Loup South Summit info

 Hey folks,

There's a new blog with general info and grooming updates for Loup Loup South Summit Nordic Skiing.. 

Click on the link to get there, and of course bookmark that for easy future access.

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!  

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

Dec 29th - WOTD & Ski Rodeo Info

Happy Holidays!

0F at 6:30 a.m.    Clear skies, and high temp around 10F.

Glide Wax:  Toko Blue, Swix 4, or try liquid Vauhti PURE Blue for the easy application an no iron.

Grip Wax.   RODE Alaska, Vauhti Green, Toko Mint, Swix 30

Great skiing out there!     ...warmer tomorrow...

Ski Rodeo December 29th Presented by Nordic Ultratune 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 km Freestyle Mass Start Races (plus a lollipop race for the little ones!) Find the Latest Details on the Event Webpage Register Via Webscorer Registration closes at Noon on Tuesday Dec 28! No day of race registration!

Register Now!

Feb 5 - WOTD

31 F at 6:00 a.m.   ...expected high of 41F.

Glide Wax:   Toko Yellow,  or Swix 10

Grip Wax:  Klister - you will want something like Start Wide, Toko Red or Swix Universal Klister.

(conditions vary considerably by location, elevation, and time of day)

Of course the skin skis or other grip technologies will be an easy option for today.    

Skate skiing will be fast on anything that has been groomed today.

Jan 19th - WOTD

14F  at 6:00 a.m.     Crusty but fast!  Warming to low 30's today.

Glide Wax:   Toko Red or Swix 6

Grip Wax:  Early morning, use a cold Klister like Toko Blue or Rode Blue Klister.     Later in the day, when things are warmer, try Swix Universal Klister, Toko Red Klister or Start Wide Uni, 

Of course the skin skis or other grip technologies will be an easy option for today.    

Skate skiing will be quite fast on anything that has been groomed today.  

Jan 1st, 2021 - WOTD

Happy New Year!

26F at 6:30 a.m.      A bit of new snow.  Conditions continue to be terrific!   

Glide Wax:    Toko Red or Swix 7

Grip Wax:     Vauhti Carrot, or Rode Super Extra Blue, or Toko Red, or Swix Special Violet...    easy! 

If you're having trouble with grip in the unconsolidated, loose new snow, try waxing thin and longer, and not moving to a warmer grip wax. 

Of course you can also use a skin ski or fish scale base classic ski to keep it easy.

Skate skiing will be terrific today!

Nov 29 - WOTD

Temp is 16F at 7:30 a.m.  Temps rising up to just above freezing during the middle of the day.

Glide Wax:  Toko Red or Swix 7.

Grip Wax:  START Oslo Blue or Toko Red over a klister binder.    Or go with a waxless option like a skin ski, which will work through the whole spectrum.     

Skating looks like my pick for today...   ...but getting out into the snow should be the highest priority!

Nov 17 WOTD

A foot of new snow, and Methow Trails has their work cut out for them - getting everything groomed will be a big effort. 

32 degrees at 7:30 a.m. with wet sticky snow everywhere.   Warming in the afternoon..

Glide Wax:     Toko Yellow mix or Swix 7.   

Grip Wax:    Toko Yellow or Swix 60 might do the job;  it is wet and sticky.   As temps warm up and snow falls, waxing may get tricky.     You can always use those skin skis or fish scale base skis too.       Note that you might want to carry some sort of anti-icing treatment for the base of your fish scale or skin skis.  

Or skate where it's groomed!   That would be an easy option.