Snowshoeing an inexpensive, fun way to get out in winter

If you can hike, you can snowshoe.

And it’s likely that you’ll love it just as much.

Andy Boos, the Everett Parks and Recreation department’s snowshoe instructor and trip leader, can’t get enough of the winter sport.

For five or six months each year, you can find him snowshoeing on trails near Mount Rainier and Mount Baker, on Hurricane Ridge, in the mountain passes, off the Mountain Loop Highway and over near Leavenworth.

An avid hiker, Boos said his passion for snowshoeing began simply as a way to get where he wanted to go during the winter. He skis downhill and cross-country, but not as much anymore.

Snowshoeing is less expensive than other winter sports and just as healthy, Boos said.

“People have been figuring this out, and many of the people we take up into the mountains are repeat customers,” he said. “When Everett Parks and Rec first began offering snowshoeing, we lined up just three trips that winter. The number quadrupled. Now we offer about 40 trips a season.”

On Tuesday, Boos loaded up a city van at Forest Park with a group of new snowshoers and drove them to Snoqualmie Pass. On many easy, introductory tours led by Boos, the city offers free use of its collection of snowshoes. The goal is to get people outdoors.

“It’s a challenge to stay active in the winter, especially when the daylight hours are few. People like to stay indoors in front of the TV,” Boos said.

“It helps to commit to a snowshoe trip and get it on the calendar. Bring your hiking boots, sunglasses, fleece wear, a small backpack with water and snacks and you’re set.”

Many of those who travel with Boos are middle-age women, but snowshoeing is great for anybody, especially for families.

“We are very inclusive,” Boos said. “We really try to be flexible and focus on what people want and need — slow trips for beginners, strenuous trips for experienced snowshoers.”

Most people who snowshoe say that a mile of snowshoeing is like two miles of hiking.

“I take people out on four- or five-hour trips and maybe we go a few miles,” he said. “Who cares if you traveled one mile or five miles? If you’ve been out in the snow, you got some exercise.”

The U.S. Forest Service snowshoe hikes on winter weekends at Big Four and at Stevens Pass, though the schedule won’t be posted until after Jan. 5. The Stevens Pass trips focus on the history, flora and fauna along the Pacific Crest Trail, from the 4,061-foot summit of the pass down the trail about a mile or so.

Use of the Forest Service snowshoes is free. You pick up the easy-to-use plastic shoes with metal traction teeth at the old Forest Service guard station at the pass, where you get an introduction. A donation of $10 to $15 is suggested.

Those who have not snowshoed before are encouraged to take an introductory course, such as those offered by the city of Everett, the Forest Service, the Mountaineers or at REI at its Alderwood mall store.

Boos offers a two-hour introductory course at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 5 in Lions Hall at Forest Park in Everett, and again at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 14 in Spruce Hall at the park. Cost is $9.

The winter recreation staff at REI also welcome people to come in to the store with their budgets in mind, and idea of where they plan to snowshoe and what they want to get out of the sport.

“The type of shoe and pole they need to rent or to buy also depends on their weight and whether or not they will travel in powder or packed snow,” an employee said.

Once set up, a person can soon be floating across snow banks on most of the trails across the region’s National Parks and National Forests.

It’s easy. Just like hiking, only with bigger feet.

Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @galefiege. A version of this story first appeared in January in the Herald Health magazine.

If you go

Everett Parks and Recreation: Otherwise known as Alpine Andy, Andy Boos offers a long list of snowshoe classes and tours throughout the season, which goes to April. Introductory classes are $9, and trip fees range from $39 to $59 for adults, depending on the tour and location. A full list of what is offered is at tinyurl.com/prmqkbh, or call the parks office at 425-257-8300.

Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest: The plans for this winter’s guided snowshoe tours have not yet been finalized or posted on the Forest Service website. After Jan. 5, go to www.fs.usda.gov/mbs and click on the link to winter recreation. Otherwise, call 360-677-2414, 360-436-1155 or 425-434-6111.

Everett Mountaineers: A snowshoeing course begins Jan. 7 and includes two lectures and one field trip. The class covers proper equipment, conditioning, where to go, safe winter travel, route selection and more. After successfully completing the course, you’ll be eligible to go on Mountaineers snowshoe trips. Lectures are at 7 p.m. Jan. 7 and Jan. 21 at Evergreen Middle School, 7621 Beverly Lane, Everett. The field trip is on Jan. 24 at Stevens Pass. To register, go to www.mountaineers.org. Click on find courses and search for 28987. Registration is $60 for Mountaineers members/$80 for nonmembers.

Protect your eyes, skin

It’s a cloudy winter day in the city. You’re headed to the mountains. Sunglasses and sunscreen are the last thing on your mind.

Think again. Even on a cloudy day, ultraviolet light is intense on high-elevation ski slopes and snowshoe trails. And in bright light, with the sun reflecting off the snow, it doesn’t take much to get ultraviolet keratitis, commonly known as snow blindness.

It’s like a sunburn of the cornea. You don’t notice it until several hours after exposure when you tear up at the painful, gritty way your eyes feel.

The only way to avoid this is by using sunglasses or ski goggles.

Andy Boos, who takes people up into the mountains on snowshoe journeys hosted by Everett Parks and Recreation, believes ski goggles are best. They don’t fall off and they offer the best protection, Boos said.

For very active cross-country skiers and snowshoers, the staff at REI suggests sunglasses rated for UV protection. For people who sweat, goggles fog up too easily. Good, polarized sunglasses can do the trick.

Sunscreen protection also is a must for those outdoors during the winter, too. No matter if your cap is pulled low or your turtleneck pulled high, a zinc oxide sunscreen is a good idea. A popular brand available at places such as REI and Cabela’s is Sawyer Stay-Put SPF 50 sunscreen lotion for winter sports and high altitudes. And don’t forget the lip balm. Aloe Gator is a popular among people who enjoy winter sports.

Go prepared and you’ll have a better time, Boos said.