The forecast was proving accurate as I woke last Wednesday to see just a few stars still glimmering in the predawn, promising a sunny morning, albeit only two degrees Fahrenheit in The Dalles. The dry snow promised great skiing on the Riverfront Trail, rare conditions at river level. My skis were already in the car from a few laps around Sorosis Park the previous morning. As I layered up for the cold, the sky lightened and I drove to Kiwanis Pocket Park at Klindt’s Cove.
My plan to ski west on the Riverfront Trail required some adjustment when I found the trail had been nicely plowed leaving about a 5 foot path on the pavement. However, the wide berm of dense plowed snow on both sides of the trail turned out to be an excellent base for laying down a ski track parallel to the plowed trail.
Nordic skiers often must coexist with hikers or snowshoers who seek the path of least resistance and tromp along on top of ski tracks, destroying them and any chance of subsequent XC skiers enjoying a consistent kick and glide. The plowed Trail is a big win-win for walkers and skiers, thanks to our Parks and Rec crew.
The early morning sun was backlighting the heavy mist rising off the river and the snow recorded an endless array of bird and other animal tracks. The sunlit Klickitat Hills were floating on a low band of clouds out on the river and the landscape was new and novel to me. As I punched my way west I anticipated a much easier return on the new track I was making. The Riverfront Trail has many moods and many seasons but new skiable snow, two degree air and bright sun just don’t coincide here very often.
Keeping an eye out for transformative weather conditions always affords a novel experience of Riverfront Trail, even for its veteran users. The views, the river, the wildlife, and the light are always changing. And sometimes the worst weather can spark a healthy introspection on the
miraculous adaptability of the human organism. Norwegians have a saying, “There is no badweather, only bad clothes.” See you on the trail!
“Bad weather always looks worse through a window,” my mother used to tell us…
— Marion Mill Preminger, "All I Want Is Everything," 1957
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