Ski Across Oregon

The Concept

A multi day continuous cross country ski trip (almost) across Oregon from south to north, on the east side of the Cascade Crest.

Background

In the fall of 2007 I discovered you can ski the entire length of Vermont (300 miles) on the Catamount Trail. I immediately wondered...why don't we have that in Oregon?

New England has the ski culture, but Oregon has the snow and elevation.

With its deep snow pack, high elevation, mild climate, existing network of forest service roads, and beautiful scenery, Oregon is an ideal place for a long distance cross country ski traverse.

Many roads and trails are groomed for snow machining in the winter. Packed surfaces allow for much faster ski travel than traditional backcountry conditions, which often involve breaking trail. What could take weeks in deep snow might take only a few days on packed trails.

The Route

You can ski from Ashland (route 66 east of town) all the way to Santiam Pass on groomed snow machine trails, passing such amazing features as Crater Lake, Mount Thielsen, Diamond Lake, and the Three Sisters along the way.

There is a great map of the existing snow machine trails here.

If you are familiar with the PCT, the route goes a little to the east of that most of the way.

Estimated distance from Ashland to Santiam Pass is 250-300 miles. This is maybe 2/3 of the distance across Oregon from south to north. The remaining section from Santiam Pass to Mt. Hood is more mountainous, and east side access is restricted because of the Warm Springs Reservation. Present goal is just to ski the continuous snow machine trails from Ashland to Sisters or Santiam Pass.

Detailed Route Description

Moving south to north, from Ashland to Sisters, the route is naturally split into sections by road crossings.

Distances are estimates.

*Section 1 - Route 66 to Route 140*

Distance: 40 miles

Section 1 begins east of Ashland on route 66. There is a Sno Park near the entrance road to Hyatt Lake. The route ends at the Lake of the Woods Sno Park on Route 140, the road from Medford to Klamath Falls.

*Section 2 - Route 140 to Route 62*

Distance: 40 miles

Section 2 begins at the Lake of the Woods Sno Park on Route 140. Ski north past Pelican Butte and Cold Springs and finish at the Annie Creek Sno Park just outside the town of Fort Klamath. Amazing views down into Upper Klamath Basin.

*Section 3 - Route 62 to Route 138 / Chemult*

Distance: 70 miles

First big day. Section 3 begins at the Annie Springs Sno Park on Route 62 just north of Fort Klamath. Ski up the east side of Crater Lake National Park until you hit Route 138. Head east to the town of Chemult on Route 97.

*Section 4 - Route 138 / Chemult to Elk Lake Resort*

Distance: 60 miles

Second big day. Head north out of Chemult, cross Route 58, continue north on Cascade Lakes Highway to Elk Lake Resort.

*Section 5 - Elk Lake Resort to Sisters*

Distance: 40 miles

Continue north along Cascade Lakes Highway toward Mount Bachelor, head off to the north at Todd Lake and continue on to Three Creeks Sno Park in Sisters.

*Section 6 - Extra Credit - Sisters to Santiam Pass*

Distance: 25 miles

Not sure if I will stop at Sisters or continue to Santiam Pass.

In the Old Days

Long distance ski tours and races used to be more common in Oregon. The most famous example of this genre was the Crater Lake Wilderness Ski Race, which ran annually from 1927 to 1938. The 42 mile race climbed 2800' from Fort Klamath to Crater Lake Lodge and attracted hundreds of spectators.

In 1929 the race was won by Oregon ski pioneer Emil Nordeen, after whom the current Great Nordeen race at Mount Bachelor is named.

For an amazing read on the history of the Crater Lake Wilderness Ski Race, go here.