Hello skiers! It’s time to gather and share our season’s stories and our hopes for next year’s snow, and eat pizza. Some of you may not have renewed this year, or didn’t get out to ski, and that’s OK. Come anyway and let us know what we can do better to get people out to enjoy the winter wonderland. It’s been a mixed bag and selecting the best ski opportunities has been tricky but there have been some really good trips, and the season’s not gone yet.
Pizza feed at our usual location: Paddingtons at 410 Pine St. NE, Salem. When: Friday, April 19 at 6:30.
Please let me know if you can make it so I will know how many pizzas to order (and a preferred kind you like). Look forward to seeing you all.
Bob Young 503-621-6626
TOUR REPORTS:
March 16, Saturday: John Craig / McKenzie Pass Tour by John Hortsch I was delighted when my son told me he wanted to ski the John Craig Tour with me this
year. This event is organized by the statewide Orgon Nordic Club. There is a $20.00 fee and is fully supported. There are several folks stationed along the tour to help you if you happen to need assistance. The Mt. Jefferson Snowmobile club grooms the course for classic and skate skis from the starting point at the east gate to the observatory at the summit of the McKenzie pass. There is an elevation gain of 700 feet in about 7 miles. I’ve skied this tour many times. This year the conditions were superb. The weather was excellent also. Usually, there are bare spots in the pavement along the way. Everything was covered with enough snow to ski safely. At the top just before the observatory there is a canyon with very steep drifts and bare pavement caused by the wind as the snow falls. I usually expect to walk in this area. The groomer did an excellent job taming the slopes and filling in the road in the canyon. I was told the groomer spread a 30-foot drift. The surfaces were great for an easy 15 mile trip. I highly recommend this tour. You would
be surprised how far you can ski on a groomed road. The scenery is amazing. Even if you don’t make the summit, great tour.
Highway 242
East side of Mt. Washington from near McKenzie Pass
March 24, Saturday: Ray Benson/Little Nash Traverse by Jim Todd On the fifth try this season Bob, Howard, Jeanne and I finally managed to complete this
tour: down the South Loop from Ray Benson, west around the back sides of Hayrick and Hoodoo, off trail along the west side of the Hoodoo plateau and then down the Hash Brown Loop and Nash Potato trail to Little Nash SnoPark. The cloud ceiling was at 5000’, so no views, and it snowed lightly most of the day; but route has plenty of downhill through interesting terrain. Join us for this one next year; it’s a fine run.
by Jim Todd
March 30, Saturday: Berley Lake Trek by Bob Young With the promise of sunshine and some new snow Bob Lebens, Kim Jones, and I took a
shot at finding our way to Berley Lake. I did this a couple of years ago basically following the Skyline trail out of Santiam Snopark and then off on the old Berley trail. On that trip I found that you could stay lower than the normal path to Santiam Lake but I still got us a bit higher than necessary, requiring a few short downhills. Starting out we had a cold wind but things warmed up and the snow got very soft making progress a lot of work and turns nearly impossible. The final approach to the lake climbs to a saddle in fairly open terrain and then has about the same amount of drop thru thick trees. We had to side step that drop and the climb back out but the view across the lake to Three Finger Jack is fantastic.
We rewarded the effort with a long lunch break on the south side of the saddle in the warm sun with a nice view of Washington. Kim logged the path as just short of 7.5 miles round trip and with the continued softening snow it was a long day and a good workout. More new snow is expected this week but I’m kind of looking forward to spring snow consolidation for more trips out in this area. Don’t hang up the skis yet!
April 6, Saturday: the Three Shelter Tour
by Jeff Starr
On Saturday 4/6 under ideal snow conditions, Jim led Aaron and I on a 3 hut bushwhack of the Ray Benson warming hut system. Rather than sticking to officially marked trails, we took the most direct routes as reasonable to shorten distances and make things interesting. The snow conditions were ideal for off trail travel as we found a firm base with a fluffy soft coating to allow for good diagonal striding both on and off track.
To begin, we made a reasonably straight track to quickly reach the North Blowout Shelter. From the shelter we successfully dropped down the North Blowout, cutting directly onto the midpoint of the Circle Lake Trail. After our lunch at the Island Junction Shelter, the
wind was blowing briskly and the snow was falling heavily. We decided to follow the south end of the Circle Lake Trail to its junction with the Two Buttes Cutoff Trail rather than bushwhack. At the junction, we again ignored official routes and glided straight to the Brandenburg Butte Shelter. Once at Brandenburg, we again ignored the trail system and made a beeline straight back to the parking lot effectively skiing to all 3 shelters in less than 8 miles.
The temperature was 27 degrees when we started and 30 degrees when we finished. There was a gentle wind of 5 to 10 mph most of the day. Although it snowed the whole day, there was maybe an accumulation of an extra inch by the time we ended the day. We all agreed the snow conditions were the best we have seen for off trail travel all winter.
THE TELE CORNER:
As a special edition to the newsletter Howard Simon contributed some great photos and report of skiing the north side of Hood. This kind of touring is available to us as long as you have some skills at getting back down the slopes. Due to the size of the newsletter and the special report we are issuing these as separate documents. Just contact Howard to get in on a longer and more adventurous trip and get away from our little Santiam zone.
WEEKEND DAY TOURS:
There is still plenty of snow to ski on, but spring weather is uncertain and the snow is often challenging. As a result, we will not schedule set tours in April and May. However, that doesn’t mean skiing is over. The club’s snow enthusiasts will be getting out as long as there’s white. Check with Jim, Bob or a skier on the weekday list to see what’s happening on the snow. Spring skiing can be great.
WEEK DAY SKI TOURS
Why not break the shackles that bind you to the calendar this season? Try a mid-week tour. Contact one of the enthusiasts below and arrange an escape from routine. If you want to be added to this list, send your phone and email to Jim Todd, and we’ll include it in the next Newsletter. Likewise, contact Jim, if you want your name removed for this season.
Weekday skiers: Bill Caldwell
Chuck Daellenbach Pat Fuhrman Frank Hoffman John Hortsch Denise Hughes Peggy Mansfield Bill Nelson
Mark Olson Foxie Proctor Denise Sanders Howard Simon Jeff Starr
Jim Todd Jerry Vessello Bob Wells Craig Wojcik Pam Wojcik Bob Young
wbcaldwell1 at q dot com daellenbachc at comcast dot net pfuhrman2002 at yahoo dot com hh_tex at msn dot com
riverjohn at msn dot com salemhughes at gmail dot com pegevtay2 at comcast dot net bnelson at pacificomm dot net mark at olson dot us foxieproctor at comcast dot net dsander at wvi dot com hsimon6755 at gmail dot com jeffstarr3 at gmail dot com toddwac18 at gmail dot com jvess at comcast dot net rawells.evts at gmail dot com> ccwojcik09 at comcast dot net pjwojcik09 at comcast dot net arch.byoung at gmail dot
SUMMER SKIING:
After a two year gap due to bad weather (2022) and road closures (2023) we are resuming our annual ski to Tam McArthur Rim. This great tour will be held as soon as the Forest Service opens the road from Sisters south to Three Creeks Lake. Contact Bob Young (503x621x6626) for details or to sign up for the tour. Bob can only make this if the road opens by mid May but others have done this route enough time that we will endeavor to pull this together.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Tim Faber is offering the ski gear listed below for sale. Contact Tim at 503x999x1367, if you are interested.
Alpina 2050 NNN BC boots, size 46 (12 US) NNN BC bindings Black Diamond 60mm Kicker Skins Tele skis 3 pairs
REI 5° Gortex Shell down sleeping bag
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
as new as new as new used never used
$100 $ 40 $40 $ 20 each $175
The Willamette Chapter has an active volunteer program assisting the Forest Service with ski trail clearing and marking; shelter maintenance; and firewood stocking. Thank you volunteers! For volunteer projects on the Willamette National Forest it is now necessary for volunteers to register individually through Cascade Volunteers athttps://cascadevols.org/volunteer/. Registered volunteers can earn perks like free NW Forest Passes and are covered by FS Workers Comp insurance. You can call Mark Olson (503x559x0728) or Jim Todd (503x378x7003) for the latest information about our club’s volunteer program.
The Forest Service has requested that Willamette Chapter skiers report conditions encountered on winter trails to assist them in deploying their limited staff efficiently. Any information (trail marking, downed trees, parking problems) would be appreciated. Reports can be submitted through Cascade Volunteers at https://cascadevols.org/usfs-work-report/ or by phoning or emailing your observations to Jim Todd.
CROSS-COUNTRY SKI RACING
This has been the a great year of World Cup Cross-Country Skiing for Team USA. The Men’s team had three medalists with Ben Ogden and J. C. Schoonmaker winning Bronze and Gus Schumacher a Gold. The Women’s team had four medal winners with Julia Kern winning a Bronze, Sophia Laukli a Gold, Rosie Brennan multiple Bronze and Silvers and Jessie Diggins winning multiple Bronze, Silver and Gold medals. Jessie ended the season with the trophy as the top women’s skier on the World Cup circuit. Visit https://www.fis-ski.com/cross-country for details of the 2024 World Cup season.
2023-2024 OFFICERS & BOARD MEMBERS:
Vacant Jeanne Miller Bob Young Vacant Vacant Jim Todd David Forkner Pam Wojcik Mark Olson
Christine Young John Hortsch
President Vice President Treasurer & Membership Webmeister Newsletter Editor Day Tour Chair ONC State Board Rep & Board Member Overnight Trip Coordinator & Board Member Volunteer Coordinator & Board Member
After a late start to the ski season there was plenty of snow (occasionally too much) in February. Santiam Pass has nearly seven feet now. Keep your skis handy and be ready for some great spring tours; and remember the John Craig Ski Event on Saturday, March 16.
TOUR REPORTS:
February 10, Saturday: The Parks by Jim Todd So what and where are The Parks? Roughly a square mile of spruce swamp at the base of the Three Pyramids; and you can access it via the snowmobile trail from Big Springs SnoPark. Snowmobile? Yes, but they almost never go there and neither does anyone else. It’s a fairly gentle road tour with miles of solitude.
Peggy, Roger and I chose a sunny day with a bit of fresh snow over January’s rain consolidated pack for the tour. There were a few rain channels washed across the trail and then covered with fresh snow but otherwise the skiing was smooth and we were sinking less than 4”. No one had been on the trail for weeks and we had a fine cruise to Park Creek and views of the Pyramids. Check it out.
February 17, Saturday: Brandenburg Shelter by Bob Young It’s so easy to become a fair weather skier and I am generally guilty of that. But a couple of our new members wanted to explore one of the Sno-Parks. So we headed up to Ray Benson where deep new snow, continued additional snow, and forecast wind might have normally kept me home. The snow was indeed deep and soft but the wind was only a slight breeze except for open areas so we went out the south loop where there was nicely set but deep track and heavily laden trees providing breeze protection. Some snowshoers had stomped in the ski trail on the first section and there was greater than normal snowmobile incursion. These incursions became more of an issue on the Brandenburg loop where the soft, deep snow and steeper terrain along with wind and flat lighting made that last 0.7 miles to the shelter quite challenging and at times the trail hard to follow. Fortunately there was a nice warm fire going at the shelter for lunch and recovery. David and Victoria got the opportunity to really expand their comfort range and both did great. The snow was very slick, making for good glide, and by the end of the day we had an additional 2”, most of that during the afternoon return trip. None of that sunny day snow getting sticky and heavy. Just great skiing and a good workout.
February 24, Saturday: South of Hoodoo by JimTodd The Benson/Little Nash Traverse was canceled today due to icy conditions, but Bill and I hoped to find tolerable skiing somewhere by starting late. At 1000 the snow was still frozen concrete at Santiam Junction, but by 1100 the snow at Ray Benson was beginning to thaw. We stuck to roads groomed for snowmobiles until noon and then were able to find decent conditions off trail. We rambled easily along the south side of Hayrick and Hoodoo and found a new route up to the 4900’saddle at the south edge of the Hoodoo plateau. The views were great and we had a smooth, easy run back to the SnoPark.
February 25, Sunday: Big Lake. by John Hortsch Peggy and I went to Ray Benson for an “A” tour. I was at Maxwell Butte a few days before so I expected an icy start that could get better as the day wears on. We decided to ski the snowmobile road to Big Lake. The snowmobiles broke things up for a very nice glide surface. The snow was above the gate to the campground. We skied to the campground to the end of the lake and had lunch. There was the top of a picnic table to sit on. After lunch we headed west on a road to a fork, almost a U-turn, and returned to the lake road. There were nasty looking clouds on the horizon, but we made it back to the parking lot before the storm hit. We easily skied about 7.5 miles. A very nice day.
March 2, Saturday: Silver Falls State Park by Jeff Starr Who would’ve thought we’d have enough snow to ski at Silver Falls State Park in March! On Saturday 3/2 Jeff, Pat, Aaron, and Jim risked low elevation, shallow snow coverage to avoid anticipated high winds and 1-2+ feet of new snow at higher elevations. Although the group avoided tough conditions present at the pass, they did have to cope with their tour leader’s interpretation of an A tour. As mentioned by other group members, A tour apparently stands for Adventure in the mind of the tour leader. A truck track on the opposite side of a locked gate was both a blessing and a curse as it left a packed track for quick skiing, but also exposed the gravel road in a spot or two before snow depth increased significantly. The truck’s track also made descending afterwards on the way back a little interesting. Starting at an elevation of 1750 ft, the group skied along Lookout Mountain Road to
a lunch break at 2120 ft. We quickly skied the downhill track back to the parking lot to get in a ski of 5 ½ miles and still be back to the vehicles before 2 pm.
When snow accumulation is deep enough at lower elevations, Silver Falls State Park offers a unique area to ski a short driving distance from Salem and surrounding areas.
photo by Jeff Starr
WEEKEND DAY TOURS:
Guests are welcome on Willamette Chapter day tours. Please contact the tour leader for details and to ensure the tour matches your interests and skill level.
We need more tour leaders for weekend tours; please step up and lead a tour to your favorite destination. If you wish to lead a tour, suggest a tour destination or learn more about tour leading, contact Jim Todd (503x378x7003).
Remember, impromptu tours are always an option. If you yearn for a day on skis, phone Jim, one the leaders below or a skier on the weekday list. Connect with your fellow Club members and get out when it snows.
March 9 or 10, Saturday or Sunday: B Tour, date and location depending on snow conditions and group interest. Contact Bob Young (503x621x6626).
March 10, Sunday: A Tour, Santiam Pass area; destination depending on snow conditions and group interest. Contact John Hortsch, (503x749x1988).
March 16, Saturday: A or B Tour, John Craig Memorial Ski Event at McKenzie Pass. See details below.
March 23, Saturday: B Tour, after three failed attempts we are rescheduling the Ray
Benson/Little Nash Traverse. Will the fourth time be the charm? Contact JimTodd (503x378x7003).
March 24, Sunday: A Tour, Ray Benson ski trails. Contact Jeanne Miller (503x588x0473).
March 30, Saturday: Beginner/A Tour, Santiam Pass area; destination depending on snow conditions and group interest. Contact Jim Todd (503x378x7003).
March 30 or 31, Saturday or Sunday: B Tour date and location depending on snow conditions and group interest. Contact Bob Young (503x621x6626).
April 6, Saturday: A Tour, Santiam Pass area; destination depending on snow conditions and group interest. Contact Jeff Starr, (503x588x4340).
April 6, Saturday: B Tour, Santiam Lake, Craig Lake or the Four Lakes Tour. Contact JimTodd (503x378x7003).
Tour Ratings: A key to the Tour Rating codes:
“Beginner” = Easy, short distances on flat or gentle slopes; appropriate for first time skiers.
“A” = Easy, distances up to 5 or 6 miles with a few slopes; basic skills are required; some of these may not be suitable for 1st time skiers.
“B” = Intermediate or experienced; distances of 6 to 12 miles or possible elevation gains of 2000 feet; may include steeper sections; some downhill skills are required. “C” = Advanced, longer with greater elevation gains; includes both trails and off-trail with frequent steep terrain.
“D” = Expert, very difficult or long; possible backcountry travel and/or ski mountaineering.
The Club encourages carpooling for tours and suggests that riders reimburse the driver 10 cents per mile (total round trip miles).
WEEK DAY SKI TOURS
Why not break the shackles that bind you to the calendar this season? Try a mid-week tour. Contact one of the enthusiasts below and arrange an escape from routine. If you want to be added to this list, send your phone and email to Jim Todd, and we’ll include it in the next Newsletter. Likewise, contact Jim, if you want your name removed for this season. Howard Simon would love to get some adventurous people out for some C or D level tours. Contact him for possibilities.
Weekday skiers:
Bill Caldwell 503x385x6494 wbcaldwell1 at q dot com
Chuck Daellenbach 541x928x4256 daellenbachc at comcast dot net Pat Fuhrman 541x690x5575 pfuhrman2002 at yahoo dot com Frank Hoffman 541x475x0185 hh_tex at msn dot com
John Hortsch 503x507x5727 riverjohn at msn dot com
Denise Hughes 435x828x2273 salemhughes at gmail dot com Peggy Mansfield 503x428x2475 pegevtay2 at comcast dot net Bill Nelson 503x576x1278 bnelson at pacificomm dot net Mark Olson 503x559x0728 mark at olson dot us
Foxie Proctor 503x581x0207 foxieproctor at comcast dot net
Denise Sanders 503x859x4597 santiamsanders at gmail dot com
Howard Simon 503x569x4299 hsimon6755 at gmail dot com Jeff Starr 503x851x8403 jeffstarr3 at gmail dot com
Jim Todd 503x378x7003 toddwac18 at gmail dot com Jerry Vessello 503x931x6344 jvess at comcast dot net
Bob Wells 307x203x7930 rawells.evts at gmail dot com> Craig Wojcik 503x931x2705 ccwojcik09 at comcast dot net Pam Wojcik 971x312x3984 pjwojcik09 at comcast dot net Bob Young 503x621x6626 arch.byoung at gmail dot
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Tim Faber is offering the ski gear listed below for sale. Contact Tim at 503x999x1367, if you are interested.
Alpina 2050 NNN BC boots, size 46 (12 US) as new $100
NNN BC bindings as new $ 40
Tele skis 3 pairs used $ 20 each REI 5° Gortex Shell down sleeping bag never used $175
JOHN CRAIG MEMORIAL SKI EVENT: March 16, Saturday
This annual Ski Tour and Race to McKenzie Pass on Hwy 242 is sponsored by the Oregon Nordic Club and draws skiers from chapters throughout the state. Ski groomed tracks to the summit of McKenzie Pass with close up views of the Three Sisters and Mt. Washington. For more details and registration information visit https://onc.org/2024-john-craig-memorial-ski race-tour/.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
The Willamette Chapter has an active volunteer program assisting the Forest Service with ski trail clearing and marking; shelter maintenance; and firewood stocking. Thank you volunteers! For volunteer projects on the Willamette National Forest it is now necessary for volunteers to register individually through Cascade Volunteers at
https://cascadevols.org/volunteer/. Registered volunteers can earn perks like free NW Forest Passes and are covered by FS Workers Comp insurance. You can call Mark Olson (503x559x0728) or Jim Todd (503x378x7003) for the latest information about our club’s volunteer program.
The Forest Service has requested that Willamette Chapter skiers report conditions encountered on winter trails to assist them in deploying their limited staff efficiently. Any information (trail marking, downed trees, parking problems) would be appreciated. Reports can be submitted through Cascade Volunteers at https://cascadevols.org/usfs-work-report/ or by phoning or emailing your observations to Jim Todd.
SANTIAM PASS SKI LODGE:
Dwight and Susan Sheets and the Friends of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge are doing a fantastic job restoring the old ski lodge on the north side of Hwy 20 at the Pass. The lodge will open to the public within a year, if current progress continues. Here is a link to their latest annual report. It includes a historical note on the lodge from Willamette Chapter founder, Jack Hande: https://mailchi.mp/6dacb3b707b9/end-of-year-newsletter-13880862?e=4cdc4b8492
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL:
Please renew your membership for the 2023-2024 season. For only $20 you receive access to all the inside club news, Ski School, Overnight Trips and the satisfaction of supporting our efforts to promote and improve cross-country skiing for everyone. You can download a renewal form at oncwillamette.org/membership. Join us for a great season on the snow. For the digitally savvy you can pay through Zelle using my email or phone number. (Treasurer, Bob Young)
SNO-PARK PERMITS
The Willamette Chapter will not sell Sno Park permits in the absence of our regular monthly meetings. Sno Park permits may be purchased online at the Oregon DMV: https://dmv2u.oregon.gov/eServices/_/. Annual permits purchased directly from DMV cost $25 —no handling fee. The process takes only a few minutes and includes a downloadable copy you can print and use immediately while waiting for your permit to arrive in the mail. Buy a permit and support Sno Park plowing.
2023-2024 OFFICERS & BOARD MEMBERS:
Vacant President
Jeanne Miller Vice President
Bob Young Treasurer & Membership
Vacant Webmeister
Vacant Newsletter Editor
Jim Todd Day Tour Chair
David Forkner ONC State Board Rep & Board Member Pam Wojcik Overnight Trip Coordinator & Board Member Mark Olson Volunteer Coordinator & Board Member
Oregon Nordic Club - Willamette Chapter (Salem) Application / Membership Renewal Form Annual Individual or Family Membership fee is $20.00. Please make checks payable to Oregon Nordic Club Mail to: Oregon Nordic Club - Willamette Chapter P.O. Box 181 Salem, OR 97308
Name(s): ________________________________________________________ Contact information: same as last year __________ , Only if there are changes fill in below Mailing Address: __________________________________________________ City/State/Zip: __________________________________________________ Phone (optional): home _____________________ _ _ , cell _____ _____________ E-mail address (optional): ___________________________________________ Do you prefer receiving your newsletter by e-mail? Yes_____ No______ You will enjoy faster delivery, colors other than black and white, and save the club mailing costs. I have selected “follow” on the website: Yes _____ No _____ . Those who do will receive notices and updates when posted and will not receive a separate/additional email for newsletters. I hereby release the Oregon Nordic Club (ONC) from any liability for any injury to myself or my family which may occur while participating in any club activity. I realize that there are risks in the participation of this outdoor sport, and that some risks are unforeseeable. I freely give this release with full knowledge that this is a hazardous activity.
LEARN TO CROSS COUNTRY SKI SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 2024
Oregon Nordic Club – Willamette Chapter HAS ORGANIZED A SPECIAL GROUP PACKAGE FOR NEW AND RETURNED MEMBERS. A CLASS WILL BE
TAUGHT BY CERTIFIED NORDIC INSTRUCTORS ON GROOMED TRACK AT HOODOO FOLLOWED BY A PRACTICE SESSION WITH MENTORING BY OUR EXPERIENCED SKIERS. LESSON AND TRAIL PASS $47. SKI RENTAL $10
TRAINING IS APPROPRIATE FOR BEGINNER THROUGH INTERMEDIATE LEVELS. LEARN THE BASICS OR NOTCH UP YOUR SKILLS. THE CLUB ALSO LEADS TOURS TO EXPAND YOUR ACCESS TO OUR WINTER WONDERLAND.
FOR DETAILS SEE THE “SKI SCHOOL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION” TAB ON OUR WEBSITE – oncwillamette.org
OR CALL BOB AT 503-621-6626 OR JIM AT 503-378-7003
This Newsletter breaks the Willamette Chapter’s long-standing tradition of summer dormancy to kick start the new ski season. We are less that 60 days from the club’s earliest ski tour at Santiam Pass. It is time to prepare and dream big. In this issue you will find information concerning club organization, our volunteer plans for the fall and a look back at last spring’s great skiing. Most importantly we are asking for your ideas and assistance to make this a great winter on the snow. Read on!
WILLAMETTE CHAPTER ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATION
1. MEETINGS: Since the COVID-19 Emergency was lifted last spring, the club could return to the regular monthly meetings we have missed the past two years. The Board has suggested three alternatives for this season:
a. Resume monthly meetings with programs and speakers. This gives us an opportunity for members to meet, connect with each other and learn about ski related topics; but meeting rooms are expensive and meetings require considerable preparation and organization. Is there enough member interest to make this worthwhile?
b. Instead of formal meetings we might schedule informal gatherings (like our year-end Pizza Feed) to give members an opportunity to connect, share skiing experiences and plan future outings.
c. Continue our practice from the past two seasons of focusing on ski tours and using our website and emails for connecting and communicating.
Which of these alternatives do you prefer? Do you have other suggestions for club activities? Please reply to Jim (toddwac18 at gmail dot com) or Bob (arch dot byoung at gmail dot com) so we can accomodate the largest numbers of our members.
2. OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS: Genice Rabe is stepping down as Newsletter Editor after five years of channeling our news to members via email. Thank you, Genice, for your dedicated service to the club. This leaves a vacancy on our Board; and the list below shows we also have openings for a President and Board Member-at-Large. Please consider volunteering for one of these positions. Everyone gets plenty of help from other officers and board members. It’s a great way to connect with other skiers and give something back to the club. Contact Jim of Bob, if you wish to volunteer or have questions.
2023-2024 OFFICERS & BOARD MEMBERS:
Available President
Jeanne Miller Vice President
Bob Young Treasurer & Membership
Denise Sanders Webmeister – Available
Available Newsletter Editor
Jim Todd Day Tour Chair
David Forkner ONC State Board Rep & Board Member
Pam Wojcik Overnight Trip Coordinator & Board Member
Mark Olson Volunteer Coordinator & Board Member
Christine Young Board Member
Available Board Member
TOUR REPORTS
May 11, Thursday: North of Santiam Passby Jim Todd
Bianca, Bob, Mark and I found plenty of snow on north facing slopes as shown by this view of the tip of Black Butte.
May 20, Saturday: West of Hoodooby Jim Todd
What a difference a week in the 90’s makes! Our deep spring snow vanished almost overnight. But Bob, John, Mark and I still managed a decent ski with some careful zig zagging between bare patches and melt pools—a nice end to a great season.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
On Saturday, Oct. 7, we will hold our annual wood stocking extravaganza at Ray Benson. This is a joint project with Mt. Jefferson Snowmobile Club and Deschutes National Forest staff. With enough volunteers we will fully stock firewood at Brandenburg, Island Junction and North Blowout shelters as well as the Roger Schmidt shelter in the SnoPark. This is a great opportunity to volunteer for the club and prepare for the ski season. If you can toss a chunk of wood in the truck, you can help. Plus the the Mt. Jeff club is providing lunch for everyone. Please join us on Oct. 7. Contact Jim (toddwac18 at gmail dot com or 503x378x7003) to sign up.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Sadly, our local mountain shop, Salem Summit Co., is closing it’s doors. They were the only place in town to buy or rent XC skis and will be sorely missed. Salem Summit’s final sale runs through the end of August. Check them out at 240 Commercial St NE. Most items are 30% off and ski equipment is 50% off.
February 25, Sunday: Big Lake. by John Hortsch Peggy and I went to Ray Benson for an “A” tour. I was at Maxwell Butte a few days before so I expected an icy start that could get better as the day wears on. We decided to ski the snowmobile road to Big Lake. The snowmobiles broke things up for a very nice glide surface. The snow was above the gate to the campground. We skied to the campground to the end of the lake and had lunch. There was the top of a picnic table to sit on. After lunch we headed west on a road to a fork, almost a U-turn, and returned to the lake road. There were nasty looking clouds on the horizon, but we made it back to the parking lot before the storm hit. We easily skied about 7.5 miles. A very nice day. 
Oregon Nordic Club – Willamette Chapter HAS ORGANIZED A SPECIAL GROUP PACKAGE FOR NEW AND RETURNED MEMBERS. A CLASS WILL BE 
ONCWillamette 