Weekender: Hog Loppet
Hog Loppin’
By Rebecca Agiewich
It snowed the entire day during my first Hog Loppet in 2008. The next year, the sun shone and I saw what I’d missed the first time.
The scenery is spectacular along the mostly groomed 30-kilometer route that takes skiers on a rolling journey from the Mission Ridge Ski Area to Blewett Pass. When it’s clear, you can gorge yourself on a smorgasbord of Cascade views, including Glacier Peak, the Stewart Range, and Mount Rainier.
Even in less-than-perfect weather conditions, this non-competitive event is a blast. With the 24th annual Hog Loppet coming up on Feb. 25, 2012 here’s a preview of what to expect.
The route
The day starts between 7 and 8 a.m., with two chilly chairlift rides up Mission Ridge. After an exhilarating ski on the top of the ridge (groomed only once a year for Nordic skiers), you reach the only section of the Hog Loppet that’s ungroomed — a short descent below Mission Peak. This section is my favorite because it’s the most wild. It’s also the site of many face plants, which can be entertaining (until it’s your own). After this challenging downhill section, you’re back on forest service roads lovingly and repeatedly groomed by the Leavenworth Winter Sports Club, which runs the Hog Loppet. After a big climb of 1,200 feet, and a couple more miles of rolling terrain, you reach the second aid station (out of three) where skiers can greedily gulp down hot chocolate, suck down snacks, and warm hands over a fire.
Photo by Dane Doerflinger
When the going gets tough, think “calories burned”
Next you ski along Tronsen Ridge toward Haney Meadows, where some mighty views will be revealed if it’s clear. If it’s not, just focus on how many calories you’re burning. The last five miles, from Haney Meadows to Blewett Pass, offer up views of Table Mountain and the Enchantments, and are a downhill glide in the right conditions. In the wrong conditions — heavy new snow, for example — you’ll have to work just a little harder (again, think calories burned!) Either way, the big yellow finish line warms the cold bones when you finally glide under it.
Eating and sleeping
Now it’s time to gobble back all those calories. There is a wide range of options.
Plenty of food is available at the finish line, for starters. Then you can head to the after party at the Leavenworth Festhalle, which features beer, bands, and burgers.
In Wenatchee, you can’t go wrong with McGlinn’s Public House, a lively place packed with locals that serves huge portions of stellar pub food and good microbrews. Chateau Faire Le Pont Winery serves exquisite food with its great selection of wines, and also has entertaining live music. For a special calorie-laden indulgence, stop at the Cashmere Cider Mill for an apple butter milkshake, a treat you won’t soon forget. Please note that reservations are required in winter.
Do your body a favor and treat yourself to a comfortable bed before and after the Hog Loppet. Several hotels in Leavenworth offer discounts to Hog Loppet skiers, including the Icicle Inn. In Wenatchee, the Coast Wenatchee Center Hotel is a great option, since the shuttle to the Hog Loppet picks skiers up there. The Springhill Suites Wenatchee, just down the street, is new, plush, and comfy.
All of the options are so comfy in fact, you might want to make this a long weekend to enjoy all that the area has to offer, including plentiful sunshine, great downhill skiing at Mission Ridge, and more wineries than you can shake a ski pole at.
If you go
General Information
• Wenatchee Valley Vistor’s Bureau
• Visit Leavenworth Washington
Hotels
• Coast Wenatchee Center Hotel
Restaurants
• Chateau Faire Le Pont Winery
• Washington Apple Country and the Cashmere Cider Mill
Bill, 3 years ago
The Hog Loppet was canceled in 2012 due to bad weather. I paid $75 and was offered either an $18 refund or $20 credit for next year.
According to the Leavenworth Ski Club “The abrupt event cancellation did not reduce LWSC event expenses but LWSC would like to extend a discount/refund to 2012 Hog Loppet participants as a kind gesture.”
Don’t they have insurance?! I recommend not participating in this event unless they purchase event insurance. We spent a lot of money to drive in for the event from Bellingham and stay in a hotel for 2 nights in Leavenworth only to have the event canceled. The nominal refund is a joke.
Geordie Romer, 2 years ago
Bill- I’m sorry about that. My real estate team, which is my wife and I, sponsor the Hog Loppet every year and pay a substantial amount to do so. I, too was on the bus to Mission Ridge and disappointed that it was too windy to ski. I think the wind was blowing in the 70-80 mph range that day and it just wasn’t safe to put skiers up on the hill.
I think someone from LWSC has reached out to you directly, but I know that they wish they could do more from a refund perspective. This is not a money raiser for the club and it is run really frugally. Money was spent on the event that can’t be unspent – t shirts were printed, the course was groomed, etc. Event insurance certainly is a possibility, but that would increase the cost of the event for everyone.
Anyhow, I hope to see you out on the course in 2013. With luck we will have great snow and a blue bird day.
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