Stacker Butte XC ski

[drm]

A friend and I headed up towards Stack Butte yesterday. Dalles Mtn Rd is plowed, but not the side road to the actual trailhead, so we parked at the ranch and skied up from there. The ranch areas was stuck under a fog bank for quite a while but we eventually climbed out and above that. The area is famous for winds, but yesterday it mostly just a light breeze which is cold enough with temps in the 30s. But it was sunny most of the day. We made it up to the antenna installation, where the building provided full shelter from even the light breeze, allowing us to have a nice relaxing break. The snow was a bit heavy but definitely skiable, only the most minimal wind crust having formed yet, so we could glide down with ease, occasionally getting some turns in along the side of the road. And not a human soul up there beside us of course.

the fog bank over the ranch did eventually burn off

the way up

looking back, Mt Hood in the upper right

fog bank finally gone, gorgeous scene

[johnspeth]

Extra credit: Find the popular downhill route from Stacker Butte to Centerville Highway when the snow covers the north side all the way to the highway.

http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_sn ... ic=35311.0

[drm]

Nah, you could easily ski the powerlines on the south side if you wanted to. We noticed the line on the way up. Probably a lot more vertical than the other side since High Prairie is the bottom. Would need more base than we have now to cover the rocks reliably.