Hiking and Snowshoeing
Hiking and snowshoeing are very similar – both take you out walking in the mountains, just during different seasons. Many of the resources are the same for both activities and thus will be addressed in this one place. I have done a fair amount of hiking but I still have not spent enough time in the area to be an expert. I’ve not done much snowshoeing so I unfortunately do not have as much advice to offer.
The first step in hiking is educating yourself about the dangers and preparing yourself for a safe and enjoyable excursion. One of the most valuable web sites in the area is the Washington Trails Association (wta.org). It offers information about hiking basics, trail descriptions, and recent trip reports. I often search for hikes, including snowshoeing routes, using this site. It allows you to specify characteristics like length, elevation gain, region, and type of hike – whether it’s a summit with mountain views, meadows of wildflowers, a waterfall, or an alpine lake. The trail description offers a general walk through of the trail and provides essential information such as if permits are needed. Recent trip reports can also be accessed so that you get the latest information about trail conditions, and often times, the road condition leading to the trailhead. The trail descriptions are based on a popular series by The Mountaineers Books, Day Hiking written by Craig Romano and Dan Nelson. I have the whole series and take the books with me as a guide. I’ve changed hikes last minute due to an unreachable trailhead or weather conditions so the books have been invaluable for finding another nearby hike, and guiding me along the trail. If you are new to hiking, before you even search for a hike first check out WTA’s section on hiking basics. They have some great general information that will be invaluable in planning your trip and enjoying yourself on the trail. Once you are familiar with the basics, you may check out WTA’s suggestions for hikes if you’re overwhelmed on where to start. They suggest seasonal hikes, waterfall hikes, lookout tower hikes, family friendly hikes, etc.
Once you have decided on your hike, there are a couple more concepts to review in preparation. The first is the Leave No Trace concept. Additional information can be found on the official Leave No Trace website, the National Park Service website, and the WTA website. Leave No Trace is an important concept for hikers to follow to help preserve the environment and ensure the beauty can be enjoyed by future hikers as well. Another important concept is the 10 Essentials. The 10 essentials used to be a list of 10 items, first created in the 1930’s, and has evolved into 10 systems imperative to safety in the mountains. You can find out what systems are needed for the 10 essentials from the National Park service website, WTA website, and REI’s expert advice section. I personally follow the newer system approach, which includes the following:
Now that resources have been provided to prepare you for your adventures in the mountains, it’s time to look at the hikes themselves. I have been able to do several hikes and would like to suggest a few, based on my favorites, popular hikes, and ease of access. There are several regions in Washington and each have a corresponding Day Hike book. The regions include:
There are far more numerous hikes available than I have listed below, but for those with no starting point some of the hikes I list may be good. I was brand new to hiking when I moved to the Pacific Northwest so there should be several good options for other new hikers. Many of the popular hikes also become snowshoe routes in the winter. The WTA website will also have descriptions for these routes, or another resource is Snowshoe Routes: Washington by Dan Nelson.