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Past Activity

Midnight Lake xSki

  • Start date: 02/09/2025

  • Start time: 8:30 AM

  • End date: 02/09/2025

  • End time: 5:00 PM

Description:

We will plan to do a loop from Gold Lake Sno-Park, heading up the PCT to Midnight Lake, following the link trail down to Abernethy Road, and down that road, past Bechtel Shelter and back to the Sno-Park. Route might be changed if conditions are icy/unfavorable. This is a good first-of-the-season trip for Intermediate skiers, but is NOT appropriate for beginners.

Note: People who sign up on the Wait List, up to a maximum of 10, may participate if able to arrange transportation to Gold Lake Sno-Park.

Photo by: Frances Spector

  • Event Leader: Sue Wolling

  • Event Leader Phone: 541-345-2110

  • Event Leader Email: sue.wolling@gmail.com

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Mountain

  • Departure Location: South Eugene High School, 19th & Patterson

  • Rating: Moderate

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 140

  • Season: 2025

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: Skis, boots & poles--check your equipment if this is your first trip of the year! Wear layers of non-cotton clothing, hat, gloves and gaiters if you use them. Bring water and food, sunglasses/sunscreen if appropriate. We're usually short of drivers, so please come prepared to drive if you could drive--and bring a Sno-Park permit if you have one (I've got one to offer a driver)

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 6

  • Member Fees: —

  • Elevation Gain: 600

  • Non-Member Fees: 5

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

The Midnight Lake Cross-Country ski trip that was cancelled in December finally happened on Feb. 9. It was Super Bowl Sunday, which probably helped keep the traffic down, both on the road and on the trail. After an unexpectedly little slide while driving up, Steve decided to put chains on, even though they were not, strictly speaking, required for his vehicles. Fortunately, his new chains were remarkably easy to watch him put on, and we were back on the road quickly. At the trail, we were delighted to find soft, fluffy snow. That snow turned out to be surprisingly slippery for the ascent up the PCT to Midnight Lake, making that climb more arduous than any of us recalled from the past (Please keep your comments about age and fitness to yourself!) After one little troublesome encounter between Frances and a tree well, we made it up to Midnight Lake for lunch in the warm sunshine and clear blue skies. The rolling terrain of the tie-in trail, and then a glide down Abernethy Road back to the sno-park made us forget all about the hard work going up. It was a beautiful day in the snowy forest.

Gallery