Snowshoes

I've gone snowshoeing the past three weekends in a row, and being as cheap as I am, not rented snowshoes. As long as the snow is knee deep or less, it's no problem. Of course, walking at the back of the group means stepping on already-packed snow, and you don't sink in too much. And isn't that really what friends are for? To make sure you don't sink in too deep.

   

The first weekend my buddies and I went to Gold Creek in Snoqualmie Pass, and the next two weekends we spent at Tonga Ridge at Stevens Pass. Gold Creek is a pretty popular trail, and makes a great short hike if you are feeling social. Tonga Ridge seemed a little less populated, but just as accessible and gorgeous. 

One of the weekends, the forest road leading up to Tonga Ridge was quite predictably marked as inaccessible. Disregarding the warning, my buddy Jimmy and I yelled "Forerunner Smash!" (personifying his beat up, but much-loved Toyota Forerunner), and went for it. A couple miles up the road, we spent about 40 minutes digging his truck out of the snow. Despite the difficulty, we had a great time, and learned that 20/20 hindsight, small rocks, and gravel work really well to increase tire traction on snow and ice.

Winter in the mountains of Washington State is indescribably beautiful. It's the kind of beautiful you can't even imagine until you see it with your own eyes, fill your lungs with alpine air, and shuffle through the powder. So grab some friends, rent some snowshoes (or not) and get out there.