The forecast called for a 50% chance of rain today, but we won the coin flip and had a dry day of cross country skiing. Because of the high snow levels and possible refreezing over night, we thought it best to go skiing on a groomed trail today. Mark and I picked the common corridor up the Cold Creek Road to Windy Pass. The common corridor is groomed by the ski area, but backcountry skiers are allowed to ski this section of road without buying a trail pass. To get to the common corridor, we skied the Iron Horse Trail from the Hyak SnoPark lot. We skied the groomed route noting the numbers on the nearby power poles. When the number reached 1143 we skied past the next unnumbered pole which should be pole 1142 and then looked for the connector trail on the right side of the Iron Horse Trail. The connector trail is marked by blue diamonds and usually there are ski tracks or boot prints on the trail. The connector trail is short and steep so many skiers choose to walk it. The connector trail reaches the Cold Creek Road at the start of the common corridor. We turned left there and headed for Windy Pass. Both the Iron Horse Trail and the Cold Creek Road had nicely groomed surfaces and the skiing was quite pleasant. At Windy Pass the snow off the groomed road was heavy and thick, but not the frozen crud we had feared. So we headed up the Nordic Pass Trail to Nordic Pass. A map of the Nordic Pass Trail can be obtained by emailing nordicpasstrail@yahoo.com. Just before reaching Windy Pass, if you look off to the right you can see a couple of blue diamonds in the distance and if you look more carefully you can see a Nordic Pass trail sign above the diamonds. From the sign on, the blue diamonds lead straight up the hillside. We couldn't climb that steeply so we made our own switchbacks up through the widely spaced trees. The grade lessens and then the trail drops down a bit to a snow gauging site. From there it is a short distance up to Nordic Pass. When the snow is nice we enjoy the challenge of skiing down the Nordic Pass Trail back to Hyak, but not today. After eating lunch we retraced our route back to the car. The run down from Windy Pass was a blast. The road was fast, but the groomed surface gave us plenty of control. We had a great day of skiing on a day that didn't seem too promising.

This trip was done last Sunday. The previous day Hiker Jim and Sadie's Driver broke trail the first 3 miles toward Nordic Pass. Today HJ joined us to continue the hike. We were also joined by Silly Traveler (her first showshoe trip). After the first 3 miles we broke trail to Nordic Pass. The route is marked with blue diamonds on tree trunks or hanging from limbs. We then continued to the west ridge of Mt. Catherine, where we found fresh ski tracks. The snow was perfect for climbing, so we easily followed the tracks to the summit. We had terrific views of Granite, Silver, Mt. Rainier, and Mt. Stuart. This is an outstanding snowshoe trip because the avalanche danger is very low, and the road walk to the trailhead is very short. Please contact us through our web site for more information, or see Jim K's report on nwhikers.net.

Gorgeous day. A little foggy starting out in the lowlands (even on Mt. Queen Anne) - but clear at Snoqualmie Pass. Jim K and I agreed a moderate snowshoe was in order since daughter #2 was out on her first snowshoe trip with new 'shoes for her birthday. BF Mike borrowed the Tubbs. Sadie and Clover were ready for anything. Not many folks at the Hyak parking lot considering it was 9:00 a.m. when we got there. We walked up to the start of the Nordic Pass trail - not much of a wall to crawl over - but the snow was deep to start at the creek crossing. Creek crossing was pretty easy. The snow wasn't as deep as the last time HJ and I did Nordic Pass in March '06. Although Opus and friends had been here earlier in the week - there wasn't a trace of their trench. There was perhaps 2' of new snow. But Jim remembered much of the early part of the trail, even without benefit of visible blue diamonds. For the most part, however, we were able to find the diamonds and being polite, everyone allowed me to go first (huffing and puffing my way along). We made it up to the powerlines without much difficulty. We continued on (the blue diamond trail is a little west of where you come up onto ""I-90"" and just before you reach the next set of poles) and headed toward the meadow that leads to the lake. At the edge of the lake, we hit the Atlas Snowshoe track again. We stopped for a few photos at the Lake and then continued on the blue diamond trail -Katie's keen eyes kept finding the blue diamonds. About a 1/2 mile or so from the lake you reach a groomed road - from here the diamond following is a little dicey - but HJ and I remembered the basic route - and you can see Nordic Pass to the South - we wandered along the road for a little bit . . . then Katie spotted a blue diamond and we were headed back into the woods for the last mile to Nordic Pass. We followed some cross country ski tracks and skirted Egg Leg, and headed back to where we found some blue diamonds. But Katie was running out of steam, so we stopped about 1/2 mile short of the Pass, sat in the sun and had some lunch. It was lovely - brisk, but no wind. After a nice lunch, down we headed back to the car. It took us about 3 hours up and a little more than an hour back. Lovely day for a showshoe. HJ is headed back on Sunday with Trail Pair and Silly Traveler. They'll appreciate a nice trench and likely will get close to the summit of Mt. Catherine. (trip taken on Saturday, Dec. 2)

Dear Opus - thank you for your trail to Mt. Catherine. Your friend, Sadie. Ok, Ok, so Sadie went up the Nordic Pass trail last weekend - but she never made it to Nordic Pass - her drive was too busy putting up blue diamonds and just didn't make it as far as we hoped. However, today, Hiker Jim, Sadie and I took about 1 1/2 hours to go as far as it took us 4 hours last weekend! This is a wonderful trail for snowshoers as well as skiers. There is low avalanche risk - even up to the top of Mt. Catherine. Start at the Hyak (East Summit) ski area parking lot (approx. 2400') - cross the street and go up Snoqualmie Drive loop (for a detailed report, more pictures, better directions and a map go to www.hikingnorthwest.com). It looked like several people had ventured up the path since last weekend - certainly more people than had used the trail previously. We had little difficulty following the blue diamonds. You gain about 1600' in the approx. 4 miles to Nordic Pass (Pass at approx. 4000'). You're in forest for about 2/3s of the trail to the Pass. Once at the Pass, we went a little farther south on the trail that would eventually end up at Windy Pass - however, we weren't headed all the way to Windy Pass. In fact, just a little beyond the Weather Station (100 yards from the Nordic Pass sign) we followed the tracks Opus had made the day before (March 4th) up the ridge towards the top of Mt. Catherine. Yes, there are some steep parts - but fortunately, the snow was in great condition and made the climb easier. It was a lovely walk through the trees towards the top of Catherine (see pic). There are about 4 ""bumps"" that you go up and down up to the summit - and even some lovely flat spots that make the hike interesting. We followed the tracks all the way to where Opus turned around. Jim attempted to complete the final 40-50' to the top. But the snow was deep and a bit ""slide-y"" so he opted to be happy with getting close. It took us about 1 hour and 20 minutes to go from Nordic Pass to (almost) the summit. It took us 30 minutes to get back to Nordic Pass! It was a quick trip back to the car. Four hours up - 2 hours back. We opted to take the Atlas Snowshoe route back from Hyak Lake to where the trail crossed the blue diamonds again, just above the railroad grade. In all, about a 10 mile hike and about 2800' of gain. It was a great hike - much better weather than predicted - hardly any precipitation - just a tiny bit of snow - much better than the 3"" of snow predicted (or worse yet, the rain that was falling in Seattle when we left and followed us to about North Bend). Sadie didn't mind the trip repeat. After all, any day is a good day when you're on a trail.

Kudos to HikerJim and his pal Gary for all the work on the Nordic Pass trail! I headed up there today to check it out on a late decision trip. Parked at the Gold Creek SnoPark and headed up to the trailhead after a wrong turn. Climbed up the snowwall, down into the creek, and back up to see the Nordic Pass trail sign. Only two old XC tracks, partly filled in with recent snow. Put on my snowshoes and headed up along the diamonds. A little ways in I hit a snowshoe route marked with ""Atlas Snowshoes"" route markers. I followed this from here on up to the powerlines, across the groomed road, and then up to Hyak Lake. At the top there was a decent sized crowd hanging around the ski patrol cabin. Took some photos, had a snack, watched the skiers, then headed up between the groomed routes towards the large powerlines. I turned right and followed the lines east to rejoin the Nordic Pass trail. Found another sign and continued along the diamonds. Shortly I had to cross another groomed run and then entered the dense trees. Skirted frog lake and slowly climbed up towards the pass. Near the pass there is a weird looking radio transmitter cabin. Passed this and at the sign for Windy pass I headed for the ridgeline. Followed the ridgeline up towards Catherine. Slow going as my snowshoes were starting to ball up with snow. Had to stop often to clean them. Some steep sections here but nothing exposed as long as you stay away from the north sides of the ridge. Below the summit there is a nice clearing with excellent views of Silver, Tinkham, and much of the surrounding peaks. The true summit was very snowloaded and exposed so I called this good. Going back down was equally slow because of the snowcoated snowshoes and I had many unplanned glissades. Many more XC tracks about on the descent back to the car. By now my snowshoe track was a XC skiers highway and I had to break a new fresh trail. Getting late and as I passed the ski patrol hut he asked if anyone else was out there as they were doing a sweep for the night. Many many more snowshoe tracks down near Hyak Lake and the trail was packed down well now. Futher down there were also more ski tracks leading from the trailhead. Trip photos at http://www.pbase.com/billcat/catherine/