MOONSTRUCK

Story by Sue Madsen

Picture the moon rising behind Mt. Shuksan into a sky of cobalt blue, with pink and red fingers of sunset and alpenglow lighting Mt. Baker to the west. Add the glitter and silent stillness from a layer of fresh snow, broken only by the crunch of footsteps. Moonlight snowshoe trips are one of the Mt. Baker area’s truly delightful secrets. And what better way to make the most of our short winter days?

My first moonlight snowshoe trip was with the Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department. An excited bunch of snowshoers with skills ranging from novice to expert gathered in the late afternoon for the trip up to the mountain. While the slopes may be overrun with skiers and snowboarders during the day, at night they are open and lonesome, shared only by the night-owl grooming crew and a few intrepid souls willing to venture out into dark. Our group arrived at dusk, strapped on snowshoes and headlamps, and headed out into the evening. It was one of the most magical moments in my life, and since that time I’ve returned dozens of times, either solo with my trusty snow dog Dante or with friends who are always up for a new adventure.

Snowshoeing is one of the most accessible winter sports – if you can walk, you can snowshoe. All you need is your current hiking gear, appropriate clothing and boots, and snowshoes. With a little care and common sense almost anyone can enjoy a safe and fun adventure, even at night. You also gain the additional benefit of getting a tremendous aerobic workout, which will help you keep in shape for the coming spring.

Before hitting the trail you’ll need the right clothes. Dressing in layers is critical, particularly at night. As you heat up through physical activity you can open or shed layers to prevent sweat buildup. Protecting your feet, hands, face, neck and head are extremely important – have a hat that covers your ears, a scarf or balaclava to cover your mouth and nose if it’s windy, gloves to wear when you’re snowshoeing, and for extra warmth, mittens to cover them during rest stops. A headlamp is also important, although you’ll find that it is seldom needed on clear nights when the moon is full.

Experienced snowshoers should have no problem extending their activities to night trips. As for any backcountry sport, a map and knowledge of the terrain is critical. This is particularly true for nighttime outings. When starting out, it is probably best to stick to clear open forest roads or a well-used area such as the ski area.

Some of my favorite moonlight routes are from the Heather Meadows Lodge to Artist Point, or along the Ridge Road/White Salmon Road trail system maintained by the Nooksack Nordic Ski Club (www.nooksacknordicskiclub.org/snowshoe.html). The Anderson Creek Road to the Anderson Butte/Watson Lakes trailhead southeast of Mt. Baker is also top notch. Regardless of the destination, pay attention to the weather report and avalanche conditions.

Weather in the Northwest can change rapidly, and people have been killed or injured by avalanches within the Mt. Baker area. Stay alert and tailor your trip for the current conditions. Always check the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center website before each trip (www.nwac.us).

Those with less experience or who are a bit more cautious can give snowshoeing a try with Recreation Without Borders (www.recreationwithoutborders.com). Recreation Without Borders is an adventure-based business in Mount Vernon offering moonlight snowshoe trips either directly or through several local parks and recreation departments.

For more information on snowshoeing, check out these Mountaineers books: “Snowshoeing: From Novice to Master” by Gene Prater and Dave Felkley, and “Snowshoe Routes: Washington” by Dan Nelson.

Sue Madsen is a fluvial geomorphologist who moonlights capturing photos of rare carnivores and assisting with volcano research. When she’s not furthering those interests, she likes to climb, ski, backpack, sea kayak and generally bum around in the Pacific Northwest’s wild places.

Snowshoe Rentals
If you want to try before you buy, the following local stores rent snowshoes:

Be prepared
Snowshoeing is strenuous exercise and requires much more energy than hiking. Keep your mileage goals small, turn around when conditions are beyond your skill or your energy level is low. The Washington Trails Association offers the following tips for snowshoeing:

1. Always pack the Ten Essentials – topographic map,
compass, extra food, extra clothing, fire starter, matches, sun protection, pocket knife, first-aid kit, cell phone and flashlight.

2. It’s very important to have:

• Extra clothing – plenty of layers made of materials such as wool or polypropolene that wick sweat and moisture away from your body.
• Headlamp – extra batteries are especially important in the winter, since days are short and night comes quickly.
• Plenty of extra food – you burn a lot of calories, so bring along plenty of extra food to keep your energy level high.
• Plenty of water – keep hydrated by drinking often.
• Emergency shelter or sleeping bag – in case you have to spend the night out there.
• Portable shovel – a critically important winter survival tool, for digging snow caves or digging someone out of an avalanche.
• Avalanche beacon – carry one and know how to use it.

For more information, visit www.wta.org/hiking-info/basics/winter-safety-tips.