Walking on Snow – Vary Your Walking Routine by Snowshoeing

By Allen Burrell

With the warm sunny days of the summer replaced by the fresh layers of new snow in the mountains, the call to be outdoors continues. From the avid backpacker to the recreational hiker and devoted walker, the fresh snows mean another opportunity to feast in nature’s wonderland, this time with snowshoes.

Our group of eight adventurers gathered early in the morning at the Gateway Transit Center to share rides for a trip to Mount Hood. We are but one of many organizations at this location, preparing for a day of fun and recreation. Many of the groups here will be skiing, often cross-country, but today our group, the Trails Club of Oregon, will be snowshoeing. Our day’s destination is the upper reaches of the Mirror Lake bowl near Government Camp at Mount Hood. We will snowshoe up the face of the bowl to Tom-Dick Peak along a nonexistent trail. That is the beauty of snowshoes. You don’t need a well-marked trail to follow, as the fragile undergrowth is well protected under the snow, and the steepness is manageable in our trusty snowshoes. But we must be careful of avalanche conditions.

Unfortunately, the weather gods have other plans for us on this day. The rain and low clouds prompt us to rethink this location. We choose, instead, to drive further to a more eastern face of the mountain where the climate is drier and there are often fewer clouds. We head east to explore a lateral moraine in the White River Canyon. As we hoped, the weather here is clear, the sun is bright, and the view is gorgeous. This popular area is home to a variety of activities including overnight snow camping, tubing, sledding, cross-country skiing and, of course, snowshoeing. Frequently a busy place, we soon leave the bustle of those close to the parking lot and begin to feel a part of the vast canyon.

A spectacular view of Mt. Hood is our constant view as we head up the canyon. It is hard to imagine the raging torrent of a river that flows hidden under this peaceful blanket of snow and is such a challenging portage in the summer. We have the option to make the one-mile round-trip loop around the “gravel pit” that is now hidden beneath the snow, but our plans are more adventurous and we will go further. We travel the west side of the canyon and, after a couple of miles, clearly see the imposing ridge of debris left by the retreating glacier thousands of years ago. Walking on, we sense the magnitude of the moraine and begin the final 1,000 feet of elevation gain required to reach our summit. Today the weather has been our friend, and we are rewarded with magnificent views. It seems amazing that all this has been made available to us by just a few hours walk. Time for a few pictures, and then we head back.

It is remarkable how a familiar trail of the summer takes on a whole different character when covered by the white snows of winter. The alarm of the chipmunk has been silenced with hibernation, and much of the chatter of the birds has been diminished by their taking residence elsewhere. The sounds of the wind in the trees and the soft clomp-clomp of the webbed snowshoes leaves no feeling of abandonment. It is a time of renewal. I wonder if we have soiled the beauty of the moment by encroaching with our highly evolved plastic and aluminum marvels of technology on our feet. Their lightweight modern components are far removed from the beauty and workmanship of the handcrafted ash and rawhide natural materials of their predecessors, but we are not deterred, for it is these items that have brought us to witness nature at its finest and on its own terms.

Equipment
You may already have proper clothing to enjoy snowshoeing. If you are a year-round walker, you probably have non-cotton layers of base clothing and underwear along with water-resistant outer layers to prepare you for the rain, snow, and the colder conditions encountered in the mountains. Add to that snowshoes, appropriate boots, and “the ten essentials” and you are all set. If you can’t talk your buddy out of borrowing their snowshoes, you should have no trouble renting. Snowshoes, boots, and poles are available for rent from many mountain gear suppliers and at rental shops on the way to the mountain for less than $15. This is certainly cheaper than a lift ticket, but don’t forget to check on a Sno-Park pass, too.

Organizations
Outdoor activities, especially in the mountains in winter, require that individuals be familiar with the hazards and be prepared for the extremes of the mountain environment. A great way to explore new trails, as well as meet new people, and learn more about the sport of snowshoeing, is to participate in a group-led activity. Most local clubs encourage nonmembers to participate on their trips. Their experienced leaders have a knowledge of the route, awareness of the conditions, and can give advice to contribute to a safe and inexpensive day’s activity. Ride sharing is also encouraged to reduce costs and save the environment. Typically carpooling at 5 to 8 cents per mile and trip fees of $2 to $3 make this a real bargain.

Check with these local organizations for a schedule of their activities. Trails Club of Oregon (www.trailsclub.org) Mazamas (www.mazamas.org)

Epilogue
Walking your way to fitness is a successful program when it is ongoing, varied, and supported. Snowshoeing fits well into such a program because it is an activity that provides variety to walking. Furthermore, the members of the group give encouragement and support to validate the benefits of walking. Finally, it goes without saying that the rewards of the beauty of the location can provide a positive mental outlook for the body. Go ahead. Try something different. Go for a walk in the snow.

Allen Burrell is a snowshoeing, hiking, and backpacking leader with the Trails Club of Oregon. He can be reached at burrell@teleport.com.