Winter hiking is more work, but the payoff is worth it

Published 1:30 pm Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Editor’s note: The road to Lake Dorothy is currently inaccessible to most vehicles due to storm damage. I wrote this story before the storms hit. I’m sharing it now because, even though Dorothy isn’t hikeable, many other winter trails are. And you should really go outside and enjoy the beauty of winter.

Winter hiking is all about preparation.

In summer, you can casually toss a water bottle and snack in your pack, head to the trail and be pretty much guaranteed a good time.

In winter, such a cavalier attitude is likely to end with a wet, cold and cranky hiker.

The extra effort for off-season hiking is worth it. You’ll find practically deserted trails, raging waterfalls and a soul-saving respite from endless hours indoors.

I hike year round. It’s my favorite pastime. In winter, I get out less frequently, but it’s even more important to me.

Recently, I was talking with a friend I hadn’t seen in a while. I told her I was grumpy and unsettled and couldn’t figure out why.

“Well,” she said, with the insight of someone who knows me well, “you haven’t been hiking lately, have you?”

She was right. I hadn’t.

So the next day I packed my bag and headed to Lake Dorothy. I’ve hiked that trail before, when my daughter was young and I was carrying her on my back. I chose it then because it’s a short, good trail with the payoff of a pretty lake. I chose it this time for a similar reason. The trail would be easy to navigate, even in a bit of snow or heavy rain.

The Dorothy Lake Trail is short, well constructed and not very steep. Its many well-built structures control the mud and keep things from getting too slick.

The day I hiked, the trail was covered in a few inches of light, fluffy snow. I only saw one group, two people with a dog. The snow muffled all sound, making everything peaceful and soothing.

About a mile in, I paused at an excellent bridge over a creek. Three cascades converge at the bridge, and with recent rains, the spot was magical.

Before I knew it, I was at the lake, which is just under two miles from the trailhead. I followed a short side spur to the lake’s outlet. Be sure not to miss this spot. It’s the best view of the two-mile-long lake.

You can easily hike farther by following the main trail along the lake. The trail goes beyond that, to several backcountry lakes. That trek, though, is best left for summer or to those confident in route-finding and winter backcountry skills. Lake Dorothy is a worthy destination on its own.

On the way back to the trailhead, my feet were sopping wet. I’d slipped into a partially frozen puddle while taking photos near the lake. But I was moving fast, my wool socks were doing their job and I was warm.

And I wasn’t cranky. I was peaceful and content. And I was planning my next hike.

Jessi Loerch: jloerch@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3046.

Safe winter hiking

Itinerary

Leave your plan of travel with someone before you go. Give them a time to call 911 to report you missing if you don’t return. WTA has a form at www.wta.org/hiking-info/basics/hike-itinerary.

10 essentials

These items can keep you alive in an emergency — or prevent an emergency in the first place.

• Navigation (map, compass and the skills to use them)
• Extra food
• Extra water
• Sun protection (good sunglasses and sunscreen are vital on snowy, sunny days)
• Extra clothing, including a water proof layer (no cotton)
• Flashlight
• First-aid supplies
• Fire starter
• Repair kit and tools
• Emergency shelter

Also consider investing in an emergency beacon such as a personal locator beacon, SPOT or DeLorme. These devices work even when there is no cell service and can initiate a rescue if necessary.

Avalanche

Some trails pass through avalanche terrain. Don’t know how to tell? Ask the ranger station for safe areas or take an avalanche class. The Northwest Avalanche Classes offers many courses throughout the winter; www.nwac.us.

Winter driving

Before you head out, check out current conditions. WSDOT has information on mountain passes at http://www.wsdot.com/traffic/passes.

Keep an emergency kit in your car, www.wsdot.com/winter/emergencykit.htm. Remember road conditions can change while you’re hiking. Plan ahead for how your will deal if a tree blocks the road you’re traveling on.