Chances are, if you’ve crossed from western Washington to Eastern Washington, you’ve driven past Lake Keechelus. I-90 is on the shores of Lake Keechelus, and in summer is a barren pond littered with tree stumps everywhere. But in winter?
snowshoeing
What Snowshoes to Buy?
Anything MSR. Now hit the trail! In reality, snowshoe shopping isn’t quite that easy–here’s the best way to determine what snowshoes to buy for use in the PNW.
REI Moonlight Snowshoe: Tronsen Meadow
After one successful REI guided snowshoe, I decided to book another*. This time, I wanted to go at night. Nighttime snowshoeing looks gorgeous, but I know myself well enough to know I’d be terrified of a wolf or cougar attack at all times. A large group of women led by professional guides sounded the safest […]
REI Guided Snowshoe Expedition to Lanham Lake
A little after 8AM on a sunny Saturday, we departed. A gang of strangers in a cozy van set off from the Alderwood Mall REI towards Stevens Pass, with a van full of gear and guides experienced at driving in the snow. It was the beginning of a great day!
Commonwealth Basin Snowshoe
I had the brilliant idea to do a romantic Valentine’s snowshoe instead of an expensive dinner with the boyfriendo. Romantic, it was not. Adventurous? Perhaps.
Ice Scrapers & Heated Seats –My Winter Hiking Gear
As I said before, looking at a list of ‘essentials you should have every time’ and actually bringing those items is something not everyone does. But some equipment you really need when hiking, while some can just really improve your experience–like how you need an ice scraper in your car in the winter but are super […]
Guided Snowshoe Expeditions at Snoqualmie Pass
Having mountain passes around us means in Seattle it’s easy to play in the snow when wanted. But if you’re a beginner or novice, there’s a lot of equipment involved you might not want to initially purchase. Enter the Forest Service’s Winter Snowshoe program!
Franklin Falls
I got a taste of snow hiking last winter and loved it. Snow hiking is like snowshoeing, only the trail is so packed down or light with snow that you can get away without snowshoes and use gear like microspikes for traction. Armed with a new pair of microspikes from Mama Boots, I set out […]
A Tale of Two Winthrops, Part Two
After enjoying a beautiful sunny hike and exploring town day one in Winthrop, we planned for a longer hike (Pipestone Canyon) for day two. However, we awoke to the sound of driving rain on a metal roof and suddenly nine miles didn’t seem like a whole lot of fun.
A Tale of Two Winthrops, Part 1
For our anniversary, the boyfriendo surprised me with a weekend in Winthrop! Located northeast of Seattle, near North Cascades National Park, this town is a playground in both the winter and summer for outdoor activities–but how would the shoulder season hold up?