{"id":7858,"date":"2021-12-03T17:52:14","date_gmt":"2021-12-04T01:52:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nwac.us\/?p=7858"},"modified":"2021-12-13T10:27:25","modified_gmt":"2021-12-13T18:27:25","slug":"winter-hiking-and-snowshoeing-in-the-cascades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nwac.us\/2021\/12\/03\/winter-hiking-and-snowshoeing-in-the-cascades\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter Hiking and Snowshoeing in the Cascades"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Irene Henninger<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re keen to get out for a winter hike, the Cascades have got a lot to offer. No matter the season it\u2019s a good idea to plan for your trip and prepare. The 10 Essentials<\/a>, a list of critical items for survival, are the standard recommendation for taking with you on any outing. In addition to preparing for an unintended mishap, snow in the mountains can add another layer of fun and challenge to your day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
An unsuspecting summer trail winds through this valley, not far from Highway 2.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Well yeah, it\u2019s winter but there\u2019s no snow at home or at the trailhead, what\u2019s the problem?<\/em> You may not find snow at lower elevation trailheads even in the midst of winter. The Cascades though, are a microcosm of wintery conditions: if you gain just a little elevation you could easily go from no, or minimal, snow to several feet, in just a couple of miles. If you encounter snow, it\u2019s important to plan for having the right footwear including added traction (microspikes, etc) or flotation (snowshoes). However, it\u2019s not just about what\u2019s in your pack and on your feet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What about avalanche danger?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One question we want to pose is, have you thought about avalanche danger?<\/em> Many winter hikes in the Cascades travel through places where avalanches can occur. We call this avalanche terrain, or anywhere that an avalanche can start, run, and stop. Occasionally our winter hiking trails cross through areas where avalanches can travel. So, even though the steep snowy slopes are far above our heads, we can still be in avalanche terrain. People have been caught in and even killed by avalanches while hiking in the Cascades. We\u2019ve had fatalities at popular high-use areas with short, easily accessible hikes. A snowshoer was killed in an avalanche on Granite Mountain at  Snoqualmie Pass in 2015. A 13-year-old girl was killed in 2008 as her party was retreating during a blizzard that hampered their plans of hiking to Lake 22 near Granite Falls. These are only a couple of several unfortunate avalanche accidents which have unfolded in the Cascades over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
This photo of Granite Mountain on Snoqualmie Pass shows a good example of an avalanche path. The dashed red line is the summer hiking trail.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Just because it\u2019s winter doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t get out on hikes. One solution to avoid avalanches is to choose to hike in the lowlands or near the coast during the winter. These trails generally lack the tall snow-covered peaks over our heads. If you select a trail further up in the mountains, it\u2019s important to plan it for the right day. Fortunately, there are tools to help you understand the potential avalanche danger.  You can check the most up-to-date mountain weather and avalanche forecasts from the Northwest Avalanche Center (www.nwac.us<\/a>). These forecasts are issued daily for 10 mountainous regions in the Washington Cascades, Olympics, and Mt Hood areas.  On the home page select the zone on the map that covers the area you\u2019d like to spend time in. You\u2019re taken to the day\u2019s avalanche forecast, specifying the avalanche danger level, and provided with basic travel advice. Take extra care, or avoid winter hikes in avalanche terrain when the danger is listed as Considerable, High, or Extreme. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research the trail you\u2019ll travel beforehand and keep looking around you as you hike. Just because your intended route may be a popular summer trail, there\u2019s a good chance it\u2019ll take you right through the gut of very large, and possibly dangerous avalanche paths in winter. Sections of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) are a good example of this. It might not be wise to travel along parts of that trail in winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following are a few basic tips for understanding avalanches:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n