Cover photo courtesy of Methow Valley Nordic Ski Educational Foundation
Our region’s impressive Nordic ski community hasn’t happened by accident. It’s grown through decades of volunteer effort, dedicated organizations and people committed to sharing the love of cross-country skiing with others. These two stories celebrate the history, stewardship and community spirit that have helped Nordic skiing flourish across the Inland Northwest.
From First Tracks to 50 Years
A Brief History of Nordic Skiing on Mount Spokane
The story of cross-country skiing on Mount Spokane reaches back to the 1950s, when early enthusiasts first began exploring the mountain. Nordic skiing was still relatively uncommon in the Spokane area at the time, but by the 1970s, organized instruction was becoming increasingly popular. Western Outdoor Sports established a cross-country ski school that eventually offered lessons seven days a week and connected with as many as 1,000 skiers each year.
In 1976, local advocates began working with the Spokane Mountaineers to pursue Sno-Park designation for Mount Spokane. Their efforts paid off in 1977, when Mount Spokane was officially designated a Sno-Park—an important milestone in the development of the world-class Nordic trail network that local skiers enjoy today.
The trails themselves were built through remarkable volunteer effort. Early routes were cut by hand and with tractors, while grooming relied on snowmobiles, homemade equipment and even a heavy roller constructed from an irrigation culvert. From those humble beginnings, Mount Spokane State Park’s Nordic Ski Area has grown to more than 50 kilometers of groomed trails. But the trails are more than paths through the snow—they are a lasting legacy of community, perseverance, ingenuity and a love of winter—built by one generation to be enjoyed by the next.
Today, Spokane Nordic Ski Association carries that legacy forward through programs designed to welcome skiers of all ages and abilities. The organization offers lessons, clinics, youth programs, racing opportunities, adaptive Nordic skiing and skijoring, along with events that bring the local Nordic community together. Its programs range from introductory opportunities for beginners to competitive racing and specialized activities for experienced skiers.
Whether you’re a lifelong skier or clipping in for the first time, there are countless opportunities to get involved. Visit Spokanenordic.org to explore programs, learn about membership, find trail information and sign up for upcoming activities. (Trevor Finchamp, Spokane Nordic Ski Association events director)
Growing Champions and Community
The Methow Valley Nordic Ski Educational Foundation
The Methow Valley Nordic Ski Educational Foundation (MVNSEF) began as a small ski team in the late 1980s and was formally established as a nonprofit in 1998. Since then, it has grown into a vibrant community organization serving more than 300 youth, adults and para-athletes through cross-country skiing, biathlon, camps, clinics, races and community events.
MVNSEF has a remarkable history of developing high-level athletes. Olympians Laura McCabe, Leslie Hall and Suzanne King have shared their experience as coaches, while athletes including Brian Gregg, Erik and Sadie Bjornsen, Novie McCabe and Walker Hall have come through the program on their way to competing at the highest levels of Nordic skiing. MVNSEF’s biathlon community has produced accomplished athletes including Casey Smith, Eli Nielsen, Eva Weymuller, Kelsey Dickinson and Aidan Sands, and the program also supports para-Nordic athletes, including Paralympic Nordic sit-skier and biathlete Erin Martin.
But MVNSEF is about much more than competition. At its heart, the organization helps people of all ages and abilities discover skiing, build confidence and community, and develop a lifelong love of being active outdoors. From a child’s first day on skis to an adult learning a new technique—or an athlete pursuing national and international competition—there is a place for everyone.
MVNSEF also hosts community races and Junior National qualifying events, along with ski camps, clinics and adult classes. In partnership with Methow Trails and its more than 200 kilometers of groomed trails connecting communities throughout the valley, MVNSEF helps make Nordic skiing an integral part of life in the Methow Valley.
You can find a list of our upcoming events and races at Methowvalleynordic.org. Popular events for out-of-towners include our Adult Ski Camp (Dec. 17-20 in Mazama), Race of the Methow (Jan. 30-31 in Winthrop) and our Try Biathlon day. (Justine Lucia, MVNSEF executive director)
