So you’re considering a new winter
past time? Snowshoeing is an excellent
choice for several reasons. First of
all, you don’t have to stick to a trail – winter’s snowfall opens up the
mountain to areas you can not reach without the snow on the ground. Secondly, it’s widely said, “If you know how
to walk, you can snowshoe.” Although it
certainly takes more energy than your casual walk, it’s most likely the easiest
of the winter snowsports. Not to mention you can view incredible winter landscapes,
it’s a great group activity, it’s relatively inexpensive...I could go on and
on. Now with that said, there certainly
are techniques and advice that can help to ensure a safe, successful and
fun-filled wintry day at the mountain.
Have the right equipment.
If you’ve visited the park during
the winter, you may have noticed snowshoers trudging or climbing uphill on
steep, snowy slopes with shovels strapped to their pack. While you won’t need a
snow shovel on an easy snowshoe trip such as the guided day trips offered by
Mount Rainier National Park, it’s a good idea for a member of your party to
carry a snow shovel on a snowshoe outing. Shovels can be used to dig an
emergency shelter or help dig someone out in the event of an avalanche.
If you don’t have snowshoes you can
rent them (see additional information). You will also need trekking poles (or
an ice axe). Most beginning snowshoers are fine using trekking poles on easy
terrain and ice axes can be dangerous if you don’t know how to use them.
Choose a suitable route.
Okay, we don’t mean to scare you.
You are unlikely to put yourself into a dangerous situation if you start out with
a guided group or with an outdoor organization like The Mountaineers. As for
knowing where to go, guidebooks and online
resources such as our website, can help you find destinations based on your
skills and desires. You will soon discover Mount Rainier National Park as an
area full of enticing places to explore on snowshoes. Remember, many snowshoers
are just hikers who wear snowshoes so they can still get around and stay
outdoors during the winter.
Once sufficient snow has
accumulated, head up to Paradise – if the road to Paradise is closed at
Longmire (due to heavy snowfall or storms) there are lower-elevation routes
where you can snowshoe, including from Longmire, the West Side Road or the
Carbon River Road. You can also refer to the snowshoeing section on this
website for other suggestions.
At Mt. Rainier – don’t forget your chains.
Be sure to throw chains in the car
before you head to the park – they are required inside the after November 1st
-- snow or no snow (remember, conditions
can change quickly). Also, be sure to get a current weather forecast and an
early start as days grow short during the winter months.
Dress appropriately.
To help ensure an enjoyable and
safe experience, be sure to dress appropriately. You will need to wear polypropylene underwear
(tops and bottoms – no cotton), wool shirt or fleece jacket and consider a down
vest for insulation. Gore-tex raingear is
recommended (it also acts as a wind shell), and be sure to wear a wool hat and
carry several sets of gloves/mittens (carry one entire set of dry clothing in
case you need to bivouac). Gaiters will keep snow out of your boots and don’t forget
sunglasses and sunscreen. Carry hand and toe chemical warmers (carry several;
they are lightweight and easy to use). which can be stuffed inside pockets,
gloves or boots as needed and last for several hours.
Carry a sufficient supply of food and water.
Don’t skimp on food and water –
carry extra. Each participant in the party should carry enough extra
food/clothing with them to survive overnight inside an emergency shelter
whether it be a tent, a snow-cave (include a space blanket or pad to sit on inside
the shelter), a trench or an igloo.
Technique.
Learning how to put the snowshoes
on the first time can be daunting and/or hilarious. If this is your first snowshoe
trip we advise trying it first at home or snowshoeing with a friend who can
show you how to put them on. Snowshoeing is pretty much like walking when
you’re on level ground. Once you are on steeper terrain a little bit of
expertise comes into play.
Some techniques can be practiced
for negotiating hills. On steep snow it’s most effective to go straight up
rather than switchback (zigzag). It’s easier than it sounds: kick up (through
the toe hole) at the same time you plunge your ice axe (or trekking pole)
alongside your boot to secure a good foothold.
Going downhill on snowshoes can be more
challenging than climbing. In order to keep your snowshoes from behaving like
skis, on steep snow flex your knees and bend at the waist (as if you were
skiing) and keep your weight over the balls of your feet; this enables the
snowshoe crampon to grip the snow preventing sliding.
We learned how to navigate steep
snow with an ice axe rather than poles (using an ice axe properly takes
practice!). Today most beginners use trekking poles – they are fine for easy to
moderate terrain. If using trekking poles (when going downhill) reach out in
front with the poles and extend them for a good reach as you head downhill.
Adjustable poles also help when crossing (or traversing) a steep hillside. To
do so: shorten your uphill pole, lengthen the downhill pole – this makes it
easier to balance. However if you are using an ice axe, plant your ice axe on
the uphill side of the track, not the downhill side (this puts you into a good
position for an ice axe arrest).
Very important --never snowshoe
alone – always tell someone where you are going and when you are expected to
return. Do not rely on cell phones in the mountains.
Before you venture out, contact the
Northwest Avalanche Center for snow/weather/avalanche conditions. Call 206-526-6677 or visit their website at www.nwac.us . If you plan to snowshoe at Mount
Rainier National Park get current conditions at Mount Rainier National Park by
calling 360-569-6575 or visit their website at www.nps.gov/mora/.
Karen Sykes, Visit Rainier Hiking Expert
For more information on visiting Mt. Rainier, go to www.visitrainier.com.
Visit Rainier is a not-for-profit, non-membership destination marketing organization that promotes tourism in the gateway communities around Mt. Rainier.
Connect with Visit Rainier
No comments:
Post a Comment