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!  

Nov 30 - Pow Alert! - WOTD

New fluffy cold snow!    About 10 inches of fresh snow fell overnight!

Temps this morning are around 12 F on the valley floor. and will be climbing to the low twenties during the day today.     

Wax recommendations:

Glide - Toko Blue or Swix 5 should be good.    You could also try one of the liquid waxes that apply without aerosol, like Vauhti Blue or Green .  

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.       Tip:  in unconsolidated new snow, wax a couple inches longer than normal in the front and back to help with grip;  the fluffy new snow tends to shear, and a longer wax pocket will resist that.

Have fun out there!  

Expect closures and and late openings today. 

Nov 9th - WOTD

There will be skiing in several zones today; check the grooming report.    Temps this morning at 4 degrees (near Winthrop) and a little warmer near Mazama, but raising above freezing in the valley during the day today.   Keep in mind that the ground under the new snow is not frozen, so the snow will behave warmer than the air temperature.

Wax recommendations:

Glide - Toko Red or Swix 6 should be good in the morning.    Possibly a step warmer in the afternoon.    You could also try one of the liquid waxes from Vauhti that apply without aerosol.  

Grip -- A lot of people will look to their old fish scale bases or newer skin skis for early season in transitional temperatures, and that seems pretty brilliant to me.       

If you're a traditionalist and want some reliable early season grip, then try something like Toko Blue or Swix Blue Extra or Vauhti Blue in the morning, but in the afternoon it will be more like Toko Red, Vauhti Carrot or Swix 45.     

Have fun out there!  

Nov 8th - WOTD

New snow in the valley, another 6" overnight brings the two day total to 22" at my house, and it's officially ski season.

There will be skiing somewhere today; check the grooming report.    Temps this morning at 22 degrees, but raising above freezing in the valley during the day today.   Keep in mind that the ground under the new snow is not frozen, so the snow will behave warmer than the air temperature.

Wax recommendations:

Glide - Toko Red or Swix 7 should be good in the morning.    Possibly a step warmer in the afternoon.    You could also try one of the liquid waxes from Vauhti that apply without aerosol.  

Grip -- A lot of people will look to their old fish scale bases or newer skin skis for early season in transitional temperatures, and that seems pretty brilliant to me.       But if you're a traditionalist and want some reliable early season grip, then try something like Toko Red or Swix 45, which should be decent grip without much fear of icing up.      

Have fun out there!