Mark Weeks of Snohomish gets first tracks of the day from the top of Hogback Peak in the Goat Rocks Wilderness. The area south of White Pass has a variety of terrain for expert backcountry skiers.

By SCOTT SANDSBERRY

YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

Dear Santa: 
Hi, yeah, we know we're a little late, but we're looking to make a deal. We're willing to return the gift-wrapped nose hair clippers, the rhinestone cat collar, ALL of the fruitcakes, those Seahawk season tickets (no great loss there) and even the Chia Pet -- which, by the way, has pooped in our stereo earphones; we didn't think they could do that. 

All we want is one thing.

Send SNOW. (Specifically, to the high country. We've had enough in town, thanks just the same.)

Sincerely,

Cross-Country Clifford and Backwoods Bette

Yes, except for the occasional major dumping, snowfall in those areas commonly frequented by cross-country skiers has been woefully light. Winter outdoor enthusiasts spent much of the holiday season encountering minimal snow cover and ragged conditions at most destinations.

Steve Croci of Selah spent last weekend cross-country skiing, but came away less than thrilled with what he found Saturday at Round Mountain.

"There's a good track up the road a ways," Croci said while checking out cross country ski equipment at the new Hyperspud Sports outdoor adventure store in Yakima. "But the off-the-trail stuff is dangerous, because there's a breakable ice sheet and poor coverage -- a lot of little trees sticking up, lots of rocks. Just not enough snow."

Croci found a Sunday trip to Pleasant Valley much more, well, pleasant. "That was good, nice coverage -- lots of good cross-country skiing there." 

Jerry Schroeder of Gleed was part of a Cascadians group that made a Monday trip up the North Fork trail off the end of the road at Round Mountain. "It was kind of icy," he said, then added with a laugh, "but that was kind of nice -- I didn't have to pull (with the poles) at all on the way back. 

"Really, though, they need another eight or so inches of snow."

Assuming that January brings plenty of the white stuff, the backcountry trails figure to be pretty busy for the next several weeks.

Following are some popular destination choices for snow recreation -- skiing, tubing, sledding and snowshoeing -- based primarily on information provided by the Naches Ranger District.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

Along with a short description of each area are some thoughts from Chris Roose of Yakima, an engineer with Golden West Communications who has been been skiing in the backwoods of this area for two decades and hits the higher slopes pretty much every weekend. 

A note of caution: Snowmobile users in these areas designated for non-snowmobile use can receive up to a $5,000 fine or six months imprisonment. 

North Fork Tieton

(Elev. 3,100-3,200 feet)

This state-designated Sno-Park has parking for five to seven vehicles, and access to four loops on the Forest Service Road 1207. A base will be set (but hasn't been yet) from the Sno-Park approximately 4 miles in to Scatter Creek trailhead. The marked trails and road offer about 16 miles of easy cross-country skiing. This is the one area on this list that sees occasional grooming. 

Roose Report: "Very easy road up the river is all, basically. There aren't too many great views -- some of the Goat Rocks further up -- but it's a nice meander through the trees up the river valley."

Round Mountain

(Elev. 3,200-6,000)

Use the Sno-Park at North Fork Tieton. The advanced basic skier can ski up to the end of Round Mountain road (9-mile round trip). From there the mountaineer can take the Round Mountain summit tour, an additional 9-mile round trip from the trailhead at the end of the road to the summit of Round Mountain. 

Roose Report: "For beginner to intermediate. It's a road -- nothing too spectacular, but you can have a few views once you get up higher. You're going to run into different climate zones, though, because you're starting pretty low and you could end up at 6,000 feet, so you should be prepared for different snow conditions."

Pleasant Valley

(Elev. 3,200-3,600)

This trail system includes four designated Sno-Parks with a total of 50 spaces for vehicle parking (14 at Crow Lake Way, 18 at Hell's Crossing trailhead, 8 at Union Creek, 10 at Pleasant Valley trailhead). This area offers 14 round-trip miles of marked trails for skiers of all skill levels. The trail is a loop along both sides of American River between Hells Crossing campground and west of Union Creek trailhead. The bridge at Pleasant Valley campground has been removed. South-side American River users must adhere to the Wilderness group party size limits. 

Roose Report: "More of a backcountry feel, because it is a trail, not a road. The north side, Hell's Crossing to Pleasant Valley, is the easier section, for easy to intermediate. The entire south side of the loop is more intermediate. The nice thing about the Pleasant Valley loop is that advanced skiers can do the entire loop a couple of times a day with no problem." 

Goose Egg

(Elev. 2,600)

This route is rated easy, but the snow is normally only suitable during mid-winter because of the low elevation. The Sno-Park area has room for 10 vehicles and access to a 4.2-mile round trip of marked trails over level terrain, with the skiing rated from easiest to beginner. The trail follows the Tieton River. 

No Roose Report here -- Goose Egg's elevation is too low and the terrain too easy to attract the adventure-seeking Roose.

Bumping Lake

(Elev. 3,400)

This area usually has both outstanding snow quality -- thought by many to offer the best cross-country skiing in the Naches Ranger District -- and easy access. The parking area is plowed, but is not an official, designated Sno-Park. The terrain around the lake and campground offers about 13 miles of beginner or basic skill level skiing. Opportunities for intermediate skiers exist along a 17-mile ski trek to Miners Ridge and Granite Lake.

Roose Report: "This is an easy one through the trees; once you get to the lake, you've got some views up the lake. It's pretty flat trail; pretty easy."

Hogback Basin

(Elev. 6,000-7,000)

This area offers downhill cross-country skiing and backcountry skiing, rated very difficult. Access is through the White Pass ski area, either on the snow or by chairlift, to the top of Pigtail Peak. 

Roose Report: "There's all kinds of stuff here . You need to be upper beginner to intermediate, because you're going to be going up through the ski area or else ride the chairlilft up, and when you come out, you'll be coming out through the ski area, so you need to be able to handle that. But once you get out there, there's skiing for all abilities -- from cross country touring to downhill telemarking to alpine touring. A caution: There's also much more avalanche potential, depending on where you are." 

Indian Creek Road

(Elev. 4,000-5,000)

This is a good ski tour up Forest Service Road 1308 (off U.S. Highway 12) into the William O. Douglas Wilderness. The old mining road corridor to the bridge offers good skiing. Group party size within the Wilderness is limited to 12 in any combination of people and/or stock.

Roose Report: "Another easy one -- relatively short. It can be access to Russell Ridge (north of Rimrock Lake) for the more advanced or adventurous skier. It's not the best way to get into Russell, but you can do it." 

Raven Roost

(Elev. 5,400)

From Sand Creek trailhead on Forest Service Road 1902, in the Little Naches drainage, ski the road up towards Raven Roost and down into Cougar Valley. The road to Raven Roost is usually open in late spring.

Roose Report: "Blue smoke heaven -- that would be a long ski up the road with snowmobilers going around you. Once you get up to Raven Roost, though, it's gorgeous -- 360 degree views, and skiing down into Cougar Valley would be nice. The avalanche hazard going into the valley is real." 

Morse Creek

(Elev. 3,800) 

Go to the seasonal end of State Route 410, then go back about 100 yards to the Forest Service road that turns off to the north. Stay to the east side of the creek. 

Roose Report: "The first two miles is basically road through the trees, more intermediate touring -- because if the track does ice up in the afternoon, could be pretty exciting for the beginning skier. Once you get past the first cabin, there's definite potential for avalanche. You're out of the timber and into the sub-alpine area, and there's some good views up the valley."

DOT Maintenance Shed

(Elev. 4,400-4,500)

This is just over White pass in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Park near the Department of Transportation lot and ski up the Forest Service road. The road has various areas where you can cut off and work on turns. 

Roose Report: "Another easy/intermediate cross-country ski, pretty much running through the timber. If you keep going far enough, the road will wrap around to the west and you'll get a great view of Rainier." 

TUBING, SLEDDING

The only area specifically designated for snow play (tubing, sledding, tobogganing) is the groomed tubing area at Paradise in Mt. Rainier National Park. 

The old American Ridge Ski Lodge is frequently used during the winter for snow play. Other not-designated but popular usage areas include Boulder Cave (Sno-Park), at the junction of Forest Service Roads 1704 and 1706; the Nile Feeding Station (Sno-Park); Bumping Dam; and clear-cuts accessed from the Little Naches Sno-Park. 

Another popular area for snow play and sledding -- primarily because of its easy access -- is within the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife land in Oak Creek. Suitable snow play areas within the Packwood Ranger District include the Johnson Creek Sno-Park and adjacent roads 2110 and 2120.

SNOWSHOEING

Snow shoers are generally directed to high elevation trails, including:

-- the Pacific Crest Trail, both north and south from White Pass (Blankenship Meadows, Mosquito Valley, Tumac Plateau, in the William O. Douglas Wilderness; 

-- Shoe Lake and Miriam Basin in the Goat Rocks Wilderness;

-- Crow Lake Way and Bald Mountain.

Another area would be the Morse Creek drainage at the seasonal end of Highway 410. 

Norse Peak Wilderness receives snowshoe use from both Crow Lake Way Trailhead and from Crystal Mountain Ski Area.

Mt. Rainier National Park sponsors naturalist snowshoe walks from Paradise during winter weekends and holidays. The Park is also a popular area for winter backcountry camping.

Outdoors editor Scott Sandsberry can be reached by phone at (509) 577-7689, or by e-mail at ssandsberry@yakima-herald.com