Circumnavigation of Hoodoo Ski Tour
Now is your chance, perhaps your last chance this season, to circumnavigate Hoodoo Butte. Up for the challenge?
Trail Highlights: We'll meet in the lodge at the Hoodoo ski area. From there we will ride the Manzanita chairlift mid-way up mountain. At the top of the chair lift, after a short jog along the alpine runs, we'll access Hoodoo's upper XC trail system. The groomed XC trails climbs, passes by the base of the Hoodag chair lift, and then climbs some more to the back side of Hoodoo Butte. Approximate distance is ~2 mi and ~500 ft of vertical. Once arriving at the top of the XC trail loop, we'll pause to take in the views of Mt. Washington and the environs. There will be a short bushwack, hopefully mostly on snow (I hope), from the XC trail to the downhill catch line trail (Art's Alley). The downhill run is ~1 mile of downhill skiing on a run ~24 ft wide and then opens up to a more gradual slope towards the base of Ed's chair. From Ed's the ski back to lodge is gradual downhill.
For an overview of the route, see
https://skihoodoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Hoodoo-map-Web-digital.jpg
Level of Difficulty, Distance, and Time.
Rating this as intermediate/advance. The first half of the tour is climb, climb, climb. The second half is down, down, down. Hoodoo rates their upper XC trails as blue & black. For the continuous downhill return from the back side a solid snowplow with edging and turning is essential for speed control essential.
~2 mile uphill, ~2 mile downhill
-3 hours total ski time
When: Saturday April 19, 2025
Where: Hoodoo ski area
Meeting Place/Time:
12:30 PM - In the lodge at Hoodoo ski area, meet in the atrium
I will be teaching a XC lesson 10 AM - 12 PM and will meet everyone in the lodge.
Be forewarned: Saturday is end-of-season Spring Fling at Hoodoo. People will be walking and skiing in crazy costumes preparing for the pond skimming contest. Nordic skiers: Do not be alarmed. Keep a stiff upper lip and uphold your Nordic demeanor. And don't be frustrated that there will be lots of cars in the parking lot. But once we are on the upper Nordic trails, bliss and tranquillity shall prevail.
Cost:
Lift ticket required to ride the Manzanita chair and ski upper XC trails.
Lift ticket: $16, 75+ yrs free
Purchase lift ticket prior to meeting at 12:30.
What to Bring:
water, snack, day of ski appropriate clothing for chairlift ride and skiing, daypack with any essential or desired items.
Ski Equipment:
While this tour is on groomed trails, I ask that you use:
Metal edge touring skis, wide enough to handle variable snow conditions.
especially for the downhill portion.
Don't forget to apply spring wax to your skis.
Backcountry poles.
Number of Skiers: 8
Reservation Contact:
Charlie Cornish
206-391-4352
