Methow skate skiing

Cath and I arrived yesterday midday here in the amazing Methow valley. Everyone talks about how much snow is here. Seems like a lot to us, but we don't really know any different. We're staying at Nancy & Nigel's Eagle Pine chalets. Fun, but no heat when we arrived. Got hold of N&N in California, and they told us where to find some space heaters. Got things fired up so by the middle of the night we woke up to an oven!

Skied the main trail around Winthrop yesterday. Just could not believe how nice it was. Mostly flat, hardly any people, along the river part of the way. We skied several miles together, then I continued up to Wolf Ridge and back via Power Plunge. That was beyond my skill level for sure! But there wasn't anyone around to make fun of my style so I went for it anyway. Later I learned that there are a few hungry cougars around looking for idiots like me on lonely trails on ridges at dusk.

Today we met up with Ed & Char in Mazama, then skied together up to the suspension bridge. Easy trail, spectacular going through the woods and over the streams - really cool. Then Ed, Catherine, and I continued on for more easy skiing through the forest up to Mazama Country Inn. Char met us up there and picked up Cath. Ed and I gave ourselves a good workout skiing back. Really a nice run. Then had a delicious soup with Ed & Char at their wonderful Mazama home.

Met with Beth and Sharon - yet more wonderful cross country skiing people - at Duck Brand this evening and they told us all about trails at the end of the road. If the weather is ok tomorrow, that's what we'll do!