Winter break is here, and this teacher is grateful. I told my students I would miss them, but I also told them we all needed some time away, time to rest and renew.
This morning I headed up for my annual snowshoe on Maintenance Shed Road. I left Yakima at 6:00am, stopped at the White Pass ski lodge for a bathroom break, and got to the trailhead around 7:20am. The road was bare and wet the whole way, with a few slush piles at the top of the pass. The trailhead is just west of the pass as you head downhill, you can't miss it. Compact snow and ice on this side road, but take it slow and you will immediately come to a large plowed parking area to the left. Trail is across from the parking area.
It is a WINTER WONDERLAND up there. Tons of snow, on the ground and in the trees. It was in the mid-30s the whole time, with patches of blue sky. Great snowshoe weather! I wore hiking pants with a base layer, started with a fleece and warm hat, quickly changed to short-sleeve and sun hat. Waterproof boots, poles helped. I usually wear gaiters but chose not to this time, and it worked out fine. Snowshoes or skis definitely required.
The trail was nice and wide at the start, perfect for snowshoes. Halfway there, it changed to just an old ski track, which made it a little more challenging. The last half-mile, it was just me, breaking trail in new snow, thighs burning. I knew I was close, so I just kept at it, reminding myself that it would be easier on the way back.
I was alone the entire way there, loving the quiet and solitude. The sun began peeking over the hills and through the clouds. As the sun touched the trees, it sounded like they were raining, with the occasional giant WHUMP and rustle of branches. A few times I thought a giant beast was crashing through the woods towards me. I made it to the turnaround point, about 3 miles in - the sun was shining on Rainier! I stomped a bench into the side of the hill, and sat for awhile, listening to the forest, drinking hot cocoa and reading a book. Eventually, I got a little cold, and headed back.
On the way back, I met a LOT of people - some individuals, a group of fellow Cascadians, several dogs (leashed and unleashed), people snowshoeing and skiing, even a few families sledding. It was fun to chat and compare experiences on this trail. Confession: I also wanted to tell them all to Venmo me for breaking trail ... but I guess I've been on the other side of that as well :)
As a bonus, the first half-mile (from the trailhead) is now extra-wide, almost enough for two people to snowshoe next to each other. There was a family sledding on a hillside a half-mile in (and having a blast!), and they had brought a bike trailer/stroller that HAD SKIS ATTACHED. I don't know if they pushed it, or pulled it, or hooked their dogs to it, those are all amazing images in my mind. But however they did it, they flattened a nice, wide path, at least to the sledding hill. Where were they when I was breaking trail earlier in the morning? :)
This is a great snowshoe trail for everyone - it's relatively flat, you can't get lost (you are on a road), low avalanche danger, and beautiful trees and scenery, Today was a great day to be out - I was grateful to find some renewal in nature.
Total just under 6mi round trip. Only 540ft elevation gain. Started at 7:30am, back to the car at 11:30am.
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