April 3 - BPA Powerline Corridor

After glimpsing this seemingly endless, straight corridor through the central Oregon trees, I had to come back and give it a shot. How far south does it go?

I skied approximately 40 miles south from Chemult along the powerline until it hit Route 97. It keeps going, but I was toast and stopped there.

For the most part, it's flat. The last few miles before hitting 97 are actually quite hilly and were tiring to get up and over in the heat of mid morning.

For the Trans Oregon, the powerline may be preferrable to the long (50 mile), remote snow mobile trail that goes from Annie Creek Sno Park in Fort Klamath up to Route 138. The powerline is close to the road and also crosses several roads. It is less committing than the "all or nothing" 50 miler.

The powerline is a crust cruising highway. An out and back from Chemult (Walt Haring Sno Park) to Route 138 at the Diamond Lake Junction is a perfect early morning 20 miler.

At several points along the route I could look straight down the cut for over 20 miles.

Here is what it looks like. And here.