Whether you have old-style snowshoes or none at all, now’s the time to head to Stevens Pass and take advantage of the weekend guided snowshoe walks led by a ranger from the Skykomish Ranger District.
“For lots of people it’s their first experience on snowshoes,” said Richard Gilmore, information assistant at the district.
“We have snowshoes that fit people if they don’t have their own. They’ll be going out with someone who’s very familiar with the area, familiar with the history of the area, familiar with the ecology and how the wildlife works during the winter when everyone thinks everything must by asleep,” Gilmore said.
The guide will also talk about the basics of avoiding avalanches.
“Snowshoes allow you to go all sorts of places and do not take a huge learning curve. Modern snowshoes made out of aircraft-grade aluminum are lightweight and easy to handle,” Gilmore said.
Two different hikes will be offered this season, which starts Jan. 6 and ends March 25. All sessions start at 1:30 p.m.
Saturday sessions begin with an indoor presentation introducing visitors to management practices of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, as well as the historical significance of the area. Visitors then take a 1-mile novice snowshoe walk. Saturday’s session lasts 1-2 hours.
Sunday’s session is a 3-mile round-trip to Grace Lakes on a ridge on the south side of the pass, taken at a moderate pace with stops to discuss winter ecology and snowshoeing techniques. Children under 10 can not be accommodated on this more rigorous hike, which lasts 2-2 hours.
Group size is limited to 12 people. In the past, reservations could be made weeks in advance, but in an effort to cut down on no-shows, reservations are now taken Wednesday through Friday before the weekend walk.
To offset the cost of the program, a $10 per person donation is asked. While snowshoes can be provided for those 10 and older, children under 10 must bring their own. Be sure to dress appropriately, with layers that insulate as well as protect from rain. Waterproof boots are recommended.
Stevens Pass Ski Area offers shuttle bus service through the end of February from Mountain View Chevron in Sultan. It drops off riders in front of the Forest Service Guard Station where the walks start.
Go to www.stevenspass.com for information on schedule and costs. The guard station is in parking lot A. To register for the snowshoe walks, call 360-677-2414 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays.
Olympic National Park is a great place to see harlequin ducks, according to “Birder’s World.” The colorful duck ranks 18th out of the top 20 birds the magazine’s readers most want to see. Top on the most-wanted list was the ivory-billed woodpecker, naturally. Wouldn’t we all want to see one?
Raptor biologist Bud Anderson lectures on hawks and falcons in the morning of Jan. 6 and heads to the Skagit Valley fields in the afternoon. His presentation is one of several classes at the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Reserve near Mount Vernon.
Other winter classes for adults include Swans in the Skagit Valley (Jan. 27), Estuaries and the Entire History and Future of Humans on Earth (Feb. 2), Listening and Watching for Winter Birds (Feb. 9 and Feb. 11) and Marine Mammals of the Salish Sea (Jan. 14).
There are also monthly classes for 3- to 5-year-olds and 6- to-9-year-olds. Register for classes at www.padillabay.gov or call 360-428-1558.
Winning photographs in the Washington Trails Association’s 2007 Northwest Exposure Photo Contest are part of a show, Northwest Exposure, held Jan. 4 to Feb. 17 at the NPCA Parks Information Center and Gallery, 313A First Ave. S., Seattle 206-903-1444.
Columnist Sharon Wootton can be reached at 360-468-3964 or www.sosngandword.com.
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