Snowshoeing on the Rise

Accessible and Affordable Day Trippin’

By Amy Whitley

Photo at right: Snowshoeing in the fresh winter air. Photo by Tami Locke

The clock had already struck 9 a.m. on a winter Saturday morning when I looked up from my cup of coffee, glanced out the window at the sunshine and declared it a snowshoeing day.

Twenty minutes later, I’d pried the kids away from YouTube, packed water bottles and a thermos of hot chocolate, and we were off. No extra preparation. No extensive packing. All we needed were clothes we use for snow play everyday, the snow boots that reside by the back door all season long and our snowshoes, already in the car.

Within 30 minutes, we’d climbed the access road up Southern Oregon’s Mt. Ashland to the Mt. Ashland Sno Park six miles up. Our late start meant we hit ski commuter traffic on the way up, but we didn’t mind: unlike in the downhill lift lines, there’s always plenty of room on the backcountry trails.

Less than an hour after making the decision to spend the day in the outdoors, we exited the car and buckled on our snowshoes, our dog Sam racing between us in giddy excitement, a chocolate brown blur against the cheerful glare of sunshine bouncing off crystals of snow.

We hiked one mile into the Siskiyous that winter Saturday along a wide snow-packed road following a gradual downhill slope. Before we could go further, the kids begged to stop and sled down the steep banks of snow to the glades below on their behinds, leaving their snowshoes tipped up like sentries in the powder.

I did a loop through an alpine meadow and met them at the bottom where they were busy building a snow fort. The steep climb back up the bank to retrieve their snowshoes signified the toughest workout of the day, but proved worth the effort: the views of Pilot Rock and Northern California’s Mt. Shasta caused even the kids to pause.

We were back in the car headed home in time for a late lunch—no unpacking or excess laundry necessary.

Spontaneous activity

Yes, snowshoeing really is this easy. And it can be even more spontaneous than our mid-winter Saturday jaunt. By keeping the snowshoes and winter boots in the car, we can stop whenever we’re enroute to a wintery destination. Sno Parks along interstates provide great new vistas to explore, or snowmobile parks can offer ready-made trails (just check about non-motorized access).

Alternatively, have the snowshoes ready no matter what your primary winter sport of choice: it may become desirable to switch activities mid-day. For instance, on a blustery downhill ski day, gladed snowshoeing or cross-country ski trails may provide protected acreage for winter recreation (and a welcome respite from the wind-exposed face of the mountain).

In my column, NW Kids, I’ve offered practical tips on snowshoeing with kids, but the rules apply to any age: snowshoeing is one of the most affordable and accessible ways to enjoy the outdoors in winter.

Those new to the sport can try before buying: rent a pair of snowshoes at your local outdoor store by the day, or buy used at a fall ski swap. The pairs my three kids wear adjust to fit, so they’ll work for their respective heights and weights for 2–3 years, not the usual single-season of most winter sport gear. Ski poles are useful, but not essential, and winter gaiters can be found on the cheap for those lacking waterproof pants.

Where to go:

SnoParks: Easily accessible and cheap (just pay the one-time state fee per year), Sno Parks are located throughout the Northwest. With over 120 parks in Washington and almost as many in Oregon, there’s probably one near you. Get your Washington Discover Pass (adventureawaits.com/discover-pass-101/) or Oregon Nature of the Northwest Pass (www.naturenw.org/passes-snow.htm before you go.

Ski Resorts: Big or small, nearly all ski resorts in the Northwest have either organized Nordic trails or unplowed access roads for snowshoeing. Parking is easy, and there are facilities to use and often dining choices.

Logging roads and hiking trails: Harder to access than resorts and Sno Parks, logging roads and hiking trails may have limited access in winter, and trekkers should only venture out if the roads and terrain are familiar. Steep downhill grades can be more challenging in snow than in the summer!