I went snowshoeing for the first time on Saturday after spending a couple hours the days before deciding where to go — Mount Rainier, White Pass, the Gifford Pinchot or Mount St. Helens.
After considering road closures from the flooding in December in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and that there are more options at Mount Rainier National Park than White Pass Ski Area, I settled on Mount Rainier.
My boyfriend and I narrowed down our list of possible trails in the park from there with help from the Washington Trails Association website.
Eventually on our way to the mountain, with help from my boyfriend’s dad, we decided to head up to Paradise and either hike there or head to Reflection Lake from the Narada Falls parking lot.
However, Mother Nature has the final say when it comes to outdoor excursions — especially during the winter months.
It rained from Chehalis to the park entrance, but we were hopeful that it would be snowing when we reached a high enough elevation.
The park ranger at the gate informed us that we wouldn’t be traveling higher than Longmire due to the high avalanche danger.
So we drove up to Longmire, which with the rest of the road closed was busy. We layered up in our rain gear, got a map and decided to just jump on the Wonderland Trail for a snowshoe walk along the Nisqually River.
The center of the trail was well-packed, so those without snowshoes could manage the hike, but holes left by hikers’ missteps pocketed the sides of the trail. The trees and gray, heavy skies made the forest dark and damp.
Thankfully it didn’t actually rain during our hike and the weather was warm enough for me to cut my layers down to a longsleeved shirt and my light rain jacket.
We stopped for lunch after about 2 miles down the trail on the bank of the Nisqually River. The powder there was cleaner and much of it was untouched. Those without snowshoes suffered from sinking occasionally higher than knee-deep in the snow while snowshoers stayed afloat.
While the gray, clouded sky hid Rainier, the views clear of trees along the riverbank gave way to smaller mountains.
After lunch, we headed to the car, where we met the rain again and drove home through the wet weather.
Maybe next time we’ll actually find out what weather we’re in for by calling the park at (360) 569-2211 or the Avalanche Hotline at (206) 526-6677.
Mount Rainier Ranger-led Snowshoeing
Ranger-led snowshoeing is offered at Mount Rainier National Park. Rangers were taking groups out from Longmire on Saturday. According to the National Park Service’s website, typically the snowshoeing treks take place at Paradise.
Guided snowshoeing is offered on a first-come, first-served basis from Dec. 23 to March 27, if conditions allow.
The snowshoe walks begin at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Those interested should sign up one hour in advance in the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise, according to the website.
The walk covers 1.8 miles in about two hours and is limited to 25 people ages 8 and older.
Organized groups can make reservations for guided snowshoeing for 10 to 25 people at 2 p.m. on weekends and holidays only. Participants can use their own snowshoes or those provided by the park for a $5 donation for the duration of the walk.
For more information, or to make a group reservation, call (360) 569-6575 or visit the Longmire Information Center or the Jackson Visitor Center.
