Name: Redtop Mountain
Start: 2023-01-22T00:00:00-08:00
End: 2023-01-22T23:59:59-08:00

Past Activity

Redtop Mountain

Start date: 01/22/2023
Start time: 12:00 AM
End date: 01/22/2023
End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

The Obsidians have been leading ski trips up Red Top Mountain since 1940, the era of the Snow Trains which sometimes unloaded at Crescent Lake. Nowadays, with splitboards and AT bindings, it has become quite a popular destination. Please bring climbing skins that fit your boards, although in good snow conditions it is possible to climb up using fish scales or pattern bases. If the snow is deep our group may ski down the steep shots to the north side of the mountain and pass Pretty Lake on the way out. We usually ski up for about 3 hours and down for at least 90 minutes.

Event Leader: Gordon Sayre
Event Leader Phone: 541-515-9450
Event Leader Email: gsayre@uoregon.edu
Assistant Leader: Harold Thompson
Event category: Trips
Area Type: Mountain
Departure Location: Lane Community College, parking lot nearest stoplight
Rating: Difficult
Roundtrip total drive miles: 160
Season: 2023
Permits Required:
- Wilderness Area
- Snow Park
Event Status: Passed
Supplies and Equipment Required: backountry boots, skis and climbing skins, warm clothing, lunch, ten essentials.
participant prerequisites:
Conditions:
Total Distance: 8
Member Fees: —
Elevation Gain: 2100
Non-Member Fees: 5
Committee: Trips
Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

The annual Red Top Mountain ski trip was a great success. My research in the archives shows Obsidians first skied down Red Top in 1940 during one of the snow train excursions to Crescent Lake. This time two cars drove on slippery roads to the Crescent Lake sno-park, next to the new RR maintenance depot. We were the only party of skiers on the mountain that day. Four to five inches of fresh snow at the base increased to nearly a foot at the summit, where we arrived after three hours of steady climbing. Clear skies, light wind, and amazing views enhanced our lunch break. We skied back down the same route, enjoying excellent turns. It was the best of Oregon Cascades backcountry.