Art by Claire Giordano
It happened! Richard and a small army of folks from Snowgoat Skimo pulled off the logistical feat of putting on a fully backcountry skimo race on Mount Baker (Kulshan) in northern Washington. It was a long road getting here, but I think they pulled it off well and I am excited to go back next year.
This year was a perfect test case for future races. There was a pretty darn iffy weather forecast (clouds and snow) also with a poor spring snowpack they couldn't use snowmobiles to assist with the course setup as the sled access trail was too melted out. Volunteers carried everything up there on their backs, including about 1000 wands.
Local fast-guys Ingmar Prokop and Peter Butler Joined me on team Patrouille de Glades.
This year was a perfect test case for future races. There was a pretty darn iffy weather forecast (clouds and snow) also with a poor spring snowpack they couldn't use snowmobiles to assist with the course setup as the sled access trail was too melted out. Volunteers carried everything up there on their backs, including about 1000 wands.
Local fast-guys Ingmar Prokop and Peter Butler Joined me on team Patrouille de Glades.
RD Richard Kresser wrangling the racers while Peter preps
Some Stats:
Foul Weather Course:
6950' elevation gain
15 miles
No dryland
Full course:
11000' elevation gain
22 miles
Dryland approach, but no deproach (racing at least)
Foul Weather Course:
6950' elevation gain
15 miles
No dryland
Full course:
11000' elevation gain
22 miles
Dryland approach, but no deproach (racing at least)
Ingmar ripping the first descent from Park Butte
I also want to say this to folks considering the race in future. Don't be scared off by potential bad weather. First of all, it is a backcountry race and just like all other large backcountry races like Grand Traverse or PDG it's subject to the whims of mother nature. PDG has been cancelled 2.5 times out of the last 5 runnings. This race was cancelled its first year (2023). Talking to folks about that one it sounded like uniquely bad conditions. A hard freeze-up with no snow on top made for dangerous conditions for all and wouldn't have been any fun.
Colfax peak making a brief appearance on the second ascent
We had a classic PNW spring forecast calling for everything from partly sunny to snow to thunderstorms. The weather and snow ended up being fine though, clouds rolled in and out, sunny one minute, whiteout and snowing the next. The snow was consolidated, but not frozen with a little fresh on top. I never had to put a shell on and finished with dry feet. This was also a very low snow year and the course was still good. On a more typical year there might have been 10 more feet of snow.
The other really cool thing that this year showed that is in poor weather they simply lower the two high points on the second and third climbs. The course is still really engaging and the skiing was good fall line. The wanding was good enough that even in a whiteout we were able to move efficiently. I can understand and totally support the decision to stay off the glaciers in periodic whiteouts this year. That being said, I'll be coming back with the hopes of getting to those high points next year.
The other really cool thing that this year showed that is in poor weather they simply lower the two high points on the second and third climbs. The course is still really engaging and the skiing was good fall line. The wanding was good enough that even in a whiteout we were able to move efficiently. I can understand and totally support the decision to stay off the glaciers in periodic whiteouts this year. That being said, I'll be coming back with the hopes of getting to those high points next year.
iPhone shots on the move
Logistics (I love logistics).
- Three person teams
- You need a full backcountry kit (avi gear, glacier gear, survival gear)
- You need to be to Concrete WA by midday the day before the race (if coming from out of state fly to Seattle or Bellingham and rent a car)
- Checkin/skills check is Friday afternoon followed by a race briefing
- There are some small hotels in Concrete and there is an abundance of free camping for Friday night
- The race started at 8AM on Saturday
Peter on the third ascent
Technique:
In a lot of ways this is a standard skimo race but a few things do stand out, keep in mind my entire experience with racing is PNW local races and one trip to Europe for PDG
In a lot of ways this is a standard skimo race but a few things do stand out, keep in mind my entire experience with racing is PNW local races and one trip to Europe for PDG
- Other than the "bushwhacking" section (first half) of the first ascent I found the skinning to be very easy and non-technical, much easier than most inbounds races
- The ski descents are also relatively non-technical, they could be difficult in punchy conditions, but in good snow they are ripper
- The foul weather course is still a bit of a sprint, but the full course is a true endurance race so fuel and pace accordingly
- Towing is not optional. Practice this with your team, there is a reason all the Euros do it. It's not about pulling your teammate up the mountain it's about averaging out the paces of all the group members to make the team move faster.
- Use fast skins on the first ascent as it starts out quite flat, medium/grippy skins on the second and third ascents both of which have a nice consistent grade
- Save some energy for the exit, there is a good deal of skating and some tricky skiing
- From a risk perspective the woods section of the final descent is probably the most hazardous (trying to ski fast through trees and jump over rocks)
- It's a requirement to have the route on your phone, but you really shouldn't need to look at a map, the wanding is really good, If you don't see a wand you are probably off course.
- This was a very low snow year and I still didn't damage my good race skis, we also skied all the way to the finish
Real PNW skiing on the exit
A few other technique thoughts:
- You could tow on the last 1/3 of the first ascent but it's not a good climb for towing overall
- There are some technical dowhill skinning sections on the first ascent, go for it!
- Towing is great on the second and third climbs (who can even remember who towed who at this point?)
- I took the "lots of carbs" approach to fueling and it worked great
- The high point on the third and highest ascent is about 9k' so acclimatization isn't a very big deal (foul weather course tops out around 7k') us lowland dwellers will have to come up with other excuses about why we lost.
- Race day will be sunny one of these years, hydration and sun management will be a big deal if that's the case
Stravi taking a brief break from his many trainings to try and slow down the Canadians
Results are below, but let's just say that the young men from the Canadian National Skimo Team did rather well and beat our team by a full half hour. Second place had us by almost exactly 20 mins (My photography probably didn't cost us the silver). Our team rounded out the podium with a third place finish and a time of exactly 3:30.
I think this will be a fun race for anyone who comes out. If you are going for a finish and just hoping for some guardrails around a big day in the mountains you'll have a blast. If you have been training all winter for Euro racing you should come out and experience a European inspired race with a true Cascadian flair.
I think this will be a fun race for anyone who comes out. If you are going for a finish and just hoping for some guardrails around a big day in the mountains you'll have a blast. If you have been training all winter for Euro racing you should come out and experience a European inspired race with a true Cascadian flair.
Chix on Skinny Stix - First Female Team Across the Line
Many thanks to Rich, Richard, Westy and countless other volunteers for putting together a terrific race. I got some fantastic skiing in and if it wasn't for the race would have probably looked at the forecast and gone for a trail run or MTB ride instead!
A rare photo of the author, by Ingmar
Great finish line party too. Photo by Richard Kresser