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Basic Snowshoe Field Trip - Paradise Area (winter)

Field trip: Basic Snowshoeing

Basic Snowshoe Field Trip - Paradise Area (winter)

Students will learn, practice and demonstrate basic snowshoe techniques. Registration open to basic snowshoe course students and equivalency candidates only.

Contacts

Mike Forsyth
Mike Forsyth
Primary Leader
Qualified Youth Leader
  • Easy, Easy/Moderate
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 4.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 725 ft
  • High Point Elevation: 6,000 ft
  • Pace: 1.25 mph with stops

Saturday, January 25th. We will meet at Longmire National Inn parking lot, near the museum and the rest rooms at 8:45. If you do not have 4WD or AWD, please arrive by 8:30 to chain up if required. Gate should open around 9:00 a.m. If gate, road or weather conditions rule out Narada Falls or Paradise, we will snowshoe a route starting from Longmire. Participants can organize carpooling to Longmire, and from Longmire to Paradise. If Rainier is not available, backup plan is White Pass.  More info closer to trip.

Tire chains, cables or auto socks are always required to be carried by ALL VEHICLES in Mount Rainier National Park during snow season, and are sometimes required to be used by ALL VEHICLES. Chain rentals available at four locations in Ashford for about $30.

Admission to the park requires an America the Beautiful federal lands pass or a $30 per vehicle fee. Try to carpool with someone with a pass.

Full day field trip at an area with sufficient snow, most likely Mount Rainier National Park.  Class will be divided into  groups, according to pace and distance, each with two or more instructor-leaders.  Students will learn, practice and demonstrate basic snowshoe techniques.   We will  review Ten Essentials appropriate to Rainier backcountry, identify terrain and avalanche hazards, and practice "Leave No Trace".  Time and conditions permitting, we will have an avalanche transceiver demonstration.

Badges

Route/Place

Paradise


  • USGS Mt Rainier East
    Green Trails Mt Rainier East No. 270
    Green Trails Paradise No. 270S
    Green Trails Mount Rainier Wonderland No. 269SX
  • See full route/place details.
Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

For the field trip, you must bring the Ten Essentials and clothing, equipment, lunch, snacks and a  day pack large enough for all winter gear.

TEN ESSENTIALS: Map (will be provided by leader), compass, sunglasses and sunscreen, extra clothing, emergency shelter, headlamp/flashlight, first-aid supplies, fire starter, matches, knife, extra food & water. Sun protection, including sunscreen and sunglasses, is a must. Snow reflection is highly damaging to eyes; UV damage and sunburns are common if proper protection is not used.

Snowshoes: metal frame or molded plastic, with crampons, traction bars or other traction features on the bottoms.  Ski Poles/Trekking poles with snow baskets. Both available at Whittaker Mountaineering near Rainier Nisqually entrance, White Pass gear rental shop, or at REI  stores. 

Clothing and other gear will be covered in classroom sessions.  A list will be provided,

Trip Reports