow -- following the drainage between Diamond Head and Tronsen head -- this map shows some detail:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee/recreation/winter/cleelum/blewett-ski-trails.pdf
John Morrow, the lead wilderness ranger from the Cle Elum Ranger district and a very experienced backcountry skier, will attend and help lead the group.
John knows this trail well and will bring tools to contribute as well.
Why:
This route is a very enjoyable ski and in a area designated as “closed to snow machines” – besides better skiing along the trail. Skiers helping maintain ski trail helps sustain the area’s “closed to snow machines” status with the forest service.
When: Saturday, October 20th.
An early work party for people camping overnight (and early birds coming from Seattle) will start @ 9AM on Saturday
The main work party will start @ 10AM to allowing for more relaxed travel from the Seattle area. (Driving time is a little under two hours from the 65th ST Park and Ride)
Where: Meet at Blewett Pass Sno-Park (south side) – if you arrive here after 10AM, head south on FS road 9716 and look for signs labeled “WSTC Work party”.
Refreshments:
Following the work, I will fire up my portable barbeque grill and open my cooler of drinks -- So please RSVP me with an indication of your favorite beverage and grilled items.
Basic plan:
We will work in two groups, the first group will drive to the top (intersection of XC15.1 and road 9712) and start working their way down. The second group will start on the bottom (where XC15 leaves road 9716) and work up. Sunset is at 6:10 – so we all will knock off by around 3:30PM or so to allow ample time for safe travel back to the cars.
What to bring:
o Ten Essentials
o Older clothes you don’t might getting dirty in.
o Heavy duty work gloves. Full finger MTB gloves are good too.
Bring liners as well, it looks like it will be cold.
o Good tools to bring
(bring what you have – don’t run out and buy new unless you
need it anyway for your own home)
o Brush lopper
o Pruning saw
o Bow saw
o Pole trimmer
o Small hammer (to nail up trail markers)
o Small light ladder (so we can nail trail markers
up high on a tree)
o Bad tools to bring
(too much potential for injury and mayhem)
o Flame thrower
o Chainsaw
o Bulldozer
Camping:
I will be camping overnight @ Swauk Creek campground Friday night – about 5 miles before Blewett pass. I plan on camping out Saturday night as well – In the morning either doing some additional trail work or going for a hike before heading to the WAC annual meeting @ the WAC cabin.
Driving directions:
Take I-90 east from the city,
Cross Snoqualmie pass and continue past Cle Elum
Take exit 85 “Wenatchee”, cross over I-90 and bear right onto HWY-970
HWY-970 becomes HWY-97 after 10 miles, continue past the Liberty café and Mineral springs
Reach Blewett (Swauk) pass about 24.5 miles after leaving I-90
Questions -- contact me
Randy Oakley
email: Randy.Oakley@microsoft.com
cell:425-736-6493
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Rusty Knees
Member
Offline
Posts: 701
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Hi Randy,
Do you think there is any snow up there to ski on? I wouldn't mind killing two birds with one stone - get my October turns as well as help out with the trail cleanup.
Don Heath - AKA Rusty Knees
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The best part of summer skiing is napping on a warm rock.
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Randy
Member
Offline
Posts: 837
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I think there is a fair chance that there will be some snow on the ground in the Blewett pass area next weekend -- but I would be pretty suprised if there will be enough coverage for decent skiing. The north and east facing meadows of Diamond Head might be rock skiable with a foot or more of snow.
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glenn_b
Member
Offline
Posts: 230
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Viewed from Quartz Mountain west of Ellensburg on Saturday, Kittitas County looked very dry. There was no snow at all on Table Mountain and Diamond Head above Blewett Pass. When snow does come around there, the early season skiing is pretty much limited to logging roads until the snowpack builds up. Unless there is dramatic snowfall this week, I'd leave the skis at home.
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