Oregon Crest Ski Route

* As of April 2019 I am about 2/3 done. I still need to ski from Elk Lake to Government Camp. I also need to verify my proposed connecter from Lolo Pass to Lost Lake.

* I use AlpineQuest from Psyberia Software on my Android phone to download maps for offline use and GPS tracking. It is only $10 through the Google Play Store. I primarily use USGS Maps - Topo Scan and Openstreetmap - Cycle/Hike. This gives me different overviews and details when I am in the backcountry. Once in a great while I will use Bing Road Maps and Bing Aerial Maps.

* My latest KML file can be downloaded here (right click, “save target”) and loaded into AlpineQuest. It looks like all features are preserved except line widths.

* The thin blue line is the PCT. Other thin lines are my modified ski tracks. Wide peach colored lines are roads or snowmobile trails.

* The forest service keeps some outhouses open for emergency shelters in winter. Others will be locked for winter, especially if in a private campground. There is a good chance they might be buried in snow!

* There is a chance that small buildings, such as outhouses, cabins, and shelters, might not exist or be properly located or open.

* Wait at least a day or two after the trees are cleared of snow. They are a good sign of ground conditions. As the air warms the melting snow drops off the trees and warms the ground snow, making for glops of powdery mush that tends to stick to skis, even with wax. If it stays warm for a day or two after the trees are clear, the snow tends to be heavier and more evenly packed. It should then stick less and provide faster conditions.

* In the adrenalin charged excitement of getting started, don’t be fooled by slow conditions. They are not only slow, they are harder. Moving at 1mph is half speed of 2mph because it is twice the work! This fact should play a huge part of your calculations for food and time for long sections.

* Cell phone coverage is spotty on the west side of the Cascade crest (away from hwy 97). However, Verizon definitely has the best coverage. The major holes for all carriers is in the Sisters and Jefferson Wilderness areas.

Introduction - Feb 7, 2017

The Oregon Crest Ski Route is nothing official and it is certainly not marked. It just describes the route I will take as I loosely follow the Pacific Crest Trail using my GPS. I need to take extra precautions from avalanches and river crossings because I will be skiing solo. The PCT shows up as a thin red line on the map, while my route shows up as a thick blue line. You will not see it all at once, because I will ski it in sections during the next couple of months as weather permits. White-out producing storms are neither fun nor safe, and they also ruin photo ops! My first weather window looks like it opens up this Sunday. I will post stories and pictures as I complete each section. Stay tuned!

Why am I skiing over 400 miles? Because it is rather difficult to walk, and Enoch likes to walk and needs to walk! Sitting at a computer all day long is more tiring than exercising, and I need days with God, not just minutes or hours. Can’t walk in the snow, so I will ski. Also, this just seems to be something He put in my heart last fall and as I keep praying about it, He is not changing it. So I will ski with Him!

Finally, I want to use this opportunity to raise money for the PCT hospitality center at Big Lake Youth Camp. It is the main (perhaps only) trail angel place along the trail in Oregon. Hundreds of Millennial and GenX hikers eat, shower, wash clothes, and resupply there. The camp is even building a “PCT Hut” in which hikers can relax and take care of their gear. This ministry involves many staff and tens of thousands of dollars. In all my talking with hikers and reading their blogs, I have always heard only positive comments! Many often talk about helping millennials. Well, now you can go to Big Lake’s site to donate! (Use the button at the bottom labeled, Capital Projects.)

Continuing - Feb 4, 2019

After being unable to make any noteworthy progress in 2018, I am back on the trail this winter. To help avoid confusion, I have renumbered the days from 2017 with a 17 prefix, then started over this winter with 19.1 and so on. I really hope to get all the scouting done this year.

Map

The map below is a Google map that combines the PCT, with a recommended track with roads and snowmobile trails. You can turn off individual layers.