January 2006

Winter Outings Off the Beaten Path

By Janice Lovelace

When the snow falls in the mountains, thoughts turn to downhill skiing and snowboarding. This year, expand your winter activities with a few of these suggestions.

Snowshoeing in Western Washington

Snowshoeing is relatively inexpensive, fun and easy to learn for almost any age, and the equipment fits easily in your car trunk. You can snowshoe almost anywhere there’s several inches of snow, but many people head to local favorite summer hiking trails.

Lower Gold Creek Basin, two miles east of Snoqualmie summit, offers an easy snowshoe route, also frequented by cross-country skiers. The trail goes north on Forest Service Road 142, following a narrowing valley on the east side of Gold Creek, with mountains in all directions. (To get there: Take Interstate 90 to exit 54, go under the freeway, turn right and find a place to park at Sno-Park. Find other trails in the I-90 vicinity by calling the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest headquarters at 425-775-9702 or visiting www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/recreation/activities/xcountry-i90.shtml.)

Check out the Mountain Loop Highway in eastern Snohomish County. The mile-long trail to the Big Four Ice Caves is a flat walk with opportunities to see wildlife. It begins right from the parking lot. If you are lucky, you will see signs that beavers are at work. Another trail in the area is at Heather Lake, one mile past the Verlot Visitor Center. Turn off the highway to Road 42 towards Mount Pilchuck. If it is clear, you will see views of Mt. Pilchuck on this walk. It is a little steeper, so it might not be appropriate for the youngest snowshoer. (To get there: Take Interstate 5 to U.S. Highway 2 east from Everett; exit to state Route 204 towards Lake Stevens – left lane exit; Turn left onto state Route 9; then turn right onto state Route 92 towards Granite Falls and follow signs to the Verlot Visitor Center to pick up maps and check out conditions.)

Head to Olympic or Mount Rainier National Parks for a snowshoe walk guided by a ranger and learn how animals, like the snowshoe hare, fare during the winter.

At Olympic National Park, the walk leaves the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center at 2 p.m. Friday through Sunday and holidays, and lasts about 90 minutes. Rent equipment at the Visitor’s Center; a $2 donation is requested. You can also head out on 20 miles of trails on your own. About a mile past the Visitor’s Center, children will enjoy sledding and tubing at the Sunrise Family Snowplay Area. Call 360-565-3131 for weather and general information or check www.nps.gov/olym. (To get there: From Highway 101 head east toward Port Angeles; follow signs to Hurricane Ridge – the main park visitor center.)

At Mount Rainier National Park, the ranger-led walks on Saturdays and Sundays leave at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., and last about two hours. Sign up at the Jackson Visitor Center an hour ahead of the scheduled time. Rent snowshoes for $1 at the Visitor Center. If you want to add cross-country skiing to your trip, there are trails from Longmire (about 11 miles west of Paradise). For weather conditions, call 360-569-2211 or check www.nps.gov/mora. (To get there: Go south on I-5 to state Route 512 – exit 127; go east to state Route 7; Go south on state Route 7 to state Route 706 in Elbe. Go east of state Route 706 through Ashford to the Nisqually Entrance, the only one open in winter.)

Looking for other places to snowshoe? Check out the state Sno-Park Web site at www.parks.wa.gov/winter/parks/nonmotorparks.asp.

Cross-Country Skiing in Eastern Washington

Cross-country skiing, a bit slower and quieter than its downhill cousin, is an activity that can be mastered by all in the family. We had our children on cross-country skis before downhill skis. Find cross-country trails at the local ski areas for day trips. Stevens Pass Nordic Center is located five miles east of the Stevens Pass Summit on U.S. Highway 2 (www.stevenspass.com/nordic). The Gold Creek Trail in the Snoqualmie area is good for beginners (www.summit-at-snoqualmie.com).

For some of the best cross-country trails, consider heading to Leavenworth or the Methow Valley.

The Leavenworth Winter Sports Club (www.skileavenworth.com/nordic) offers rentals to experience the 26 km. of trails in four areas around Leavenworth. The most popular for families is Icicle River Trail, which has an easy terrain and lovely scenic views along the Icicle River. Just one block from downtown, families can ski a three-km. trail at the Waterfront Park.

Spend the night and take in tubing as well. For $10 a session, join the fun at the Adams Tubing Park at Leavenworth Ski Hill (operated by the Leavenworth Winter Sports Club). Take the lift up and whiz down in the provided tubes. No regular sleds are allowed on this hill. (To get there: Take Highway 2 past Stevens Pass to Leavenworth.)

The Methow Valley (Winthrop, Twisp areas) offers the second largest cross-country ski trail system in the United States, along with a full complement of other winter activities. Downhill skiing and snowboarding can be found at nearby Loup Loup Ski Hill, about 30 minutes east of Twisp on Highway 20. There is also a tubing area for children.

Consider Sun Mountain Lodge in Winthrop for a long weekend. You can choose a package that includes lodging, food and winter activities like snowshoeing (including rentals), ice skating on an outdoor rink and a sleigh ride. Maybe you prefer a package that allows you to learn to cross country ski over the 200 km. of groomed trails? (Contact www.sunmountainlodge.com for winter directions.)

A unique way to experience winter in the North Cascades is to see it from the air in a hot air balloon. Sometimes it is even 10 to 15 degrees warmer than on the ground because of temperature inversions in the mountain valleys. Up to five people can fly in the balloon, which takes off from the Winthrop Inn, just west of Twisp on Highway 20. (Adults are $175 per person, children 6-12 years old, $125. Children under 6 are discouraged from flying (www.balloonwinthrop.com).

Alternate Activities at Whistler

A long weekend at Whistler Village in British Columbia offers winter activities for everyone – from world-class downhill skiing and boarding to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. And there’s something you won’t find anywhere else: a chance to glide above or walk among the treetops.

Ziptrek allows adults and children over 55 pounds to glide along five steel cables strung high above ground in the treetops of the old growth forest on Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Ranging in length from 80 to 1,100 feet, the cables crisscross Fitzsimmons Creek that runs between the mountains. Each person wears a provided helmet and climbing harness, which is attached to the pulley cable so that you can slide along for a fabulous bird’s eye view of the area. They operate all year, but winter offers a special thrill. Cost for this two-and-a-half-hour activity is $98 (Canadian) for adults and $78 for children under 14.

For those interested in a slightly less adventurous experience, check out the one-and-a-half-hour Tree Trek. Climb up to the platforms nearly 200 feet high in the trees, and then walk along boardwalks and suspension bridges in the old growth forest canopy. Some of the same trails and stairways are shared with ZipTrek, and the same company, Ziptrek Ecotours, runs both. The guides are naturalists who share information about this temperate rainforest, while providing an enjoyable experience for the family. Children must be at least 6 years old, although babies in a front pack are permitted. Cost is $39 (Canadian) for adults and $29 for children under 14. (For more information on both, visit www.ziptrek.com.)

One activity not found at most resort areas is dog sledding. Learn the commands and how to handle the sled. Blackcombe Snowmobile operates in the Brandywine Valley, a 15-minute bus ride from Whistler, and Cougar Mountain Tours run sleds in the nearby Soo Valley Wildlife Preserve. Two adults and one child can ride in the sled, or one person can ride at the back with the driver. Trips to the backcountry last two to two and a half hours, and range in price from $125 to $140 per person (Canadian); children are half price with two paying adults. (For more information, contact either Blackcombe Snowmobile, 604-932-8484, www.blackcombsnowmobile.com; or Cougar Mountain at Whistler, 1-888-297-2222, www.cougarmountain.ca.)

Choose lodging located in Whistler Village for easiest access to activities. The Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Hilton Whistler Resort and Four Seasons Whistler offer special programs and amenities for children. They are all just steps away from ski lifts.

Ice-Skating at Sun Valley

Ice-skating is a favorite winter activity. Indoor skating rinks are available in the Puget Sound region for a day of inside activity or to get comfortable on skates. But the real thrill is found in skating outside on a frozen pond or an outdoor rink. Since Seattle doesn’t get many days cold enough to freeze ponds, you will have to head to a colder area for this one.

A long weekend at Sun Valley, Idaho, one of the country’s premiere destination ski resorts, offers a full range of outdoor winter activities, including skating. Rent skates or bring your own and take individual or group lessons at this famous outdoor rink. When you tire, sit on the terrace overlooking the rink and watch others while you eat. Admission is $9.50 for adults, $8 for children 6-12, and free for children 5 and under. Families may enjoy staying at Sun Valley Resort in one of the family suites at the Sun Valley Lodge or sharing a cottage nearby with another family (www.sunvalley.com/resort).

Does the interest in your family lean more towards hockey? Head to the natural ice rink at Atkinson’s Park in Ketchum where you can join a pick-up game of hockey. Skates, helmets and hockey sticks are available to borrow, if you don’t bring your own, and admission is free.

While at Sun Valley, eat dinner at Trail Creek Cabin and enjoy the free sleigh ride from the village to the restaurant. It’s a great way to see elk and other wildlife. This memorable experience is one the children will talk about for years to come. (Call for reservations for Trail Creek Sleigh Ride at 208-622-2135.)

Janice Lovelace is a Puget Sound area freelance writer and outdoor enthusiast.

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