Methow Community Trail — Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022

Bottom Line:

Classic cross-country ski on Methow Community Trail from Winthrop ~4 miles out and back (8 miles RT); deep powder snow even with overnight grooming and ample wildlife; beautiful conditions with warmer temperatures ~15F but periods of poor visibility. Excellent grooming and warming huts if needed.

Stats:

• Distance: ~8 miles
• Duration: 2-1/4 hours
• Road/Parking: Heavy snowfall with compact snow on the roads; parked at the Winthrop trailhead next to the skating rink; no parking fee but the cross-country access fee is $28 per person per day (available online, or at a community store)
• Weather: Cloudy with heavy snowfall, light powder filling the groomed classic track, more so the farther out one goes; poor visibility at times, especially in the open fields where there is not a lot of contrast; temperature ~15F, much warmer than the day before (~5F)
• Trail: Out-and-back route through woods, open fields, bridges across creeks and warming huts; beautiful mountain views when the low cloud lifted periodically; lots of wildlife congregating in the valley bottom, from mule deer, to the eagles shown here; deep snow with excellent coverage; fall color as many trees still have leaves (!!) with Western Larch still showing color at higher elevations
• Takeaway: Beautiful Method Valley cross-country skiing trails for classic or skate, with interesting terrain features, landscapes and views; excellent snow conditions and deep snow pack; this particular trail goes all the way up the valley to Mazama ~14 miles one-way; Mazama store and Public House (with Schoolhouse Brewery selections on tap) are conveniently located at the Mazama trailhead

More Information on this Trip Report

• https://methowtrails.org/