Written by: Jude Bokovoy

Is there a snow covered mountain one has been wanting to explore? Wait no longer, snowshoeing is much more accessible than it seems. All of one’s beloved trails can be experienced with a whole new snowy landscape that completely changes its typical look. Sound intriguing? Below is a guide of how to prepare and what to watch out for when snowshoeing. 

What should one wear? — Layers, layers and more layers. On the drive up to a trail, one can  wear some kind of leggings or loose pants, long sleeves and a hoodie. Upon arrival, put on a pair of snow pants, a thick jacket and gloves. 

What should one bring? — A backpack comes in handy to put one’s gloves or even the jacket into, or tied onto, due to getting hot from exercising. Ski or trekking poles come in handy when snowshoeing up or down hill as well. It is also good to pack some hardy snacks or a lunch. Lots of calories are burned while snowshoeing, making it critical that one listens to their body, giving  themselves the proper nourishment and staying hydrated. Depending on how long one takes sitting in the snow to eat their food, one’s hands can get pretty cold, making it unenjoyable to pick up small food items. Examples of lightweight food options include peanut butter roll ups, protein bars or fruit leathers. 

How does one know they are still on the right trail? — When one’s surroundings are covered in multiple feet of snow, it can be easy to get confused about where one is going. Depending on how popular the trail is and the time of day, there should be a human made trail from snowshoers earlier in that day. Many trails have light blue diamond signs posted on trees for guidance. Traditionally, these are marked for cross country skiers, but they help snowshoers just the same. They are posted high up to prevent them from getting covered in snow. Something to be aware of is that some trees with diamonds could have fallen or burned down from forest fires. This means that the trail may not be perfectly pinned out. If one finds themselves in this situation, keep in mind where a current diamond is and walk for a few minutes in one direction to spot the next diamond.

Something to think about — Before starting the adventure, check the weather forecast. Snowstorms are nothing to joke about. If one is in the clear, it’s still good to keep in mind what one would do in case of an emergency. If caught in a storm, one way to keep safe is by digging out a snow cave next to a tree. Leaving out poles in an “x” can help helicopters spot the enclosure if it gets that extreme. 

Typical things that could be seen — Snowshoeing in Oregon is more common than one may think. Expect to see some groups and a few dogs along one’s journey. Encountering a communal cabin for people to stay for the night to ski or snowboard down the trail the next morning is also a possibility. 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu