OUR GORGE I EXPLORE
Mt. Hood Meadows
When the Snow Flies, Kick and Glide Local trails and dedicated Nordic areas offer accessible winter recreation story and photos by BEN MITCHELL
L
ike many outdoor sports, cross-country skiing saw a massive boom during the first winter of the Covid-19 pandemic (a depressing last half of a sentence to write), as the coinciding reduction in entertainment and recreation options saw cooped-up people search for new leisure-time outlets. Ski sales skyrocketed, resulting in shortages of gear –– a trend exacerbated by supply chain issues that have plagued all sorts of other industries. If you were lucky enough to grab a pair of skis, boots, and poles, but haven’t gotten
Around Hood River 18
WINTER 2021-22 II THE GORGE MAGAZINE
around to breaking them in, now is the time! Why? For a few reasons. Cross-country skiing is a great way to experience the outdoors, and it’s a low-impact snow sport that all ages can enjoy — and with a learning curve much less steep than that of skiing or snowboarding. It’s also relatively low cost compared to downhill skiing, both in terms of gear and access. Cross-country skiing options in the Gorge area are plentiful. We’ve highlighted a few here to help you get out and enjoy the snow.
MOUNT HOOD
Teacup Lake Sno-Park: Located 34 miles south of Hood River on Highway 35, Teacup is arguably the most well-known Nordic trail system in the area, and for good reason. Excellent and consistent groom, a wide variety of trails for all ability levels, killer views of Mount Hood (when it’s not cloudy, of course), a large parking lot, great trail signage, a cute warming hut, and fun events and races make this a popular place –– on peak weekends, it’s been Teacup known to park out. The 20-kilometer trail system is maintained by the Teacup Lake Nordic Club nonprofit, founded in 1979. An Oregon Sno-Park permit ($25) is required to park in the lot, and a trail fee/pass is required to use the trail system (17 and under ski for free). As Teacup is specifically for cross-country skiing, the snowshoes and the dog(s) need to be left at home. teacupnordic.org for prices and more info
