Trip Date: February 24, 2007
Hog Loppet Ski Traverse: Mission Ridge to Blewett Pass
Mission Ridge
Haney Meadow
Naneum Pass
Trip Report Summary
Region: Central Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: Lower Wenatchee Mountains
Area: Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest
Starting Point: Mission Ridge Ski Area base lodge at end of Mission Ridge Road (Elev. 4600 feet)
Way Points: Midway Station & Mission Ridge crest (chair lift ride); Lower Mission Ridge & Carnage Hill & Road 9712 junction & Haney Meadow & Naneum Pass & Road 9716 junction & Swauk Meadow & Blewett Pass (ski tour)
Ending Point: Blewett Pass Sno-Park on Highway 97 (Elev. 4100 feet)
Approximate Stats: 20 miles traveled on skis; 1400 feet gained on skis; 4000 feet lost; 6.1 hours elapsed.
Related Post
>>> A Brief History of the Hog Loppet Ski Traverse
Full Trip Report
On Saturday, Eileen and I participated in the annual Hog Loppet, a supported 20-mile ski traverse from Mission Ridge to Blewett Pass. This was my seventh “Hog,” but it wasn’t much like the other six. Whereas all my previous tours had been in sunny or partly sunny weather, this 2007 installment featured blizzardy weather at the start and nearly continuous snowfall throughout. Thankfully, it was also pretty cold, so the snow stayed dry and powdery.
- Eileen and Jim at start of Hog Loppet on Mission Ridge
We started off with an interesting twist of fate. When Eileen and I boarded the high-speed quad chairlift at Midway Station, we found ourselves sitting beside none other than Don Beavon and Mike Collins! Out of the 500+ Hogsters, what were the chances of THAT happening! Don is a veteran of the Hog, but Mike hadn’t even been on cross-country skis in at least 5 years. I think it proved to be a loooooong day for Mike.
- Mike and Don At Start
Despite the cold and snow, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves over 20 miles of ups and downs and flats. The two checkpoints were well-managed, and Carnage Hill was as comical as ever.
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I even managed to sneak in an extra-curricular telemark (I use that term loosely when wearing skinny skis) run down a nice powder glade.
- Jim Making Yo-Yo Telemark Run
And once again, the event organizers—a coalition of several private clubs and public agencies—did a great job of route-marking, food-serving, cocoa-making, and generally keeping this traveling circus on track. They even provided us with a celebrity at the finish line, albeit unintentionally: As we skied down the final mile of road, we passed Fred Beckey skiing up the road with a small entourage!
Equipment Comments
For more information regarding the various equipment that I used for this particular trip and that I typically use for this type of trip, see my gear discussions and reviews on the following pages:
>>> XC/BC Hybrid Nordic Ski Touring Gear
>>> Backcountry Ski & Snowshoe Packs
>>> Wintertime Comfort Accessories
Route Map & Profile
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Photo Gallery
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