No bibs ~ No watches ~ No competition
No Fees*
(*for MVN members, if registered by 2/1.
$10 for non-members,
$10 late fee for all skiers registering after 2/1, kids 12 and under always free)
The Tour of the Methow is NOT a race. It is a celebration of skiing, and of the Methow Valley Ski Trail System. This event goes back to the roots of skiing- it's about the snow, the beauty of the outdoors, the skiing and the camaraderie.
We don't have awards, t-shirts, coffee cups, or high entrance fees. We offer is a fantastic day of skiing with friends, transportation, an all you can eat lunch/refueling stops, and a potluck banquet that evening. If that sounds fun to you, read on.
Distances and course descriptions:
Mix and match your sections and distances. You have the option of a 20, 30, 50, or 80 kilometer course. New this year, an official kids' 10k loop. (See course description below for details).
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Stage One: (30K) begins at the Cub Creek trailhead, goes up and over the Rendezvous, and finishes at the Mazama Community Center.
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Stage Two: (20K) begins in Mazama, goes through Wilson Ranch, around Jacks Trail, and finishes back in Mazama.
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Stage Three: (30K) begins in Mazama and follows the community trail to Winthrop. You can ski one, two, or all three sections!
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Kid's 10K Loop: This loop will start and end at the Mazama Community Center and follow section two to North Cascades Lodge. From there it will cross the Methow River and come straight back to Mazama.
Kid's 5K Loop: This loop will start and end at the Mazama Community Center and go clockwise around the big Mazama meadow on the Goat Wall Loop, Coyote Run, Flagg Mountain Loop, and Inn Run trails.
Start Times
Section 1: depart Mazama @ 7:30am, depart town trailhead @ 8:00am, head to Cub Creek trailhead for start of the Rendezvous.
Sections 2 and/or 3 (only): check in at 10:00am at Mazama Community Center to pick up your tour participant indicator, course map, and gather with friends before your ski. Shuttle departs town trailhead at 9:30am.
Shuttles
Shuttles are available in the morning- registration is required- please see below information. The goal of the shuttle is for your car to be waiting for you at the end of your ski. Please plan accordingly. Take only what you wish to ski with as you will not see the bus again.
7:30am Departure from Mazama Corral: for those starting at Section 1 and finishing in Mazama.
8:00am Departure from Town Trailhead: for those starting at Section 1 and finishing in Winthrop.
9:30am Departure from Town Trailhead: for those starting Sections 2 and/or 3, finishing in Winthrop.
Food, Water & Socializing
There will be ample high energy food at the Mazama Community Center. You may stop in once or twice, depending on your route choice. The Community Center is also a great place for a rest and a chat with friends as you see various groups coming and going all day. It may be the highlight of your day!
There will be water (but no food) at Brown's Farm. Skiers should come prepared with water bottles and high energy food during their ski.
Celebrate with the annual potluck
There will be a potluck celebration dinner and annual Nordic Club gathering following the tour. The potluck starts at 5:30pm at the
Winthrop Barn.
We will again feature an artists' reception, including work by Linda Harvey, Mary Powel, Laurie Fry, Paula Christen, and Sean McCabe. Also, we will have some great footage of some World Cup skiing.
Please bring a potluck item and as many friends as you like. All are welcome!
So go ahead, sign up! There are lots of firsts during this event. Some examples from previous tours are:
First time to ski over the Rendezvous
First time skiing the whole Community Trail
First time skating 20 kilometers
First time skiing more than 50 kilometers
Everyone can have a fun day that you're proud of at the end. We hope to see you out there!
Please note that in the spirit of keeping this a low to no-cost event for participants, there will be no refunds.
