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Here are some unofficial notes by Ken Roberts in 2007 about the route of the
1980 Olympics Men's 15 km cross-country ski race at the Mt Hoevenberg ski center.
This route is similar to the usual Lake Placid Loppet course --
see comparison below. This
distance of this route is 15 km (9.3 miles), and it climbs a total of
477 meters (1565 ft).
Several of the trails on this route are designated as "Most
Difficult" (black diamond) on the official
Mt Hoevenberg center trail
map, so this route is unsuitable for many skiers. It is especially
important to have strong skills for slowing down and taking sharp curves
while on a steep downhill, and to have sound judgment about what
sections are too risky for some skiers to attempt at all under some snow
and weather conditions.
This route becomes even more difficult and risky in certain snow and
weather conditions. If you have any doubt whether the current snow and
weather conditions are suitable for you and all members of your party,
check first with the staff of the Mt
Van Hoevenberg center before starting out.
Map + junctions
These notes are intended to be used as a supplement to the official
Nordic Ski Trails map of the Mt Hoevenberg center.
Junction numbers refer to the multi-color glossy brochure map of Nordic Ski Trails for winter 2004-2005 (and not
to the numbers on the black-and-white Annual Lake Placid Loppet race
course map).
The 1980 Olympic Men's 15 km route is similar to the first 15-17 km of the usual course for
the Lake Placid Loppet event, the
East section. There are some
differences:
- Olympic 15km starts with a bigger climb, by going up Main
Street and across parts of the InnerLoopen and East Mountain trails
-- through junctions 20,
23, 32 -- rejoins Loppet course at junction 35.
- Olympic 15km does the Peggy's Puddle loop.
- Olympic 15km turns off the second Porter Mt climb onto the
Horseshoe trail, while the Loppet goes through junctions 43 and 44
to the Rollercoaster hills, and they rejoin at junction 46.
- Olympic 15km turns Left at junction 31 to climb the Hi Notch
trail, rejoins the Ladies 5K trail at junction 25.
So the Olympic 15km has more hill climbing than the corresponding
East section of the Loppet.
exit from east end of Stadium (the end away from the lodge where we
buy trail passes and food and stuff), turn Right (south) following signs
for InnerLoopen trail.
bear Left at junction 20 onto Main Street trail (Ladies 5K goes
right). Start climbing a long hill (which is the same hill that the
route goes down at its finish), curve Left near junction 23, then
straight across the Innerloopen trail and keep climbing. Ignore the
left turn labeled "East Mountain" at junction 32. A little more
climbing, then go down hill to junction 35, and
bear Right to join the East Mountain Loop (going clockwise on the
trail map).
Porter Mt loop + East Mt
Left at junction 36 to start the Porter Mountain Loops.
Ski the steep down and up of the Peggy's Puddle loop.
At junction 41, go Left to ski around the Cascade loop (which later
returns to this same point).
This loop goes down to alongside Route 73 road. Then comes the first Cascade climb. After
a gentle section comes what I call the second Cascade climb
(somewhere near junction 41).
After some down and rolls, comes what I call "first big Porter
climb", which ends in a very steep climbing section, followed by a very
steep short dip down-and-up. After that comes the "second big Porter
climb".
Just before the top of this climb, turn Right onto the Horseshoe loop, and
soon turn Right to go down the hill, and continue
Straight (at junction 46) to rejoin the main Porter Mt loop toward
the Stadium.
Trail curves West and go downhill more, another climb, more downhill. Follow "Porter Mt Loops" signs
(which lead to joining the East Mountain Loop, going clockwise on the trail map).
Then into the long East Mountain climb, with some curves along the way. After a
slight pause, the climb suddenly gets very steep
("the Russian hill"). At last some downhill, and then
leave the East Mt Loop ...
Hi Notch + Ladies 5K loop
at junction 29, bear Left (or Straight) to join the Olympic Ladies 5K Outer Loop,
following red markers (going clockwise on the trail map). Soon ...
at junction 31, turn Left and climb the Hi Notch trail, with some
more steep climbs, then at last the downhill.
If junction 27 still exists in this Hi Notch area
(Ken couldn't find it in December 2005), then bear Left.
At bottom of downhill (at junction 25) continue straight to rejoin the Ladies 5K Outer loop
-- follow
red markers. A couple of more steep ups
and downs, then a long downhill toward the Stadium. But . . .
Before reaching the Stadium, the downhill comes into an open area.
Turn sharp Right across the open area to leave the Outer loop, soon
start to climb and bear Right to Inner loop of the Ladies 5K trail.
some more ups and downs, then at the start of another steep climb,
bear Left and climb partway up to leave the Ladies 5K (before it joins Innerloopen or
East Mt Loop), and
turn Left at junction 23 onto Main Street to go down hill toward the stadium. pass by the first right
turn (near junctions 20 + 21) near the bottom of the hill, then
take the second Right turn by open area at bottom of hill. Go a short
ways to reach the Stadium, and turn Left into the big open field.
Go west past the lodge building
(usual location of the third feed station of the Loppet event).
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