Living on the most eastern of the San Juan archipelago islands, Fidalgo island, the variety of trip & training paddle routes from here are endless. While strong currents do exist in nearly every channel surrounding our island shores, learning how to use these currents to travel in the back eddies, the mid-channel-river-like 'green tongue', along with harnessing the strength of the winds (with kayak sails), is what paddling the San Juans is all about to us... Efficiency. Speed. Using what Nature offers to help us achieve our paddling (distance travelling & racing speed) goals. Which sometimes mandates a combination of styles & skills from river and sea kayaking mixed in with occasional surfing and sailing. Adreline rushes. Personal Speed Records. Risk-taking. Innovation. ~Paddle the Islands and let Nature Inspire.~

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Backcountry Yodelin

Nestled in the heart of the Central Washington Cascade Mountains
 conveniently accessable for snow-enthusiasts 
just a mile off of highway 2 to the East of Stevens Pass summit,
 lay important pieces of our Pacific Northwest's 
past alpine adventure history.   
Quietly left dormant for decades, 
clues can still be found amongst 
the relics of several old ski lifts left in the
  forested ridge shadows behind the former Yodelin day lodge
 Yodelin pioneered as a promising early Cascade ski resort in  
operation with a double chair and rope tow from 1961-1974, 
until a tragic nearby avalanche in 1971 led 
to the eventual closure of the ski area.
Now one can still follow the remnants of Yodelin's old 
cleared ski runs up and down a beautiful ridge, 
winding through scenic snowy alpine diversity. 
Traversing these routes make for great backcountry 
explorations on snow shoes, skis and snow/splitboards.  
The rewarding peaceful panoramic views found 
in the surrounding seas of Cascade mountain 
 peaks and ridges are worth lingering for so be sure to pack a picnic
and refuel in high alpine style
before descending back down 
 
 chasing fresh deep powder tracks or 
following others past packed turns
picking lines through the trees or open meadows...
The endless miles o' smiles possible in this 
winter cross-training workout
will keep you craving
just one more run !!