January 5, 2012 Buzz: Outdoors News Shorts
Fun for the whole family on Winter Trails Day
Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are your tickets to a peaceful winter wilderness experience – and no lift lines! Explore these fun and family-friendly pastimes on Winter Trails Day this Saturday, Jan. 7, when local snow resorts including The Summit at Snoqualmie, Stevens Pass, Crystal Mountain, Timberline and Mt. Hood offer free snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Come on up and get outfitted for the day and try out the gear you need to get started – with guides to help you figure it all out. Free!
http://www.snowlink.com/wintertrailshomepage.aspx
Sno-Park or Discover Pass for Winter Recreation?
The Department of Natural Resources recently announced some changes to the winter recreation requirements. Here’s a tip: If you have a current seasonal Sno-Park pass, you don’t need to purchase a Discover Pass to visit a designated Sno-Park between Nov. 1 and March 31. However, if you have a daily Sno-Park pass, you’ll need a Discover Pass in addition to your Sno-Park pass to visit the following locations:
Crystal Springs Sno-Park
Lake Easton State Park
Lake Wenatchee State Park
Fields Spring State Park
Mount Spokane State Park
Mount Tahoma Trail system
Find out more at: http://www.discoverpass.wa.gov and http://www.parks.wa.gov/winter/
Winter getaways at Washington State Parks
Cama Beach State Park on Camano Island, Wash. Photo by Carolyn Price
Winter is a great time to camp in Washington’s state parks. If that sounds a little chilly, try a cozy cabin at Bay View, Camano Island, Cama Beach or one of the many other parks that offers cabins, yurts, or vacation homes.
State parks that accept year-round camping reservations are Cape Disappointment, Deception Pass, and Dosewallips, to name just a few. For a list of parks with extended reservation dates, visit www.parks.wa.gov, and select reservations. To see the detailed winter schedule for Washington’s state parks, go to http://www.parks.wa.gov/parkschedule/
View eagles on the Skagit River
One of the largest wintering populations of bald eagles in the lower 48 states can be found along the Skagit River. Now’s your chance to see them! From Dec. 17 through Jan. 29, check out the eagles from three viewing stations along the North Cascades Highway that are equipped with spotting scopes and binoculars. Volunteers with the Eagle Watchers program will staff the viewing stations to provide expert advice and assistance. For more information, go to http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mbs/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=fsbdev7_001646 or call the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest at (360) 856-5700, x515.
January is “Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month”
Make a new year’s resolution to ski or snowboard and then take advantage of the great deals offered during Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month. More than 300 ski areas, Nordic centers, and ski shops will be participating in this year’s initiative with discounts and special offers, including The Summit at Snoqualmie, Hurricane Ridge, Timberline Lodge, and Mt Hood Meadows, and many more. To find out where to go in your area, go to the website at http://www.skiandsnowboardmonth.org/index.php. Then, on the left side of the page, type your zip code in the Address box, and click Search. A list of nearby resorts and retailers will appear.
Explore the Cascades and Olympics on snowshoes
A great opportunity to play in the snow. Photo by Carolyn Price
You have lots of options for exploring the wintry wonderland of northwest this year on snowshoes! Stevens Pass, Snoqualmie Pass, Mount Rainier, and more are all offering a variety of guided snowshoe tours, for enthusiasts of all ages and fitness levels. Find out more with the following contact information.
Stevens Pass: Skykomish Ranger Station, (360-677-2414)
Snoqualmie Pass: Snoqualmie Pass Forest Visitor Center, (425) 434-6111
Mount Rainier: Longmire Museum, (360) 569-6575
Mission Ridge: www.missionridge.com
Hurricane Ridge: Olympic National Park, (360) 565-3136
