49 Degrees sets nordic trails

A new Inland Northwest cross country ski trail system was scheduled to be groomed and opened this weekend, putting 49 Degrees North on the bandwagon with other alpine ski areas catering to the nordic crowd.

The system is opening with about 8 kilometers of groomed trails designed by cross country skiers, said Keith Wakefield, winter recreation specialist for the Colville National Forest.

No fee is being charged for use of the new nordic area, which has its own parking lot just west of the alpine ski area with a groomed trail connecting to the 49 Degrees North lodge.

“We took a thick dog-hair stand and logged it open for a nice, 8K loop system that eventually will be expanded, complete with a yurt,” Wakefield said.

The Colville forest also is arranging for grooming later this winter on 16Ks of trails east of Colville at Frater Lake and 11Ks at the Geophysical Area near Newport. The maintenance contracts have not been signed, however, and there’s still not quite enough snow to groom the Geophysical area, forest officials said.

Washington Sno-Park permits will be required in vehicles parked at the Frater and Geophysical areas.

Meanwhile, skiing kicked into high gear last week as groomers started working their magic with excellent snow at most developed trail systems in the region. Among them:

•Mount Spokane’s 25K trail system is being groomed for skiing Thursday through Monday. For daily updates, call 238-4025. Sno-Park permit required.

•Downriver Golf Course has several kilometers of tails groomed for skate and classic by the Spokane Parks and Recreation Department. The trails were groomed Dec. 2 and will be groomed again when significant snow falls. Sno-Park permit required. Info: 625-6200.

•Deer Creek Nordic (on Deer Creek/Boulder Pass east of Curlew) has 15Ks of trails groomed for on Fridays with double track and skate deck. Sno-Park permit required. Info: (509) 775-3305.

•Fourth of July Pass has three loops totaling nearly 20Ks groomed with a snowmobile for weekends by the Panhandle Nordic Club. Idaho Park N Ski or Washington Sno-Park permit required. Info: www.panhandlenordicclub.com

•Methow Valley Sport Trails Association has been grooming 140Ks of the spectacular 180K trail system between Winthrop and Mazama. Trail pass required. Info: www.mvsta.com.

•Blackjack Nordic Area near Rossland, British Columbia, is grooming daily on more than half of its 30K trail system. Lights are on for night skiing, dusk to 10 p.m. Trail pass required. Info: www.skiblackjack.ca.

•Schweitzer Mountain is grooming 25Ks of trails. Trail pass required. Info: www.schweitzer.com.

•Echo Ridge Winter Recreation Area near Chelan has about 30Ks of groomed trails improved for this year by the Lake Chelan Nordic Club. Info: www.chelanvalley.com/nordic.