Plain XC Skiing, 2019 -- "In January the sun will not melt the ice."

Map of the XC ski trails at Plain

A couple of weeks ago when we went over Stevens Pass to Leavenworth to XC ski along Icicle Creek we decided to check out Plain, another nearby XC ski area, before heading back home.  It looked good so this week we went there to ski.  Unfortunately there has not been any new snow for about three weeks; therefore, even though it is groomed daily the tracks were mostly solid ice!  For those unfamiliar with XC skiing, there are basically two types; the classic gliding style that uses tracks and the skating method, much faster and takes more energy, that uses the middle portion of the groomed trails.  It is possible to do the classic gliding in the middle but it requires more skill.  Up until now I have not felt confident enough to try skiing outside the tracks but this time the middle section was much safer than those icy tracks where I was slipping backwards almost as much as gliding forward.  As Bob says, “In January the sun will not melt the ice.” 

Plain Hardware

Day XC ski pass

The ski pass purchased at Plain Hardware was attached to the jacket, we were given a map of the trails, and off we went.  The total network of trails covers over 24 km or about 15 miles.  It was a gorgeous day, cold and crisp when we started out, lots of sunshine and beautiful blue sky.  The snow had sparkles as the day warmed up to just above freezing.  The trails are wide enough that we could ski side-by-side, which is not always possible.  Also we went on the main or Blue trail, intermediate level, as well as the Green trail, beginner.  Along the way we met a local couple who provided some helpful hints and admitted that this year’s snow was about 1/3 the amount of prior years.   

 Nearing Hot Tub Hill

Considering the icy conditions we followed their advice and skied to Hot Tub Hill, near Mt. Springs Lodge on the map, and turned around to head back a slightly different route along Meadow Loop, one of the Green trails.  If there is more new snow, and less ice, we will go back and venture farther out.  As it was we we skied a total of about 2 hours.  On a good snow day, I think, we would stay at least one hour longer. 

 Rounding the corner we saw these Red Twig Dogwood bushes with new, pretty red tops

 Most of the evergreen trees in Eastern Washington are pines like these

Close up of a pine tree dusted in snow and ice

The ski area at Plain is pastureland that is opened for skiing in the winter.  It is mostly flat although there are some small dips and hills and a couple of larger hills. 

Most of the trails are relatively flat

Due to the hard, icy conditions one small hill had to be sidestepped up because the fish scales on the bottom of the XC skis would not grab and consequently there was major slippage backward.  It is difficult to explain what icy snow sounds like when XC skiing.  It is sort of a harsh scraping, cracking, crunching sound.  Whereas skiing on powder snow is almost silent.  On this same hill on the return trip Bob went down first and caught a “snow snake,” almost falling.  Snow snakes are clumps of snow that stick to the ski and cause jerking instead of gliding.  I took off my skis and walked down that section fearing that my sense of balance and recovery were not as good as his and the snake would get me for sure.

We ended a very nice day with no falls, a burger at Zeke’s, and not too much traffic on the way back home.