March 24th - The End

The ski season has ended in the Methow Valley and it's time to store your skis for next season.

Wax Recommendations from Nordic Ultratune:

Glide - Put a layer of a warm/soft glide wax on your skis to protect the bases and keep them from getting dried out.    Use something like Toko Yellow or Swix 10.      Don't scrape the wax off until ski season!  

Grip  -  As with the glide zone, keeping the kicker covered is a good idea.   You can use something like a good layer of a hardwax binder like Toko Base Green to keep them covered. .       With Skin skis, just keep them clean and dry, but obviously don't smear wax on the skins. 

Store the skis in a ski bag or any place that is moderate in temperature.    

Have a great spring and summer!      See you on the trails!

Early March - WOTD

 It's below freezing early this morning but will warm up quickly once we get to mid-morning

Wax Recommendations from Nordic Ultratune:

Glide -  Toko Red/Yellow mix  or Swix 8 should work.    You could also use one of the fluorine-free non-aerosol liquid glide waxes like Vauhti PURE Mid or Warm .   

Grip  -  Many will favor a waxless option.   Skin skis seems prudent.        

Or, you might try using grip wax.  It's a klister day.    Try Toko Red, or Vauhti LDR or Orange Uni, or Swix Uni.    

Dec 3rd - WOTD

Hello, and welcome to the start of the 2023/24 ski season!

Conditions:

Methow Trails is rolling/packing trails in several areas but the trails aren't open yet.     So don't you dare!    However, there is skiing at Klipchuck Campground!     Thank the volunteer groomers if you see them.

Temps this morning were around 20F through the valley, and it's warming into the day, with light snow.

 Wax Recommendations:

Glide -  Toko Red or Swix 7 should be good through the day.    You could also use one of the non-aerosol liquid glide waxes like Vauhti PURE Blue.

Grip  -   A lot of people will favor a waxless option in the variable early season conditions, and that seems like a reasonable strategy.       Other traditionalists will opt for grip wax.   Toko Red, Vauhti Carrot, or Swix 45 should be good options.  

Have fun out there!

April - WOTD

The snow is melting fast!   Get after it while you still can!

Spring conditions.

Wax recommendations: 

Glide - Toko Yellow or Swix 8  should do the job.   You could also try one of the fluorine-free liquid waxes that apply without aerosol, like Vauhti PURE  LDR (range of 14-41 F) or PURE Pink (warm).

Grip --  Grip will require klister  Try Vauhti Universal (or better yet, Uni LDR), Swix Uni, or Toko Red this morning.   Adjust as conditions change through the day. 

Or you could use fish scale bases or newer skin skis and skip the grip wax altogether.    

Have fun out there!    

When you're ready to put your skis away for the season, don't forget to give them a good cleaning and put a layer of wax on the bases for storage.    It makes a difference. 

Feb 25 - WOTD and Saturday Shuttle Info

It's 8F early this morning, with a high around 23.  Have another cup of coffee before venturing out, and bundle up a bit. 

Wax recommendations:

Glide - Toko Blue or Swix 5  should do the job.     You could also try one of the fluorine-free liquid waxes that apply without aerosol, like Vauhti PURE Polar Green .

Grip --  Try a universal like Vauhti LDR (or Vauhti Orange Uni),  Swix Universal, or Toko Red klister.   

Or you could use fish scale bases or newer skin skis and skip the grip wax altogether.    

Have fun out there! 

Bus Shuttles!

On Saturdays in January and February, Methow Trails offers a bus shuttle between Winthrop and Mazama.   The shuttle is free but a ski trail pass is required.

Pick-up times:

9:00 - Winthrop - Methow Trails Office at 21 Horizon Flats Road

9:15 - Brown's Farm Trailhead

10:00 - Mazama Community Center (red building just east of the Mazama trailhead parking area)

10:15 - Brown's Farm Trailhead

10:30 - Winthrop - Methow Trails Headquarters 

Dec 22 - WOTD

It is cold.   

It's -24F degrees early this morning, with temps rising to around -3F .  

Wax recommendations:

Glide - Toko Blue or Swix 4 should help.  You could admix Toko Extra Cold Powder to extend things further, but when it's this cold I just stare out the window.    You could also try one of the fluorine-free liquid waxes that apply without aerosol, like Vauhti PURE Polar (green). 

Grip --  Try something like  RODE Alaska, Vauhti Green, Toko Mint, RODE Green, or Swix Blue (30).      Or you could use fish scale bases or newer skin skis and skip the grip wax altogether.       

Have fun out there, but cover the exposed skin!    

Dec 10 Powder Alert! - WOTD

9 inches of fresh fluff out there at 9 a.m. and still snowing    It's 19F..    

Expect a high in the upper twenties.

Conditions on the trail will be soft.    You won't be setting speed records today, so enjoy the beauty and perhaps time with friends out in the snow globe.

Wax recommendations:

Glide - Toko Red or Swix 6 should work.    You could also try one of the liquid waxes that apply without aerosol, like Vauhti PURE Blue. 

Grip --  Try something like  Vauhti Blue, Toko Blue, or Swix Blue Extra.      Or you could use fish scale bases or newer skin skis and skip the grip wax altogether.       

Dress warm and have fun out there!