What can $10 get you these days? Not much, but it can get you a day of skiing. During the long winter months of rain, cross country skiing and snowshoeing offer cheap and easy ways to enjoy the outdoors.
Nordic skiing styles span from long distance solo touring to catching some air at the nordic freestyle terrain park at Mount Bachelor. Nordic skis are narrower and longer than alpine skis and have a scale pattern on the base of the ski under the binding to provide traction. There are two styles of nordic skiing: Classic, which uses a straight ahead movement known as the kick and glide, and skate skiing, which uses a movement similar to ice skating.
To start, all you need are skis, boots and poles. If you don’t have these things, they can be found locally at Berg’s Ski Shop. They have a cross-country ski package for $10 and a snowshoe package for $7.
Once you have the gear, you can hit the groomed trails at any of the ski resorts in the area or try some off-trail adventures at local ski parks. Bachelor, Hoodoo and Willamette Pass all have groomed nordic trails ranging from $6 at Willamette Pass to $13 at Bachelor. Rentals and lessons are available at all of the resorts.
For those wanting to get away from the city and into the woods, the Gold Lake Sno Park off Highway 58 is your best bet. About 70 miles east of Eugene, Gold Lake has groomed trails and an extensive network of forested trails which lead to backcountry shelters and view points. These trails are not crowded and offer views of Diamond Lake, Odell Lake and the surrounding area . There is also have free hot chocolate and cider at the warming hut in the parking lot. However, a key to remember is to pick up a Sno-park pass in order to park in the lot.
“Any of the trails that go into the shelters are really good. You can also get onto the Pacific Crest Trail,” said Matt Kalisz, a University senior and Willamette ski patroller.Kalisz has been cross-country skiing for 10 years.
“It’s quiet and you can get away from the snowmobilers,” he said.
A convenient and easy way to get involved and meet other people interested in playing in the snow is through the Outdoor Program’s trips. For $5 you can go Saturday to Gold Lake. The Outdoor Program is also offering an Intro to Snowshoeing class the same day for $7 or $10 with snowshoes. Both trips are listed on the Outdoor Program Web site.
If you don’t go out with an organized group, Kalisz recommends going with people who know what they are doing.
“Try it more than once,” he said. “It gets easier.”