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!  

Nov 7th - Early Season - WOTD

New snow in the valley, 16" so far at my house, and it's close enough to looking like ski season that it warrants a start of the wax discussion....

There might be skiing somewhere today.    Temps near freezing in the valley, but cooling is in the forecast.   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 Yellow or Swix 8 should be good in the valley.    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.      Even though the snow isn't particularly cold, it is definitely fresh and new dendrites, so a soft wax will clump up very easily, thus I'm picking the slightly cooler wax.

Have fun out there!  

March 20-something WOTD

Below freezing overnight.  Expected high temp in the low 50's.   

Spring conditions! 

Glide Wax:    Toko Red/Yellow mix  or Swix 8  or  Vauhti Pure Mid/pink or Wet/yellow in the afternoon..   .

Grip Wax:    Try a universal klister like Vauhti Uni, Toko Red, or Swix Uni.

Skin skis will make life easier if you're not keen on messing with klister in varying temps. 

The end of the season is a good time to get a fresh stone grind and storage wax so that your skis are like new for next winter!

Feb 26th - WOTD & Shuttle Info

20F  at 6:30.  Expected high temp near 30 and mostly cloudy.   

Spring conditions, except cold.

Glide Wax:    Toko Red or Swix 7  or  Vauhti Pure Mid (pink) or LDR .

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

Skin skis will make life easier if you're not keen on messing with klister!   

SHUTTLE BUS ON SATURDAY

On each Saturday from January 1 - February 26, Methow Trails offers transportation service between Winthrop and Mazama for those looking for a one-way ski journey along the iconic Methow Community Trail.  The shuttle is free, but a valid ski trail pass is required.  MASKS REQUIRED

Pick-up times are:

• Winthrop Town Trailhead 10:00am
• Brown's Farm Trailhead 10:15am
• Mazama Trailhead 11:00am
• Brown's Farm Trailhead 11:15am