Get Out, Stay Safe This Winter

Covered in snow and gleaming in the sun’s short rays, the Cascades and Olympics can be alluring. However, winter backcountry exploration presents dangers that far exceed those of venturing out in the summertime. Here are six key guidelines for safer backcountry exploration in winter:

Choose your destinations wisely

Start by consulting a guidebook that will point you to low-risk snowshoe routes. Don't assume an easy summer day hike will make a good snowshoe or ski trip. In fact, popular summer hiking trails such as McClellan Butte, Granite Mountain, or Snow Lake become deadly avalanche hotspots in winter. Throughout the winter, Washington Trails Association’s website, www.wta.org, offers suggestions on snowshoe destinations.

Let someone know where you are going and when you will be back

Always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return (and call them when you do return!). Write a trip plan and leave it behind with someone you know before your next outing. If your destination changes, follow up and let someone know. Snowshoeing requires more energy than hiking and winter daylight hours are scant, so keep your mileage goals reasonable, and turn around when conditions are beyond your skills or your energy level is low.

Always pack the Ten Essentials & a few extra winter ones on any hike

The Ten Essentials are the items that you should have in your pack every time you venture out into the backcountry. The items that make up this list are a topographic map, compass, extra food, extra clothing, firestarter, matches, sun protection, a pocket knife, first-aid kit, and flashlight.

A few extra items to consider stashing in your winter backpack include:

• Plenty of water - keep hydrated by drinking often.

• Emergency shelter and/or sleeping bag - carry these in case you have to spend a night out there.

• Portable shovel - an important winter survival tool, which will assist you in digging snow caves in which you can survive a bitter, cold night. It's also nearly impossible to dig someone out of an avalanche without a shovel.

• Avalanche beacon - In avalanche country, consider carrying an avalanche beacon and learn how to use it properly. Beacons can be purchased or rented.

• Avalanche probe - Probes are essential in properly locating buried victims in an avalanche.

Learn about avalanches and other snow hazards

Why does snow sometimes stay in place while other times it slides off the mountain in an avalanche? Snow that is not well-bonded to the slope it rests on is considered ‘unstable’ and unstable snow causes avalanches. It’s key to think about how snowfall occurs and layers throughout the season. How often was snowfall followed by warm, rainy day? Is there a thick blanket of good snow covering up a multitude of buried weak layers?  Factors that affect avalanches include terrain, weather, snow pack, and human activity in unstable snow conditions. Most avalanche accidents are triggered by the victim or other members of the victim’s party.

Several outfits, including Mountain Madness, American Alpine Institute, and Gary Brill Avalanche Education offer avalanche awareness courses throughout the winter. Take advantage of free clinics offered at local REI stores and consider courses that include both class time and in-the-field training if you plan to be active in the backcountry in the winter.    

In addition to avalanches, there are other snow risks. A cornice is a mass of snow deposited by the wind, often overhanging, and usually near a sharp terrain break such as a ridge of cliff. Because cornices can break off unexpectedly, they should be approached with caution. Getting stuck in a tree well (the hollow in snow at the base of a tree) is another surprisingly common cause of injuries and fatalities in winter recreation. Snow-covered streams and lakes should be approached and crossed with caution as what may appear to be deep snow could be considerably less solid over comparatively warm running water.  

Always check avalanche and weather conditions before heading out

Planning ahead for winter recreation is important and checking the current conditions is just as vital. Winter weather can change quickly and have dramatic consequences. Before going out on a snow-covered trail, make a few calls and/or check sources online just in advance of your trip for the most recent condition reports and advisories. Here are a few good sources of information:
•    Washington Online Weather and NOAA offer good mountain forecasts.
•    Check Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center online or call their hotline at 206-526-6677 for detailed mountain weather forecasts and avalanche forecasts.
•    Washington State Department of Transportation posts advisories concerning Pass conditions and closures due to heavy and/or unstable snow. Their toll free information line is 511.
•    You can also call the ranger station in the area you plan to visit to determine current conditions.
•    Check Washington Trails Association’s recent trip reports from fellow outdoor enthusiasts.

Build and practice your navigation skills

It's easier to get lost in winter. Snow tends to make the landscape look uniform, and deep snow can obscure landmarks like trail junctions and streams. When the trail is covered and clouds obscure the identifiable peaks around you, it's not easy to find your way on an unfamiliar backcountry trail using only a topographic map. This makes map and compass skills essential for winter backcountry travel. Take the Mountaineers Club's wilderness navigation course, a bargain at only $35 per person, considering it could help save your life.

Exploring and recreating outdoors in the winter offers a chance to stay physically active all year round, have fun with family and friends, and see the wonderful drama of nature unfolding during this season. Yes, you’ll have to carry a heavier pack and a take a little more preparation time, but that just means you'll burn more calories on your trip and return safely to your car. After a day out in the snow, nothing beats the feeling of being warm and dry again and perhaps enjoying a hot chocolate and whipped cream at the end of the day. Once home, share your experience by filing a trip report online at Washington Trails Association’s website and you’ll help others to get out and stay safe outdoors this winter.