Sign up by February 8
E.C. Manning Park is located on Highway 3 in B.C. just north of the North Cascades National Park. It is about a seven-hour drive from Portland by taking I-5 to Bellingham and crossing the border at Sumas then driving east. It offers skiing for all levels and types of skiers. But its best offering is for some longer distance tours with very low danger from snow slides. My favorite is Fat Dog Creek Trail, 14 miles round trip, with excellent grades and steep road touring, requires BC ski and skins. Another good trail for all levels is Blackwall Peak Trail, 10 miles round trip, to a view point or 20 miles round trip to the summit an easy road tour. The resort also offers 27 km of groomed track skiing and three chairs at the lift area or snowshoe trails. Free shuttle to get to the lift area or access the high point of the groomed trails, to ski back down directly to the house passing Lightning Lake, 10 km each way. Several other trail options available.
There are options to ski one of the eastside of Washington ski areas on the return home by driving back on Highway 97, which adds two to three hours to the drive.
The lodge has a large indoor pool with two large hot tubes to soak in after skiing, included at no additional cost. The houses are three bedrooms each with a great room, kitchen and fireplace for visiting. Two of the bedrooms have double beds and the other bedroom has 2 bunk beds. Meals will be planned and cooked at each house. The lodge does have a bar and dining room available.
Trip limit: 10–12 participants, including the leader, depending on number of singles vs. couples.
Cost: $295 per person; you must be a current ONC member before signing up for this trip. Includes four nights lodging. Costs for carpooling are not included. Cross-country trail fee of $20 or downhill lift tickets of $50 per day are not included.
Contact the leader for space availability. Send your overnight trip application and check for $295 check payable to ONC-Portland Chapter to the trip leader by February 8: KenWenzel, 10322 NW Alpenglow Way, Portland, OR 97229. For info contact Ken 503 297-2958 skiwenzel@hotmail.com.