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Tag Archives: MVSTA

Methow Valley Pursuit

This weekend MVSTA is hosting the Methow Valley Pursuit – two days of Nordic ski races. Today is a skate race with skiers going the 30k from Mazama to Winthrop. It is a slow course today with lots of new snow and more falling during the race. Yesterday was the classic race that began and ended at Winthrop’s Town Trailhead. During the race I helped with traffic control where the trail crosses Twin Lakes Road. In between cars, I made a few images.

 

 

Nicely groomed trails ready for racers and other skiers

 

This fellow biked up from town

 

He just wanted to go skiing. The course was open to any skiers – we just asked that they watch out for the racers

 

And off he goes

 

Lots of really excellent racers in this field

 

 

 

Great fashions

 

All ages

 

And always – having fun!

 

 

 

Snowflakes in my Eyes

Skate skiing is meant to be done on groomed trails. The MVSTA folks do a good job – grooming many if not all of the 200k of trails every night. That’s great after a fresh snow fall. Today I made the mistake of going skiing right when the heaviest snow came down, at least on the lower part of the Community Trail. It must have snowed a couple inches in the hour or so I was out there. And I don’t have any glasses or goggles for this type of weather so there I went with my head facing down to keep the snow out of my eyes! It wasn’t too cold and the snow was light and powdery and my skis glided through it pretty easily but still, it wasn’t as much fun as other days out there. Don’t get me wrong, I am happy for any snow that falls this winter. My timing was just bad for skiing today. The skies are clearing now.

 

 

Only 25k to Mazama

 

5k back to town!

 

 

Scenes from the Town Trailhead

One of my volunteer ‘jobs’ is to be an ambassador for the Methow Valley Sports Trails Association (MVSTA). Today I was at Town Trailhead in Winthrop. It’s always interesting to visit with the skiers and give them a hand as needed and find out where they are from. During the holiday season, it is especially busy.

Last night we had a nice snowfall but then rain fell on top of it. The groomers did a pretty good job, turning the new snow into the famed corduroy surface that everyone loves to ski on. The sun came out and it was nearly like spring skiing! Too early. More snow is in the forecast this week.

There were lots of Bald Eagles and Pygmy Nuthatches for avian entertainment, two birds on opposite ends of the size spectrum.

But first, before I left the house, there was a valley-spanning rainbow (snowbow?)

The parking lot was a little bit sloppy

Early skate tracks in the corduroy

And the classic tracks ready for skiers

Skiers of all ages in their colorful outfits

And the new pedestrian bridge so you can ski to downtown, the rental shops, the pub, the art gallery and various other establishments

Skiing and more skiing

With snow continuing almost daily, it seems like spring is a long ways away. A person may as well go skiing.

Suspension bridge across the Methow for skiers.

suspension bridge 0303

 

Friendly mules along the trail

mules along the ski trail

 

The white one didn’t like the brown one

mules along the ski trail

 

This one tried to eat my trail pass

mules along the ski trail

 

ski trail 0303