Seattle Outdoor Adventurers

Intro to Snowshoeing: A Three Part Program

Program Description This three part program is a means to introduce beginners to the sport of snowshoeing who plan to snowshoe with individuals who are equipped and experienced for backcountry winter travel.

Program Structure

Part I: Self-guided tutorial using online resources accessible from this document.

Part II: Indoor get-together: gear review and informal question & answer session. Dates and locations are TBD. Check the SOA Calendar.

Part III: Moderate snowshoe outing. Dates and locations are TBD. Check the SOA Calendar. The field trip is limited to 12 people and priority is offered to those who attend the gear demo and question & answer session. You need not attend the gear review and question & answer session to participate in the snowshoe outing.

Organizer Brian S

Waiver Participants must bring a signed copy of the SOA waiver to the Indoor meeting or the Outdoor snowshoeing event.

Part I: Self-guided tutorial using various online sources

The websites listed in this section are for your review before the indoor gear demo and informal question & answer session. An online source may contain duplicate information listed on other websites.

1.Gear

1.1.Basics including 10 Essentials

1.2.Optional 11th Essential – Emergency Bivy

1.3.Choosing the correct type of Snowshoe

  1. Snowshoeing Techniques
  1. Physical Conditioning
  1. Food and Drink
  2. Staying hydrated
  3. Hydration Systems
  4. Energy Foods
  1. Hypothermia
  1. Winter Travel Safety
  2. Seattle PI Article
  3. Washington Trails Association Article
  1. Leave No Trace Principles
  1. Trip Planning
  2. WA Sno-Parks
  3. Trip reports.
  4. Trip reports.
  5. Washington Weather Online
  6. Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center
  7. WA State DOT Mountain Passes Weather

Part I: Advanced topics in snowshoeing safety

The websites listed in this section are available for your review but will not be covered during the indoor gear demo and question & answer session. Various Washington state organizations (staffed with paid professional and volunteer subject matter experts) offer comprehensive instruction in navigation, avalanche safety, first aid, and winter shelters.

  1. Navigation
  2. Online tutorial - basic techniques
  3. Online tutorial - advanced techniques
  4. Mountaineers Navigation Course
  1. Avalanche Safety Courses
  2. Cascade Alpine Guides
  3. Alpine Safety Awareness Program
  4. Mountaineers Avalanche Courses
  5. Washington Alpine Club – Backcountry Travel Class
  1. First Aid Courses
  2. Mountaineering Oriented First Aid
  3. Wilderness First Aid
  4. Wilderness Medicine Training Center
  1. Outdoor Action Guide to Snow Shelters

Part II: Indoor get-together: gear review and question & answer session.

Informal demo of snowshoeing gear followed by a question & answer session. Reminder: advanced safety topics, including avalanche awareness, navigation, and first aid will not be covered.

Location: TBD. Check the SOA Calendar.

Date/Time: TBD. Check the SOA Calendar.

Part III: Snowshoe outing

Field trip is limited to 12 people. Priority is offered to those who attend the gear demo and question & answer session. You need not attend the gear review and question & answer session to participate in the snowshoe outing.

Location: Twin Lakes near Snoqualmie Pass (or a similar destination) which offers 500 feet of elevation gain and is 4 miles roundtrip.

Date/Time: TBD. Check the SOA Calendar.

Addendum

  1. Recommended Reading

Staying Found Navigation “How To” book.

Snowshoe Routes Washington A book containing 100 snowshoe routes.

Mountaineering Accidents in North America series Published annually, it analyzes accidents and their causes. While it is mountaineering-centric, it covers some accidents involving snowshoers and hikers which typically involve avalanche and glissading incidents.

Seattle Times Article on WA Avalanche Accidents

  1. Final Words On Personal Safety

You are responsible for your own safety regardless of the group of people (SOA or private outing) with whom you are snowshoeing.

Improve your chances for a safe outing by staying dry, warm, hydrated, and nourished.

Participate in outings which do not exceed your fitness level and/or technical abilities.

Before every outing:

check the weather and avalanche forecasts and decide whether or not they are compatible with your risk comfort level.*

decide whether or not it is safer to stay home or choose an alternate route.*

notify (email or phone) a friend or family member of your itinerary including the event location (road/highway, trail, and parking lot details) and your expected return date/time. Contact them once you return. In general, the outing’s Organizer should perform this step.

In general, safety devices (Personal Locator Beacons, avalanche probes and beacons, cellphones, etc.) are utilized after an accident occurs. While, under certain circumstances, these backcountry tools are crucial must-haves, the absolute best safety practice is not placing yourself in harm’s way. Stating the obvious: these proven life-savers are subject to failure.

Every winter, avalanches kill experts, so-called experts, and others less knowledgeable about the dangers of backcountry winter travel. Short of staying home, it is simply impossible to completely eliminate the risk of avalanche danger. It is, however, possible to minimize avalanche danger through proper route selection especially when avalanche danger is moderate or high. One expert’s opinion on avalanche courses and the “acceptance of risk” concept.*

  1. My snowshoeing gear list (for two different types of snowshoe outings)

Gear / Leisurely Half Day Outing / Strenuous All Day Outing
Snowshoes / Yes / Yes
Snowshoeing (winter) boots / Yes / No (substitute with item in line below)
Mountaineering (waterproof leather) boots / No / Yes
Snowshoe repair kit / Yes / Yes
Extra boot laces / Yes / Yes
Daypack / Yes / Yes
10 Essentials (saves me time to pack all) / Yes / Yes
Hand warmers / Optional / Yes
Gaiters / Optional / Yes
Emergency bivy shelter / Optional / Yes
Trekking poles with snow baskets / Optional / Yes
Backcountry Gear
Shovel / Optional / Yes
Avalanche transceiver / Optional / Optional
Probe poles / Optional / Optional
Snow saw / Optional / Optional
Ice axe / Optional / Optional
Clothing
Trash bag to keep clothes dry inside backpack / Yes / Yes
Lightweight (wind) gloves / Yes / Yes
Waterproof mittens / Optional / Yes
Quick Dry shirt / Yes / Yes
Second Quick Dry shirt / Optional / Yes
Fleece Shirt / Optional / Yes
Rain Pants (generally, serve as my primary pants) / Yes / Yes
Wicking long underwear (bottoms) / Yes / Yes
Waterproof fleece pants / Optional / Yes
Lightweight wind/rain jacket with hood / Yes / Yes
Hard Shell wind/rain jacket with hood / Optional (depends on forecast) / Optional (depends on forecast)
Gear / Leisurely Half Day Outing / Strenuous All Day Outing
Clothing
Wool blend socks / Yes / Yes
Wool hat / Yes / Yes
Wicking long underwear (top) / Optional / Optional
Parka / Optional / Yes
Balaclava / Optional / Optional
Sun hat / Optional / Optional
Second pair of Wool blend socks / Optional / Yes
Second pair of Waterproof mittens / No / Yes
Wool blend sock liners / No / Optional
Other
Ziploc bag for trash / Yes / Yes
Cellphone (coverage non-existent in most places) / Optional / Yes
Sit pad / Optional / Yes
Blue bag/toilet kit / Optional / Yes
Hand cleaner (water free) / Optional / Yes
Food
Miscellaneous snacks (chocolate, nuts, etc.) / Yes / Yes
Lunch / Optional / Yes
Hammer Nutrition Gel / No / Yes
Water
Insulated hydration reservoir bag (100 oz.) / Optional / Yes
Water bottle with insulated cover / Yes / Yes
Navigation Tools
Compass (one of the 10 essentials) / Yes / Yes
Map(s) (one of the 10 essentials) / Yes / Yes
Paper and pencil in Ziploc bag / Yes / Yes
Altimeter watch / Optional / Yes
GPS / Optional / Yes