The Lake Chelan Nordic Ski Club was formed to promote the enjoyment and education of Nordic and cross-country skiing in the Lake Chelan Valley. We are a volunteer, non-profit community of people who love the outdoors in Winter. We always need more people to volunteer their time and expertise to help us expand the opportunities for Nordic skiing around Lake Chelan. We encourage you to contact us and get involved.  The more we work together, the more we can do to take advantage of our wonderful Winter snows.
	Located on the East Slope of the Cascade Mountains of Washington, our valley is graced with relatively mild but typically snowy winters. A major portion of the 10 inches of precipitation we receive each year comes in the form of snow between Thanksgiving and the end of February. In the higher elevations above the valley, a generous, light, dry snowpack is as reliable from year to year as the long, sunny days of summer. Echo Ridge, Bear Mountain and Chelan Butte, lying between 3000 and 4000 feet just minutes from the towns of Chelan and Manson, lie blanketed in snow throughout the winter months. In the orchards and vinyards of the lowlands around Lake Chelan, winter snows are less predictable but many years, like this one, offer ample opportunities for skiing in our parks, golf courses, vinyards and open spaces into February.
	The skiing conditions have been FANTASTIC this winter with lots of powder snow but the many days of gorgeous SUNSHINE we are enjoying is taking its toll on the snow.  All trails are still open so get out as often as you can before the season is over.  Unless the temperatures cooperate there will probably be no more grooming this year so don't come expecting perfect tracks and surfaces like we have become accustomed to. If you don't make it up again this year make sure you visit ECHO RIDGE at Lake Chelan next winter when we will do it all over again.
	FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS:   We received a 2000 dollar grant this year from the Lake Chelan Rotary Club and another 500 dollars from the Lake Chelan Recreation Foundation and are now in the process of raising additional funds to purchase a yurt that will be used as a warming hut.  We want to get a 30 foot diameter yurt and the cost is going to be about 10,000 dollars in all. This will take the area to the next level and any help you can provide to make this a reality sooner than later would be wonderful. To find out how you can help out contact Don Phelps at 509-888-0461 or DonPhelps@aol.com
	We are putting together an all new Echo Ridge Trail Guide. Check out the sample for The Outback. We are soliciting your input on trail descriptions. If you would like to compose a short description of your favorite trail please make submision to info@lakechelannordic.org. We will be compiling and editing descriptions over the next few weeks and periodically featuring a new trail on our Info page.