|
Most Difficult Ski Trails  |
Crater
Lake Rim Ski
|
|
Starts: At either the
West or East Rim Trailheads |
|
|
Level: Intermediate
to Advanced. |
|
|
This Rim Ski Trail follows the unplowed and unmarked rim drive roadway. Special note: skiers need to be in good physical shape, register at
headquarters before skiing the rim,. and park in the appropriate
overnight parking areas. Overnight parking is permitted only at
the Park Headquarters or
|
|
|
Distance: 30 to 33 miles total if skier start from West Rim
Trailhead and travels clock-wise back to East Rim Trailhead. This
distance depends on which Avalanche Bypass routes are taken. |
|
|
Skiers who use the Dutton Cliffs Avalanche Bypass back to rim road
above adds 1 mile to trip. Skiers who ski down Pinnacles road from
East Rim at Kerr Notch and ski to Lost Creek and then follows the |
|
|
Distance: 33 to 36 miles if skier skis form East Rim trailhead.
clockwise to West Rim trailhead. .Please see MAPS of bypasses:
Grayback Bypass Rout and
Sun Notch Vidae Ridge Bypass
for more details.
·
Note: When skier gets back to West Rim
Village if they start form East Rim TH, skiers need to ski down the
Raven Trail to HQ to retrieve their car:. see map of Rim
Village Headquarters Area to view rout down Raven trail. Also see
Raven trail for
more details. |
|
|
The rim’s terrain is extremely hilly and can be very dangerous in
icy and high avalanche conditions. The major climbs can vary
depending on the route chosen, if skiers use the bypasses to
navigate around avalanche areas. |
|
|
The entire rim route is recommended as a three-day overnight ski.
Due to some conditions, it may take more or less time to
circumnavigate the rim. Skiers are encouraged to take plenty
of extra food and fuel. |
|
|
. There are four major climbs and many smaller ones. The major
climbs, starting from the West Rim are: |
1. Bottom of the Watchman to the corrals at
Note this section can be very dangerous in icy conditions once snow pack
fills in the road bed. Then the angel of the slope can be come very steep
and difficult to get edging with your skis. Caution advised in this
area Carry climbing skins.
2. Bottom of Llao Rock near the North Junction to road
summit, approximately 2 miles.
3. From the Wineglass to the road summit near Mt Scott,
approximately 5.5 miles.
4 From Lost Creek Campground to the top of Grayback
summit, approximately 2.5 miles. (Recommended
5. From the bottom of Dutton Cliffs to road
summit, approximately 3 miles. (Note: this section of the rim is not
recommended to ski, as skiers put themselves at risk crossing Dutton
Cliffs) .
|
|
Start: West Rim parking lot
near hotel |
|
|
End: |
|
|
Level: |
|
|
Distance: One-way 1 mile. |
|
|
This route begins on top of cirque directly east of the hotel at |
|
|
Start: |
|
|
End: |
|
|
Level: |
|
|
Distance: Round trip 11 . 8 miles |
|
|
Rolling forest terrain takes you to this icy waterfall, which is
rarely visited in winter. Towering hemlock, fir, and pine line this
long trail, which crosses the Pacific Crest Trail at the 2.9-mile
mark. The next 2.6 miles can be very dangerous in icy
conditions, but extremely fun in powder. During the winter, the icy
falls are a breath-taking sight. |
|
|
Sections of this trail are poorly marked and very difficult to
follow, thus making a map and compass essential items on this true
backcountry experience. |
|
|
Note: because of the remote location and the 1200-foot
climb back up to the PCT from |
Lightning Springs SEE
the Map of
Dutton Creek & Lightning Springs Ski Trails
|
|
Start: West Rim
Parking Lot: |
|
|
End:
Highway 62 or |
|
|
Level: |
|
|
Distance: One way - 15.7 miles
·
Trails Distances
o
West Rim to Lightning Springs TH
3. 0 miles
o
Lightning Springs TH to the PCT
4.0 miles
o
PCT & Lightning Springs to Dutton
Creek Junction 6.6 miles
o
Dutton Creek Junction to Hwy
62 2.1 miles |
|
|
Overview : This trail descends steeply and steadily through
several large bowls and meadows on the upper section, then enters a
large burn area near the Junction of the PCT. .This trails can
feature up to 6 major creek crossings, that can be difficult to cross
if steams are open In some seasons, or after major warming
trends the snowpack will not cover these water ways.. |
|
|
This trail is marginally marked and can be difficult to
follow in deep snowpacks or right after major snow storms, thus making
a GPS and a map and compass essential items on this true backcountry
experience.. ( It is recommend that you use your GPS map software and
pre program your way points before going on this outrageous ski! ; )
or plug in a few of the coordinates in Grids of Latitudes and
Longitudes'(hddd ."mmm-mm"), Datum WGS 84 from this site...Enjoy. :
) |
|
|
This very adventurous ski starts at the beginning of West Rim
trailheads and follow the West Rim road for 3.5 miles before reaching
the trailhead of Lighting Spring
·
Note: From the Lightning Springs
Trailhead Sign the trail goes NW for approximately 1/3 of a mile
before dropping SW into a series of bowls where the trail" Zigzags"
thought a series of steep bowls.
·
This trail is marked with both red
metal and blue plastic markers.
·
Note: the red metal markers are
placed around ten to twelve feet up on the trees and are usually
covered by the deeper snowpack.
·
The Blue marks where set out during the
2007 season while the snowpack was only 90 inches. Blue markers will
be hard to follow in deeper snowpack than 100 inches. The lower
portion of the Lightning Springs trail enters a big burn area near the
PCT trail, and where the trail crosses Bybee creek..
·
The burn area extents for approximately
2 miles south on the PCT before reaching the old growth forest.
·
The red metal markers that are on both
the Lightning Springs and PCT Trails extends to the junction of PCT
and where Dutton Creek trail meets the PCT. From Dutton Creek
junction to Hwy 62 the trail is marked with only blue
diamonds. The trail can crosses up to 5 streams during the
course of the trip. 1.
At the coordinates of 42 55.575 W122 13.204
and at the elevation of 5815 you reach the first creek crossing of
Bybee Creek and the PCT .This creek crossing is located just south on
the PCT where Lighting Spring Trail mergers with the PCT. 2.
Approximately 1 & 1/2 miles from PCT and
Lightning Springs junction and .at the coordinates of N42 54.983 W122
12.455 and at the elevation 5899 the trail crosses another tributary
of Bybee Creek.: 3.
In another 1/4 from the last crossing at
the coordinates of N42 54.866 W122 12.315 and at the evaluation
of 5921 the trail will cross the another tributary fork of Bybee
creek on the PCT 4.
In approximately 2 miles the trail will cross
Trapper Creek. at the coordinates of N42 54.036 W122 10.997 and
the elevation of 5976. 5.
In another 1.2 miles the trail will cross a
tributary of Castle Creek at the coordinates of N42 53.511 W122 10.650
and the elevation of 5999. 6.
In just a short distance of 1/4 mile the trail
crossed the main tributary of Castle Creek at the coordinates of
N42 53.504 W122 10.233 and at the elevation of 6075. 7.
In just a short distance of 1/3 mile Dutton
Creek Trail merges with the PCT at N42 53.498 W122 10.182
elevation 6080 8.
In just another short distance of 1/4
mile the PCT trail intersects with the main fork of Dutton Creek at
the coordinates of N42 53.454 W122 10.100 and the elevations of
6098. ( Note: this can be the most dangerous creek crossing when there
is open water.
|
Dutton Creek
|
·
Start: Beginning of |
|
·
End:
|
|
·
Level: |
|
·
Distance: One way -
5.9 mile |
·
This trail follows Dutton Creek Trail west
for 2.5 miles before branching off onto the P.C.T south. The top section of
the trail is very steep in places and wanders through dense covered forests
of hemlock and red fir, while following the bottom of Munson Ridge.
|
|
From the P.C.T. , it is 2 .1 miles to
|
