| Below is a list of some of our favorite locations to ski. Mount Ashland Description: Mount Ashland has it all. Lift access, cross country trails, backcountry powder stashes, and convenience. Located less then a 30 minute drive from downtown Ashland you can get your snow fix at anytime. The lift accesses approximately 300 skiable acre's, but the backcountry skiing is almost endless. You wont get a lot of vertical feet in one descent, but you can get a lot of laps in one day because the approach is really quick and easy. It is really fun to get up there before the lifts start turning and get a lap in, and then yo-yo between the "backside" and the front side. Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate Terrain: Mount Ashland offers a variety of terrain from meadows, old growth forest, and steeps. The backcountry option is located on the South facing side of the mountain, so the snow can become slushy in on a warm spring day but contains the best powder on the mountain after a big storm. The frontcountry portion of the mountain is North facing and comprises mostly of steeper terrain. However, there is also "bowl" that host the best terrain on the mountain with an extremely fun tree line runout. Getting There: From Ashland head south on I-5 and take exit #6 to Mount Ashland Skipark. Take a right on the Skipark access road. After 8 miles you will reach the lodge, but only stop there if you need a hot coco. Keep driving past the lodge to the second parking lot. All the non-lift access skiing starts at the end of the back lot. Additional Info: Sno-Park permits are required. (Available at AOS: $22 annual/ $5 day) Mount Ashland is a great location to start backcountry skiing, because it provides you with the option of being able to ride some front country and build up your endurance before you head out for some big mountain lines. Mount Thielsen Description: Mt Thielsen at 9182 feet is not the tallest Cascade Volcano but the summit pinnacle makes this an aesthetic and exciting mountain to climb. The ski in is not too long or strenuous, but the summit pinnacle looming above is imposing. Weather can be a major factor on Thielsen. Overall Thielsen is a great experience and a beautiful climb! Skill Level: Intermediate Terrain: The slopes on Thielsen are prime slopes for avalanches, check weather, use sound judgment and make good decisions. The climb, generally the safest route up in the winter (or summer for that matter), is along the rib between the NW and SW bowls. Follow the marked trail (blue diamonds on trees) The best climbing time depends dramatically on the conditions and the participants. It could take someone less than 3 hours to summit or it could take 5+ hours for a slower team to summit. If conditions are good there is great opportunity for some long descents down the Southwest bowl. Over 2000 ft of vertical in the bowl itself approaching 40 degrees slopes. If conditions are not good the SW Bowl can be prone to avalanches and/or all other nasty snow conditions, ie icey, breakable crust. The SW bowl can see a lot of wind, loading up or scouring slopes depending on the direction of the wind. Getting There: Get on I-5 Northbound, towards Medford. Exit I-5 at Exit 30, Crater Lake Hwy/OR-62. Take Crater Lake Hwy NE towards Union Creek, approximately 55 miles. Hwy 62 becomes Hwy 230/ Diamond Lake Hwy. Follow Hwy 230 for approximately 24 miles to a junction with Hwy 138. Go Left at the junction. Follow Hwy 138 approximately 2 miles to signed Trailhead for Mt Thielsen on the right. Additional Info: Sno-Park permits are required. (Available at AOS: $22 annual/ $5 day) Mount McLoughlin Description: Mount McLoughlin is a true big mountain ski trip. It combines a long approach and climb with big lines, bowls, and awesome descent. It is a great location to take your backcountry skiing to the next level once you are bored with Mount Ashland or Brown Mountain. But be careful because with bigger lines there is increased risks. Also, the experience hinges on the weather, so pay close attention to what is and has been going on with the weather systems. As the season progresses into the spring DO NOT forget your bug spray as the mosquito's are vicious! Plan for a full day, and have a blast. Skill Level: Intermediate Terrain: McLoughlin offers epic lines and consistent gradient slopes. There are also some fun bowls to ski on both the east and south sides of the mountain, but for the most part you don't want to stray to far from the ridge line that you climb up unless you want to climb back out to get back to the trail. Technical info: Trail Head: 5,600ft; Summit: 9,495ft; Trail Distance: 11mi. Getting There: From AOS go north on I5 and take the Crater Lake Highway North Medford exit. Continue out Crater Lake Highway until you come to HWY 140. You want to go East towards Klamath Falls Oregon. Next you will turn left, North, on Four Mile Lake Road #3650. Don't get to comfortable on this road because you will be looking for forest service road 3361, which you will be turning left onto. The trail head is a quick quarter mile down the road from where you turn onto fr #3361. Additional Info: Sno-Park permits are required. (Available at AOS: $22 annual/ $5 day) Don't forget your camera because there are endless photo options of lakes, rock formations, and forest. Also, remember your bug spray! Brown Mountain Description: When heading out to Brown Mountain you better be expecting to be on the snow for a while. The summit isn't especially technical or strenuous, but it always turns into a long day. The long day's are well worth it with plenty of beautiful views and fun skiing. If you are making the trip in the early or late ski season then bring your rock ski's. Also, watch out for Snowmobilers all the way to the summit. Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced. The climb can take a while, so it wouldn't be my first stop of the season. Terrain: Lava beds! There are really good patch's or trees, but for the most part the terrain is pretty wide open with good powder fields. Nothing is very technical, but it is a fun day of shredding. Getting There: From AOS go north on I5 and take the Crater Lake Highway North Medford exit. Continue out Crater Lake Highway until you come to HWY 140. You want to go East towards Klamath Falls Oregon. Once you pass the Summit Trail Head and Snow Park start looking for a large turnout on the right (North) side of the road. If you reach the Brown Mountain Trail Head parking lot you have missed the turnout. Brown Mountain will be on the opposite (South) side of the road. When your all geared up carefully cross the HWY, climb the snowbank, and then start you climb and shred session. Additional Info: Mt. Bailey Description: Mount Bailey offers tons of turns! This unique mountain has a very open southeast face, with tons of vertical. Mount Bailey Snowcats offers guided trips as well, if you feel like taking a unique vacation. Plan for a two-day approach if you’re going up in winter. Hiking is best in late spring/early summer, as you can drive directly to the trailhead, and the snowcat operation is closed. There will still be plenty of snow up higher on the mountain, however. The route can be done in one day during summer. Skill Level: Advanced Terrain: Mt. Bailey is a very unique backcountry experience - huge untracked steeps from the top! The trail runs northwest through the forest. It is marked for cross-country skiers and it follows the southeast ridge above the timberline. The summit is accessed by hiking west around the prominent rise at about 7,800 feet, and up the southwest summit pitch. Best descent is the south bowl and southeast ridge. The open terrain provides some of the best backcountry tracks in the area. Below the treeline, ski out the trail. Snowboarders may want to pack some poles for the flats! Getting There: From Ashland, take I-5 north towards Medford. Take exit 30 for Crater Lake, towards North Medford. Soon after, take a right on Highway 62 (Crater Lake Highway). Drive about 55 miles, roughly northeast, and take the junction west for Highway 230 (W. Diamond Lake Highway). After about 20 miles, take a left on FR 3703. Continue driving for two miles, and turn right on FR 300. Continue driving to the Mt. Bailey trailhead. Additional Info: Watch for snowcat skiers on ascent, especially in conditions that require avalanche control. For more info on Snowcat skiing on Mt. Bailey, visit CatSkiMtBailey. Mount Shasta Description: Mt. Shasta is undoubtedly one of the best backcountry ski mountains in the continental United States! During winter, skiers and snowboarders can find endless opportunities for fresh tracks all over the mountain. During the spring climbing season, climbs can be combined with partial descents from ridges and the tops of couloirs, or even complete descents from the summit! Good conditions almost always allow descents of 6,000 vertical feet or more. Be advised that ski descents on the north and east sides of the mountain require solid glacier travel skills, experience with route-finding on glaciers, as well as proper equipment for and experience with crevasse rescue. As always, wear your helmet, bring your shovel, beacon, and probe and check out conditions through Shasta Avalanche Center before you head out! Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced Terrain: The couloirs and bowls of Mt. Shasta offer everything from moderate and intermediate slopes to advanced terrain with slopes in excess of 40 degrees! Avalanche danger is generally highest during and directly after storms, especially above the treeline. Great intermediate terrain can be found below treeline on most southeast and south facing bowls. The climbing routes access the best skiing. A descent down Avalanche gulch from Helen Lake is very popular in spring, as are the lines down from Green Butte Ridge. Casaval ridge provides access to some of the steeper couloirs. Getting There: From Ashland, take 1-5 south towards Weed, CA. Further south from Weed lies the city of Mount Shasta, CA. From Mount Shasta City, take the Everett Memorial Highway heading east-northeast. The easiest access for good skiing is at the Bunny Flat Trailhead. Additional Info: Storms move in quickly on Mt. Shasta. Towering lenticular clouds are found year round. Great skiing can be had even in stormy conditions, however, below the treeline. So, be advised if climbing above treeline to get your turns. You must be a confident skier. Know the weather forecast, and be prepared with proper gear! Summit passes required for climbs above 10,000 feet. These are found at Mount Shasta’s local ranger station. |
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