Congratulations on 2015 & End of Season Celebration

Hello skiers-

At Mazama trailhead March 1, 2015

That's a wrap for 2015 for most Ellensburg skiers...except Uhuru who races at Junior Nationals next week.  Major congratulations to everyone who skied this year despite the lack of ...well...snow.  But we made it happen and continued skiing all year.  We made some great discoveries, like the Cooper Lake road, which is worth a weekday trip even in a good snow year.

We'll have our end of season celebration Wednesday March 18th at 6-7PM at Cornerstone Pie.  Please join us!

We had a fantastic weekend in the Methow- we actually found some PERFECT skiing.  (For the record, there are some dirty spots and bare spots even in the Methow.)   A few pictures from my dumbphone below- I had to document it!

Andy loving the perfect grooming!

Audrey, Isak and Apollo in the Rendezvous.

Feb 25 & Methow Weekend Feb 27-Mar 1

Well it's our final week.  We've had some great adventures and found snow in some new places.  We'll continue to do that this week.

Feb 25th Salmon la Sac SKATING or CLASSIC (skiers choice).  3:20 leave EHS, 6:45 return.  We'll ski the Cooper Lake Road again.

Feb 27-Mar 1 Mazama.  A few logistical thoughts:

1)  Let's try to carpool as much as possible!  We can arrange by email.  I will leave Ellensburg at 1:00 and have room for several others.  Carey has to work until 3 and needs a ride.
2)  How about each family take a meal? There was much discussion today about the kind of cakes we will make.
3) We will be crowding in and will need some people to bring sleeping bags and pads, as well as towels.

We will ski Friday afternoon- probably Goat Wall area- very pretty.  Saturday ski- route depends on conditions.  It is possible that the Methow team will have some kind of race Saturday (it would be free).  Sunday- long ski (many options here Rendezvous Trails are a great choice that would have 20k-30k options.)  Momentum might do the same thing- so we might tag team with them.  It'll be fantastic!

Feb 18 & 22

Congratulations to Uhuru (6th & 8th in U16), Gavin (20th U14), Isak (10th U14), and Olivia (14th U16) for their great races in Spokane.  And congratulations to Uhuru for becoming the first Ellensburg skier selected to represent Pacific Northwest at Junior Nationals!  Uhuru will race at Donner Summit, California in March.

Despite everything we have been finding places to ski!

Wednesday Salmon la Sac SKATE.  Meet EHS parking lot 3:20 to carpool.  We will ski the Cooper Lake Road which has great views and northern exposure to keep the snow.  Last week they were grooming when we arrived!  Return to EHS 6:45 PM.

Sunday: Skating @ Hyak.  Uhuru & I skied there Feb 21 .  It was great fun with fantastic views.  It was a little icy in the morning, so we are going a little later in the day- things had softened up a lot by then.

Bring sunscreen and sunglasses!  I thought we could do a picnic lunch at Grand Junction, about 2km ski from the parking area.  Bring some lunch food and we'll ski it to the junction.  We can picnic at about 12:30 and then ski back to the cars.

Driving directions: Exit I-90 @ Hyak.  Turn Left if coming from Ellensburg, drive straight to second stop sign (Snoqualmie Dr).  Turn right (uphill)- follow main road uphill past houses for 0.5 mile.  Switchback left (more up) on Innsbruck drive.  In less than 0.1 mile turn right (more up) on a dirt road signed "no snowmmobiles."  Follow road through some muddy patches 1.0 mile up to saddle.  There is parking on the right at a trail junction.  Skiing starts there.  You will need a moderate clearence vehicle (like a Subaru) to make it.  I would probably have made it in the Saturn, but it might be hair raising.  Park close- there isn't much space.  If anyone wants to park at the turnoff at Snoqualmie Drive and hitch a ride up, that could work too.  Be there at 10:40 if you'd like a ride.

Mt. Spokane Mazama Weekend Feb 27-Mar 1 Update. We have a rental house for Mazama.  Skiing in the Methow has been holding up well.  Hope you can join us there for a great season finale!

Feb 11th & Spokane Weeknd #1

"Those Ellensburg kids are fast" - Momentum Northwest skier

Great job to all the racers.  Here are a couple shots of the 3k racers thanks to Kirk Mathias.  The yellow suits look great!  Special congratulations to Avega and Stuart, who participated in their first race today!  It may be warm, but we're still skiing!

Feb 11th Cabin Creek Skiers' choice Classic OR Skate (although there will probably not be tracks)  3:30 depart EHS, 4:15-5:45 ski, Return 6:45.  We might get away without headlamps this week!

Feb 13-15 Mt. Spokane We'll depart at 1:00 (or soon thereafter).

Feb 27-Mar 1 Mt. Spokane- make your room reservations now!  Bear Creek Lodge- Sam is the manager and he is expecting your call, but is not holding rooms for us.  It should be a great weekend!

Feb 4 & 8

Hello Skiers-

We got a great reminder of what winter is like today at Cabin Creek!  It was dumping!  The groomer has worked very hard bringing MANY loads of snow that were plowed from the parking lot over to bare areas of the course.  That gave the new snow something to stick to, and the skiing just got better as the snow piled up.  There's supposed to be mix of rain and snow the next few days, but any accumulation will help.

Wednesday: SKATING Depart EHS 3:30, Ski 4:15-5:45, Return to EHS 6:45- Hashimoto's have lots of space for those who need rides!

Sunday: 10AM-noon Cabin Creek: We are planning an informal CLASSIC race in cooperation with Momentum Northwest and the Kongsberger Ski Club.  There will be distances for all- from 0.5k to 5k.  Plans may change due to conditions, but that's the current plan.  We will be up there on Sunday skiing.

Looking ahead: President's day weekend at Mt. Spokane see below-register now so you don't end up with late charges!

Looking farther ahead: Call Bear Creek Lodge to arrange lodging for the Feb 27-Mar 2 weekend.  It should be a blast!

Mt Spokane Nordic Cup

Junior National Qualifier

U14 Championship

Date: February 14-15, 2015

Location: Selkirk Lodge, Mt. Spokane State Park

Registration details: http://spokanenordic.org/nordic_cup Online registration ends noon Feb 13, 2015

Early Registration: before or on February 11, 2015

Late Registration: starting Feb 12, 2015 $10 per day late. Same day registrants are seeded at the back of the pack

Under 14  and younger cost: $20 for one day, $35 for two days

Under 16 and up cost: $30 for one day, $55 for two days

USSA members: an additional $10 per day

Race Director:John McCarthy 509.322.5082

Publicity:Amy Burns 509.710.2232 and Ann Torigoe-Hawkins 509.455.8878

Saturday - 2/14/2015
Classic - All Races Mass Start
Time	Category	Distance
9:00 AM	U16 (M)	5 K
9:15 AM	U16 (F)	5 K
9:45 AM	U18 - U23 (F)	5 K
10:00 AM	U18 - U23 (M)	10 K
Course Change
11:00 AM	U14 (M)	3 K
11:15 AM	U14 (F)	3 K
11:30 AM	U12 (boys & girls)	3 K
Course Change
12:00 PM	U10 (boys & girls)	1 K
Sunday - 2/15/2015
Skate - All Races 15 sec. Interval Start
Time	Category	Distance
9:00 AM	U16 (M)	5 K
9:15 AM	U16 (F)	5 K
9:30 AM	U18-U23 (F)	10 K
10:00 AM	U18-U20 (M)	10 K
Course Change
11:00 AM	U14 (M)	3 K
11:15 AM	U14 (F)	3 K
11:30 AM	U12 (boys & girls)	3 K
Course Change
12:00 PM	U10 (boys & girls)	1 K

Jan 28th & Feb 1

Before we get into this week's events, a plug for the future.

Mount Spokane Feb 13-15: The races that were going to be held at Cabin Creek have been moved to Mt. Spokane due to low snow.  We will go to Mt. Spokane Friday after school, ski Saturday and Sunday, and return Sunday (some might stay and ski Monday Presidents Day, as well).  Mt. Spokane has great skiing and put on some nice races.  Last year the total cost of a 2-day trip (lodging, food, gas) was $115.  This does not include race registration costs.  We are again staying at Bear Creek Lodge, about 4 miles from the ski trails.  It would be a great family trip, but kids can come without parents if they want.

If you want to go on this trip I need to know NOW!  Sam, the manager at Bear Creek Lodge, is holding a couple rooms for us, but wants to fill the rooms for the holiday weekend.  If your family is interested in coming and would like your own room, please contact him as soon as possible at 509-238-9114 (room descriptions in link above).  Right now we have some extra space in the "Wedding Suite."  If more people want to go without families, I will need to reserve another room.

Mount Spokane Feb 27-Mar 1: This was when we were originally planning to go to Mt. Spokane.  They are holding some races for U14 kids and the Spokane Nordic Challenge, a 20k, 30k, and 50k ski.  We did it last year and had a blast.  We will stay at Bear Creek Lodge this weekend also.  There are lots of open rooms, but we will need to get them reserved soon.  Please let me know your plans this week so we can get those reservations done.

This week:

Wednesday 3:30 EHS Parking Lot- drive to Cabin Creek- SKATING.  Return 6:45

Sunday 10AM-noon Cabin Creek CLASSIC

Despite the low snow, the skiing has been great.  It has been wonderful watching everyone improve and enjoy skiing!  See you soon.

Jan 21 & 25th

It was fantastic skiing in the Methow.  Congratulations to all the racers: Gwynie, Gavin, Isak, Jed & Uhuru.  Racing is a great way to challenge yourself and improve.  I told these racers that I have been first and I have been last in races.  The races I am most proud of are not those I won- they are the ones where I did something I previously thought was impossible.  Usually it was faster people who helped me have these breakthroughs.  The Methow races were challenging, with strong skiers and difficult courses.  Gwynie, Gavin, Isak, Jed and Uhuru did a great job representing Ellensburg.  Uhuru and Jed ended up making the podium (top 3) in their respective races.  People are getting used to seeing those bright yellow suits!

Over the weekend we had sun, powder, a rainbow, actual rain, then snow and more sun.  It was fantastic skiing.

On to this week:

Wednesday: Cabin Creek SKATING.  Depart EHS parking lot 3:30 (sooner if we can).  Skate until 5:45, Return 6:45. Last week was fantastic skiing- and it was fun to be out there with other junior teams: both The Bush School and Momentum Northwest were out- so there were LOTS of headlamps out there!  Bring a headlamp.  Last week we had plenty of space for all skiers (so parents shouldn't have to drive.)

Sunday: EITHER 10AM-noon SKATING at Cabin Creek or Jente Loppet at Hyak (if it happens- the website has not been updated).  The Jente Loppet is primarily a women's race but has offered a nice race for youth under 18.  I'll update the page when I hear more.

Finally, looking way ahead, Spokane is hosting a weekend of junior races Feb 28-Mar 1 and the Spokane Nordic Challenge (20k, 30km, and 50k options).  Several skiers participated in this event last year and had a wonderful time.  If you are interested send me an email.  Last year we all stayed at Bear Creek Lodge, which was very convenient to the skiing.   If we want to repeat this experience we should start making lodging arrangements.