Outdoors

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • In a crisis, rescue group is ready 1/12/08   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Saturday, January 12, 2008 Take proper precautions when snowshoeing By Sarah Jackson Herald Writer 1. Look before you trek: All kinds of hazards lurk below the snow. If you're hiking close to trees, beware of tree wells. These mostly hollow, unstable areas around trees are created when the snow accumulation is less around tree trunks because of the umbrella effect of the branches. Tree wells can be increasingly dangerous as the snow piles up, making them deep enough to swallow a person. Snowshoeing near boulders can be equally problematic because of boulder wells or moats. Steer clear of such obstacles to avoid punching through those tricky crusts that form over the wells. Bring a small, lightweight backcountry shovel just in case someone in your party gets stuck. 2. Don't get burned by snow bridges: Naturally occurring snow bridges are often the easiest way to cross a stream, but they can betray snowshoers if the rushing water below eats away at enough of the underside of the bridge to make it unstable. If it can't support your weight, you may end up breaking through the snow and onto the water and rocks below. Look closely at a bridge before crossing it. If you do cross, have one person go at a time. 3. Watch for avalanche conditions: They're usually triggered by people, and their likelihood depends on snow conditions and temperature changes, which makes them about as predictable as the weather. And they're more likely to happen on friendly-looking slopes with angles of 30 degrees to 45 degrees, not super-steep slopes, which constantly shed snow. Avoid routes that are described as having any degree of avalanche danger until you are trained in avalanche safety. Snowshoers should especially avoid those routes on days when the avalanche forecast warns of danger. Check out the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center's forecasts at www.nwac.us or call 206-526-6677. Contact the Mountaineers at www.mountaineers.org or 800-573-8484 to learn more about avalanche awareness training. 4. Take a class: If you've never been snowshoeing before, consider taking a brief introductory snowshoeing course with the Everett Mountaineers. This year's class begins Wednesday and there are still spots available. Contact Larry or Lynn Wathne at wathne@comcast.net or 425-252-5500 for details or see everettmountaineers.org/scrambling/scramble_courses.cfm. You can also sign up for a trip with the Everett Parks and Recreation Department (http://signmeup.everettwa.org; 425-257-8300) to learn some basics. 5. Use a map and a compass: Many people assume winter is an easy time to find routes, thanks to the tracks of other travelers as well as their own tracks, which they think can be used to find the way home. However, many a snowshoer, either lazy or inexperienced, has followed tracks of another lazy or inexperienced hiker, followed by another and another. Pretty soon, you have a backcountry highway of error that everyone else follows. Also, snowstorms can quickly cover your tracks. Study your map and route beforehand. Assess route conditions at www.wta.org. 6. Dress and pack for the worst: If ever there were a time to be prepared in the wilderness, it's winter. Imagine how equipped you'd need to be to spend at least one night in the elements if something went wrong and then plan accordingly. Remember, wilderness rescue in many cases takes hours, and it can sometimes take days. Review the Mountaineers' list of 10 essential supplies and bring them all. Throw in a few chemically activated toe, hand and body warmers for extra comfort and to keep your fingers functioning. 7. Stay dry: Getting wet in the Northwest backcountry can be deadly, especially in winter. Be sure to bring clothing that will protect you not just from snow, but from rain, which unfortunately is common on lower-elevation snowshoe routes. Do not wear cotton, which retains sweat, water and cold. If you feel yourself getting hot and sweaty, open those pit zips and be sure to remove layers so you don't get wet from the inside out. Bring extra clothes and socks just in case you slip and step into a creek. If you do get wet, get out of the wind as soon as you can. Hypothermia, according to Backpacker Magazine, is the fourth most common cause of death in the wilderness. 8. Eat and drink: Be sure to stay hydrated and eat small, frequent snacks to keep fueled. If you're dehydrated and depleted, it's harder for your body to stay warm. Add flavoring or Gatorade to your water to keep you interested in fluids. Bring snacks you actually want to eat, like chocolate. Pack a thermos of hot chocolate, coffee or tea. 9. Plan for fewer daylight hours: It gets darker earlier in the mountains because the peaks around you block out late-day light. In summer, you can hike for 12 or more hours on a day with great light. This time of year, expect to get up early and keep your trips shorter, unless you're prepared to stay overnight on the snow and ice. 10. Take it easy: You're excited to get out on your first snowshoe excursion of the year, but picking a whopper of a trip with too much distance and elevation gain isn't wise. Even fit hikers can be taken aback by the energy-sapping power of snowshoeing. Not only are your feet strapped into giant clodhoppers giving you a completely different gait, but you're also burning more calories, thanks to the cold. If you want to end the day only moderately sore and slightly exhausted, cut your distance and elevation-gain expectations by half on early season trips.

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