• The parking plan was implemented by the Summit as a way to ensure more available parking for their paying customers.

• We confirmed with the Snoqualmie Ranger District that the Special Use Permit (SUP) agreement between the Summit and the Forest Service authorizes the Summit to maintain and operate the parking areas, which includes implementing a fee.

CBA spoke to Summit’s General Manager Guy Lawrence and his team to better understand the details of this plan. We’ve summarized what we learned below, and have also prepared several maps to help orient you to the areas described.

Backcountry Access

The new parking plan will affect how backcountry users access trailheads, with parking permits now required for parking at many trailheads at Snoqualmie Pass.

• If you do not plan on buying a season pass at the Summit and you utilize Summit parking lots to access the backcountry at Snoqualmie Pass, you must purchase a parking permit (either Uphill pass or general single-day permit) in order to park in Summit lots.

• If you do have a season pass, you may park in any lot at any time during the season.

See our ‘Full Plan Details’ section for more details on the parking plan. Below is a breakdown of parking permit requirements and associated maps for the affected backcountry access trailheads:

Commonwealth Basin

• Free parking for the Commonwealth Basin (PCT North/Kendall Katwalk TH) is available along SR 906 between the I-90 overpass and Commonwealth Restaurant.

  • There is no parking permitted under the I-90 overpass or anywhere along the Alpental access road

  • Parking in the Laconia/Pass Life/Evo lot is for customers only and should not be utilized for accessing the backcountry

• Parking in lot W3 is allowed but requires a parking permit (Season pass, Uphill pass, or general permit)

• During peak days* Uphill passholders may only park in lot W3

*Peak Days include December 26 - January 1; Weekends From January 4 - March 2nd; and MLK Day (1/20/25).

Alpental Valley (Source Lake, Snow Lake, + Beyond)

• All parking for the Alpental Valley utilizes Summit-maintained parking lots; therefore a parking permit is required for accessing the Alpental Backcountry

• Non-peak days - any parking permit holder (Season pass, Uphill pass, or general permit) may park in any lot (A1-A7)

• Peak days* - Uphill passholders may only park in lot A7

  • Backcountry users headed for the Source Lake Backcountry parked in lot A7 are advised to walk up to the main lot, across the pedestrian bridge, and then hike or skin along the base of the resort and access road. Please do not walk up the main Alpental road

Mt. Catherine/Roaring Ridge

• Parking in lot E1, E2, or E3 requires a parking permit 

• On peak days, Uphill passholders may only park in lot E2

• Alternative access is available from the Hyak Sno-Park (see below for permit costs) via the Palouse-to-Cascades

Full Plan Details

The Summit parking plan involves overlapping permissions based on pass type and day of the week. Below is our full breakdown of the parking plan and the different parking permits available and when/where they are valid:

• A parking permit is required in all lots between 7am and 2pm daily, from Nov. 18th - April 30th.

• A parking permit is free for season passholders (the uphill pass is NOT considered a Season’s pass)

  • Regardless of pass type (Alpental Plus, Alpental LTD, Summit, Twilight, Remedy, or Nordic season pass) parking is free in any lot, any day of the season for season passholders

  • Overnight parking requires a reservation (roverpass.com)

  • Ikon passholders do not receive a parking permit; instead permits are 5$/day and are provided during the lift ticket reservation process

• An Uphill Pass is required for any users who want to utilize the approved uphill travel routes at West, Central, and Hyak, or access the Alpental or Commonwealth backcountry while parking in a Summit lot

  • An Uphill Pass is a free add-on for season passholders 

  • For non-season passholders, an Uphill Pass is $45

    • During non-peak days, Uphill passholders can park in any Summit lot

    • During peak days*, Uphill passholders can only park in specific lots: A7 (Alpental), W3 (West), and E2 (Hyak)

  • Free public parking is allowed along SR 906, from the Exit 52 off-ramp to the Commonwealth Restaurant, and from the Snoqualmie Pass Fire Station to Summit Central lot C2. Parking under the I-90 overpass or along the Alpental Access road is not allowed.

• A single-day (general parking permit) is $55

  • General parking permit holders can park in any Summit lot

• The Summit runs free shuttles, one between Alpental and West, and another between West and Hyak. More details here.

*Peak Days include December 26 - January 1; Weekends From January 4 - March 2nd; and MLK Day (1/20/25).

Where else can I go?!

There are several additional options for winter recreation along I-90. The following locations all require a non-motorized Sno-Park pass, which is available from Washington State Parks. A day pass is $25, and a season pass is $50. A day pass is good for both regular sno-parks and those with groomed trails. However, a Special-groomed trail permit ($70) is required in addition to the annual pass for several sno-parks that receive specific grooming. An annual Sno-Park pass is valid all season (November 1 - April 30) at any Sno-Park.

Denny Creek Sno-Park (2,200’)

• New this year!! The F.S has made big improvements to the road and parking at the Denny Creek / Franklin Falls TH to allow it to remain open year round

• Good access for winter hiking, snowshoeing, and limited snow play

Annette Lake Sno-Park (1,926’)

• Access to beginner and intermediate snowshoeing/winter hiking, including on the Palouse-to-Cascades trail

• Backcountry skiing access on Humpback Mountain and Silver Peak

Hyak Sno-Park (2,560’)

• Popular for its sledding hill

• Access to beginner snowshoeing/winter hiking

• Groomed cross-country skiing trails on the Palouse-to-Cascades trail

• Requires special-groomed trail permit if using an annual pass ($70)

Gold Creek Sno-Park (2,560’)

• Popular area for snow play and beginner snowshoeing/winter hiking

• Backcountry skiing and more advanced winter hiking options also available

• Will be open for winter 2024-25 before Gold Creek Pond Restoration Project starts

Cabin Creek Sno-Park (2,462’)

• 25 miles of non-motorized snowshoe and xc trails trails

• Requires special groomed-trail permit if using an annual pass ($70)

Crystal Springs SnoPark (2,400’)

• The largest sno park on I-90 with snowshoe and xc trails and space for snowplay near parking lot

• Backcountry skiing and more advanced winter hiking options also available

• Requires special groomed-trail permit if using an annual pass ($70)

Lake Easton Sno-Park (2,200’)

• Snowplay area and beginner snowshoeing/winter hiking trails

• Groomed cross-country skiing trails

• Requires special groomed-trail permit if using an annual pass ($70)

Continued Collaboration

We understand that these changes will make it more difficult for some users to access winter recreation and our public lands at Snoqualmie Pass. We are continuing to work with the Summit, the Forest Service, and our partners to identify pathways to improve access and reduce barriers moving forward.

If you or a group you are affiliated with is affected by this change and would like to discuss collaborative strategies moving forward, we want to hear from you! Please contact us at: will@cascadebackcountryalliance.com AND tess@cascadebackcountryalliance.com.

Their purpose in DC was to advocate for the EXPLORE Act, a series of bills designed to improve access to the outdoors. A few notable bills included in the EXPLORE Act are:

• Protect America’s Rock Climbing Act (PARC): This act safeguards fixed anchors in the wilderness for climbing.

• Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act (SOAR): This act streamlines the permitting process for groups and clubs like the Mountaineers, schools, or guides.

• Biking on Long Distance Trails Act (BOLT): This act identifies opportunities to connect local trails together into longer trails.

Meeting with Senator Murray.

The EXPLORE Act has passed through the House with unanimous support. The CBA is hopeful it will soon pass through the Senate as part of a public lands package. Its popularity demonstrates that outdoor recreation receives bipartisan support.

While most components of the EXPLORE Act do not directly affect winter recreation, the experience was very impactful. Kyle got the opportunity to introduce Cascade Backcountry Alliance to WA Senators Patty Murray and Murray Cantwell, along with Representatives Kim Schrier and Pramila Jayapal. These relationships and learnings will pay dividends for our organization in the future.

Meeting with Senator Cantwell and Tommy Caldwell!

Kyle got this opportunity by joining the Grasstops Collective, a national cohort of local community leaders selected and trained by Outdoor Alliance. Cascade Backcountry Alliance would like to give a special thank-you to Outdoor Alliance for this opportunity, and to The Mountaineers, who nominated Kyle for this position in the Grasstops Collective.

Our short application only takes 15 minutes to complete. Applications are due by September 30th. 

What You Gain as a Board Member

As a young and growing organization, we’re hoping to add up to four new volunteer board members based in Washington to join our already strong team. We know there are many members in our community who want to dedicate themselves to making a positive difference on winter backcountry access, and we’d love to have you apply. 

Benefits of serving on the CBA board include: 

• Having your voice be heard on timely and important issues that impact backcountry recreation access

• Gaining experience working with regional and local land managers and advocacy groups

• Meeting and collaborating with other passionate members of the backcountry community

• The opportunity to help grow a dynamic organization where you can make a direct and meaningful impact

Who We’re Looking For 

While we all enjoy spending time outside in the winter, being an advanced recreationist is NOT a requirement to apply! Anyone who participates in winter hiking or climbing, snowshoeing, splitboarding, or backcountry skiing is welcomed as part of our community. 

Board members are expected to attend monthly meetings between September and May, and all board members participate in one or more committees or extended projects. The majority of this participation is virtual, but board members in the Seattle area have the option to join every other board meeting in person. We’d love to have more representation from other areas of Washington!

We are seeking a diversity of perspectives from people who are willing to serve a minimum 2-year commitment, spending 5-10 hours per month on board activities. We expect board members to use Slack for internal communications and we’ll provide a dedicated CBA email address to you for official communications.

Board members should be able to effectively and professionally represent CBA in communications, at events, and to your personal network. We especially love folks who are willing to engage with the public about relevant issues that impact backcountry access!

Apply Now 

Interested? Take 15 minutes to fill out our online application form by September 30th. We’ll be in touch soon thereafter and aim to conduct short interviews the week of October 7th.

If you have any questions, we’re happy to chat! Email us at info@cascadebackcountryalliance.com.

It’s been a busy year here at Cascade Backcountry Alliance, and we have a lot to celebrate. Here are some of the accomplishments we’re most proud of.

• Learning about the CBA community: We were thrilled to get nearly 400 responses to our first community survey. We learned a ton about who’s using the backcountry, what your access needs are, and much more. This information is crucial for helping us set priorities and working on the issues you care about most.

• Launching our Backcountry 101 series: We launched a new Backcountry 101 series to help new skiers, riders, and snowshoers get into the backcountry. Learn how to get the right gear, forecast Washington’s fickle winter weather, and plan your first ski or snowshoe tour.

• Raising awareness around the proposed Gold Creek Valley closure: We asked our community to comment on the proposed long-term closure of Gold Creek Valley, and you responded—there are nearly 300 public comments on the proposal. We’ll provide an update when the Forest Service announces a decision (expected in September).

• Encouraging comments on the proposed Baker backcountry huts: We also asked our community to comment on four proposed huts in the Mt. Baker region. The project received more than 230 public comments. The Forest Service is expected to announce a decision on the huts this summer.

• Forming deeper relationships with backcountry stakeholders: Behind the scenes, we’ve spent a lot of time this winter talking with land management agencies, other winter recreation groups, and many other stakeholders in the region. The relationships we’ve formed will play a significant role in enabling us to push forward access improvements in the future.

• Engaging directly with our community: We were excited to meet some of our community members at events like Snowbash, the Wonderland Backcountry Gear Exchange, and NWAC Avalanche Awareness classes.

• Making headlines: CBA’s Kyle McCrohan was quoted in Backcountry Magazine alongside representatives from Tahoe Backcountry Alliance and Granite Backcountry Alliance. Our own Will Russack was also quoted in the Seattle Times about the proposed Gold Creek Valley closure.

There’s one more thing—CBA now accepts donations! We held our first fundraiser in partnership with Feathered Friends, kicking off their new backcountry stories series, The Bight. We look forward to using donations to improve opportunities for winter backcountry recreation. If you missed the event, you can still invest in our efforts to protect and improve winter access here in the Pacific Northwest. 

We’re excited to build on this momentum heading into next season. Thanks for supporting CBA’s mission—we’ll see you in the fall!

• North Twin Sister (Baker Mountain Guides)

• Heliotrope Trailhead (Aspire Adventure Running)

• Anderson-Watson Trailhead (Round House Touring)

• Canyon Creek (Whatcom County Snowmobile Club)

The huts are being evaluated separately, but have been grouped into a single proposal by the Forest Service for public comments.

Three of the huts are intended for overnight use by ski guiding operators. The Canyon Creek hut will be open to the public for day use only and will be run by Whatcom County Snowmobile Club, a non-profit group that operates several similar shelters across the Mt. Baker region.

The scoping letter for the proposed huts has limited details about public access to the huts and their ecological impacts. For example, it is unclear whether the public will be able to access any of the three guide huts without a guide or paid snowmobile ride.

We are asking the CBA community to comment that there is not enough information available to the public to make an informed decision about the proposed huts.

Here are specific questions/concerns to consider including in your comment:

• Public Use: Will any of the huts be available for unguided use or self-access by the public? If so, what portion of time/space will be allotted for public use? Are there cost estimates for users?

• User Group Conflicts: What measures will be put in place to prevent conflicts between user groups? Two of the huts will be placed next to snowmobile trails and accessed from sno-parks with limited parking. Snowmobilers are the primary funding source to groom and maintain these roads in winter.

• Environmental Impacts: What will the environmental impact of these huts be? Will the Twin Sisters hut require cutting old-growth to install? How will human waste and water be managed?

• Usability: The Heliotrope hut has little terrain for safe storm-day skiing, which may lead it to be underutilized in our wet and wild winters.

Comments are due Thursday, May 2.

While this ecological restoration work is incredibly exciting, the proposed project would result in a multi-year closure of Gold Creek Pond and its recreation facilities, including the popular snowshoe loop and access further up the valley. Beyond being an important winter access point for snow play, snowshoers, and backcountry skiers, Gold Creek provides ADA access to the incredible views of the Gold Creek Valley during snow-free months.

The draft environmental assessment has determined no significant environmental impacts and no significant recreational impacts, citing that the 100-300 cars who recreate at the Gold Creek Sno-Park can visit other areas during the closure. However, the “other recreational facilities” in the Snoqualmie Pass area do not have the capacity to absorb the hundreds of vehicles and winter recreationalists that currently enjoy the Gold Creek Valley during the winter months. 

CBA believes the proposed project needs to include more substantive plans for offsetting the significant loss of Gold Creek Valley as a winter recreation access point.

We recommend the Forest Service investigate the feasibility of the following additional solutions to help address the already difficult parking issues in the Snoqualmie Pass vicinity:

• Provide parking at the PCT North (Kendall Katwalk) parking lot to improve access to the Commonwealth Basin for snowshoeing and backcountry skiing

• Allow winter recreationalists to continue to access F.S Road 4832-144 in the Gold Creek Valley, which is outside the project area and provides snowshoeing opportunities and backcountry skiing access

• Allow recreationalists to access the upper Gold Creek Valley via trail 1314 by including clear signage and/or temporary trail markers as necessary to maintain closure of project area

• Expand parking on Lake Mardee Road and pursue opportunities to acquire the adjacent private land, where snowshoers can access F.S road 9090 and provide additional snow play opportunities in the flat open area.

• Work with WSDOT to allow parking on the north side of I-90 at Exit 62 and add signage and trail connector for cross country skiers and snowshoers to access Cabin Creek and Mount Amabalis trail system. 

We believe that the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is responsible for working with their colleagues in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and private landowners to help address the winter parking issues at Snoqualmie Pass, including the added stress caused by this project.

The draft environmental assessment currently predicts that construction will impact Gold Creek Pond will year-round for 5-7 years, and potentially up to 10 years. Limiting the closure period to the extent possible would help mitigate the large anticipated impacts on winter recreation. Additionally we would like to see a project map documenting the temporary impacts and road closures that could be distributed to the recreational community. 

We understand that the Gold Creek Sno-park (F.S 4832) will still be open, even though the trail and pond and recreational area will be closed. It would be helpful for the closure map to direct users towards alternate recreation options if they show up at the location and no longer have an easily accessible recreation destination available.

 For additional project info: 

• View the Gold Creek Restoration Project Site

• Read the Recreation and Scenic Resources Report

Public comments on the proposal are due May 2nd. If you regularly recreate in the Snoqualmie pass area make sure to mention that in your comment and feel free to use any of our talking points above. 

Get ready for a night full of storytelling, community-building, and inspiration for your next trip. The theme is Spring Ski & Ride Stories and we've got 7 great speakers lined up. The evening will end with a raffle benefiting Cascade Backcountry Alliance.

We'd love to see you at the event! It's completely free and your support is crucial for our mission of expanding winter backcountry access in the Cascades.

The details:

Thursday, April 18th | 6:00 PM (Doors at 5:30)

Feathered Friends Seattle | 263 Yale Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109

Free Admission

We'll highlight our main takeaways in this post. You can also learn more by listening to the very first episode of our new podcast series, Backcountry Bites, on Youtube or Spotify!

What You Want CBA to Work On

We weren’t surprised to learn that the biggest issue that you want CBA to work on is winter backcountry access. We are lucky to live in the Pacific Northwest surrounded by abundant and beautiful terrain, but the need to expand access points has become all the more urgent as interest in backcountry winter recreation has exploded in recent years.

Here are some of the projects we’ve worked on in our first two years to expand access:

• Glacier Creek Road - Last season, we partnered with other organizations to support a successful letter-writing campaign to reopen Glacier Creek Road for access to Mt. Baker’s north side.

• Sno Parks - We are working with the Forest Service and Washington State Parks to get more Sno Parks established in areas our community is interested in, including Stevens Pass and Snoqualmie Pass.

Beyond access, you identified several additional issues you want us to work on:

• Advocacy - We are continuing to build relationships with land managers and other stakeholders and staying on the lookout for opportunities to advocate for better access for our community.

• Education - We hosted an NWAC avalanche awareness event in partnership with Wonderland Gear Exchange this season, and hope to put on more events like this in the future. We also launched our Backcountry 101 series and are excited to develop more educational resources for our community. We welcome ideas for more educational content you would like to see!

Top Barriers You Face to Getting Out

The top three barriers you said you face to getting out are: 

• Dangerous and/or bad snow conditions

• Lack of free time

• Inability to find partners

While our powers are limited when it comes to creating more free time, preparation and planning are key when it comes to adjusting for dangerous and/or bad snow conditions. Our blog posts on Washington Weather: Principles and Forecasting Resources and How to Plan Your First Ski Tour are great places to start. We also encourage you to check out the incredible resources the Washington Trails Association and the Northwest Avalanche Center have to offer.

We hear you on the need for community building among winter backcountry users. We’re excited to be partnering with Feathered Friends Seattle on the first event of their new storytelling series, The Bight: Spring Ski and Ride Stories. We hope to see you there on April 18th!

RSVP for The Bight

You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates about future community-building events and opportunities to connect with other winter backcountry users like you.

Looking Forward

Many of you are willing to take action to advocate for new or improved winter backcountry access, including by signing petitions, writing personalized notes to your elected officials, donating money, volunteering your time, and talking to your family, friends, and partners. We are excited to harness the energy of this community and there are several ways you can help!

If you can, donate to support our mission to protect and improve winter backcountry access. You can also subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Thank you again to those of you who took the time to respond to our survey. We appreciate your insights and look forward to working with you to improve winter backcountry access in the Pacific Northwest!

In this guide, we’ll cover the basics of backcountry ski touring gear and explain how to choose the backcountry ski equipment that’s right for you. We’ll also cover how to buy backcountry ski gear without breaking the bank.

Avalanche Safety Gear: Beacon, Shovel, Probe

Avalanche safety equipment and the ability to identify avalanche terrain are essential for travel in the backcountry. There are three items you should always carry when backcountry skiing: a beacon, shovel, and probe.

Beacons

Avalanche besacons, also called avalanche transceivers, are electronic devices that send and receive signals up to 200 feet away, even through snow. If someone in your group is buried by an avalanche, you need a beacon to find them quickly.

The most important thing to look for when choosing a beacon is that it’s a three antennae model. Older two antennae models are still out there, especially on used gear marketplaces, but they’re no longer considered safe for use by most avalanche experts.

REI has a great guide to choosing an avalanche beacon that highlights other features to consider. You won’t go wrong choosing any of the three antennae transceivers currently on the market.

Probes

An avalanche beacon will identify the location of someone buried in the snow to within a few feet. To pinpoint their location, you’ll use a probe—a long, collapsible metal pole that you stick in the snow repeatedly until you hit your partner.

Probes vary in length. In the Pacific Northwest, where we have a very deep snowpack, you should choose a probe that’s at least 280 cm in length.

We also recommend using an aluminum probe instead of a carbon probe. Aluminum is less likely to bend or break in our dense PNW snowpack.

Shovels

Once you find a partner buried by an avalanche using your beacon and probe, you need a shovel to dig them out. Avalanche shovels are specifically designed for the backcountry to be lightweight, collapsible, and quick to deploy.

One thing to consider when choosing a shovel is the size and shape of the blade. A tiny shovel blade might be lighter, but it won’t be able to move much snow. With a very large, you’ll likely get tired more quickly since you’re moving large amounts of snow with each shovelful.

Backcountry Skis

Skis are the piece of gear most skiers get excited about. After all, they are what allows us to float through soft snow with a big ‘ol grin on our face. 

The reality is, there are a LOT of skis out there—and a lot to think about when choosing skis for the backcountry. We’ll explain everything you need to know to choose a pair of touring skis.

Ski Width

The width of a ski at its waist plays a significant role in how it performs in different snow conditions. In general narrower skis are better for firm snow conditions, while wider skis are better for skiing powder.

The table below shows the best uses and trade-offs for different ski widths.

Ski Length

Ski length is measured in centimeters and should be chosen based on your height and skiing ability. 

As a starting point, your skis should roughly reach your nose when you stand them in front of you. A newer skier may choose slightly shorter skis around chin height, while an experienced skier may have skis that reach above their head.

Longer skis will be more composed at high speeds, but they can make it harder to initiate and release from turns. They also tend to be more difficult to maneuver, especially in tight spaces like around trees. 

Shorter skis will be generally easier for beginners to turn, but may feel challenging to control at higher speeds.

Materials

Downhill skis are typically built with a combination of wood and metal and weigh 1,800 grams or more. While metal adds stability, it also adds weight. So, the majority of touring skis are built only with a wood core and weigh around 1,400-1,800 grams.

You’ll also see ultra-lightweight and rigid skis constructed with a carbon core. These can be harder to control when skiing downhill, but they’re significantly lighter for uphill skinning. Carbon skis usually weigh around 1,200-1,400 grams.

Camber and Rocker

Camber is a slight upward curve in the middle of a ski so that the ski contacts the snow close to the tip and tail when it’s unweighted. When weighted, your weight will put even pressure over the edge of the length of the ski, resulting in increased edgehold and better "pop" when coming out of turns. 

Rocker is basically the opposite of camber, and some ski companies even call it ‘reverse camber.’ Rockered skis make it easier to initiate turns and they float well in deep snow. However, they aren’t great at edging in icy conditions or on steep slopes.

There are skis with both rocker and camber, so you can have the best of both worlds. Evo has an in-depth guide to rocker and camber if you want to learn more.

Directional vs. Progressive Skis

The terms ‘directional’ and ‘progressive’ relate to the type of skier who might benefit most from a ski and the recommended mounting point for the ski binding.

Directional skis typically have a binding mounting point behind the true center of the ski. Directional skis encourage skiers to lean forward and push into their boots, engaging their edges through turns. In effect, directional skis encourage good form in most skiing situations. 

Progressive skis have a binding mounting point closer to the center of the ski. They’re designed for skiers who prefer a more neutral stance, which can be helpful for balance when landing after sending a cliff or making jump turns.

Ski Touring Bindings

Ski touring bindings need to enable us to skin uphill with our heel unlocked from the ski, but ski downhill with our heel firmly attached to the ski. They are fundamentally different from downhill bindings in how they’re constructed.

There are three main types of touring bindings: pin bindings, frame bindings, and hybrid bindings.

Pin (Tech) Bindings

Pin bindings, commonly called tech bindings are made up of two parts: a toe piece and a heel piece. The toe piece has pins that slot into holes in the toe of your ski boots. The heel piece has pins that slot into grooves in the heel of your ski boots.

When you want to skin uphill, the toe piece clamps into the toe of your boot and the heel piece slides or rotates out of the way. This frees your heel and allows you to walk uphill by hinging your foot at the toe and sliding the ski along the snow.

When you’re ready to descend, the heel piece slides or pivots back into place and allows your boot to be secured to the ski at front and back.

Importantly, tech bindings are only compatible with touring-specific ski boots. This is relevant if you intend to only ski with one pair of boots in the backcountry and inbounds. 

Tech bindings are the most common type of binding that backcountry skiers use. They’re significantly lighter than frame or hybrid bindings. 

Frame Bindings

Frame bindings look like a traditional alpine binding that has been modified so that the bindings sits on a plate on top of your ski. When you’re skinning, you can release the plate so that it hinges, allowing you to lift your heel.

Frame bindings are much heavier than tech bindings and the pivot point can feel unnatural. However, they offer a downhill experience that feels very similar to downhill bindings, which can be nice for new backcountry skiers. Frame bindings are also relatively inexpensive. 

Hybrid Bindings

Hybrid bindings use a tech-style toe piece that converts into a downhill-style binding attachment when you’re ready to go downhill. Examples include the Salomon Shift binding and the Marker Duke PT.

These bindings attempt to combine the benefits of pin bindings on the uphill, with the safety and performance benefits of frame or alpine bindings on the downhill. Unlike most tech bindings, hybrid bindings will feel just like downhill bindings when you’re skiing.

There are a few drawbacks to hybrid bindings. Most models are more expensive than tech bindings. It also takes more time to transition from uphill to downhill modes than with tech bindings.

This video from pro skier Cody Townsend does a pretty good job of explaining and comparing the different types of touring bindings.

There’s one additional thing to note about touring bindings: they don’t have DIN ratings similar to downhill bindings. They may not release as reliably as downhill bindings in all situations, although they are generally considered to be safe. For more information about binding release, check out this guide from Blister.

Touring Boots

There are two key differences between touring boots and downhill ski boots.

The first is that touring boots have a walk mechanism. This is a system that allows for more mobility in the upper half of the ski boot when you are skinning uphill. Typically, the walk mechanism is a lever or tab on the back of the boot that you can release to reduce stiffness in the boot’s spine.

The second is that most touring boots have metal inserts for tech bindings. There are metal divots on either side of the toe (for the binding toe piece) and metal slots in the rear of the boot (for the binding heel piece). If you plan to use tech bindings, you must use boots that have these inserts.

Note that most touring boots are compatible with downhill bindings. So, you can use a single pair of boots with tech binding inserts for all of your skis.

Fit

Fit is the most important consideration when choosing touring boots. If you’re not comfortable in your boots, you won’t go skiing.

Always try on boots before buying them. If you buy from a ski shop, the shop will help fit and mold your new boots to your feet, often free of charge.

Boot Weight

Heavy boots take more effort to move uphill, but are generally more confidence-inspiring when skiing. Ultralight boots may allow you to cover much larger distances, but may be challenging to ski in variable snow conditions.

Generally speaking, ski touring boot weight classes can be categorized as:

• Lightweight:  <1,300 grams per boot

• Midweight: 1,300-1,650 grams per boot

• Heavyweight : > 1,650 grams per boot

Forward Flex

Forward flex refers to how rigid or soft a boot feels when you lean your shin into the front of the boot. Typical flex ranges from 90 - 130, with higher numbers indicating greater stiffness.

Generally, more powerful skiers, heavier skiers, and skiers who prefer aggressive terrain will want a higher flex (stiffer) boot.

Note that there is no standard metric by which boot flex is measured. So, a 120 flex boot from one brand may not be equally as stiff as a 120 flex boot from another brand.

Skins

Skins are strips of nylon or mohair that stick to the bottom of your skis to allow you to move uphill without sliding back down. They are a critical piece of equipment for backcountry skiing.

Skins can be made from either mohair or synthetic materials.

Mohair skins are made from the hair of Angora goats. They offer better glide with each step and weigh less than synthetic skins. They also pack down to a smaller size.

Synthetic skins are made from nylon. They are grippier than mohair skins, making them ideal for icy or steep terrain. They’re also more durable. However, nylon skins weigh more than mohair skins and glide less, meaning you have to put in slightly more effort to make forward progress.

When choosing skins, make sure you choose a set that’s at least as long as your skis and as wide as the waist of your skis. You’ll cut your skins to fit your skis after you purchase them. 

Clothing

Dressing for a high-output physical activity during winter is challenging—especially in the Pacific Northwest, where we often experience significant precipitation and mild temperatures. 

While touring, you need to be able to shed heat when moving uphill and stay warm when taking a break or transitioning from skinning to skiing.

It’s a good idea to dress in layers. By using layers, you can add or remove clothing to warm up or cool down.

Here are some layers you should have:

• Base layer (breathable, non-cotton shirt)

• Lightly insulated midlayer

• Insulated jacked (such as a down jacket)

• Waterproof shell

Consider carrying several pairs of gloves of different materials and thicknesses in addition to your layers, since they’ll almost certainly get wet.

For more about layering up for ski touring, check out these guides from REI and Blister.

Other Equipment

It’s worth considering some additional pieces of gear to carry with you during a tour, including:

• Two-way radios for communication with your partners

• Emergency satellite communicator (such as a Garmin inReach or Zoleo)

• Ski helmet

• Eye protection (sunglasses or goggles)

Buying New

We are lucky to have tons of great local ski shops with passionate folks who know a LOT about backcountry gear: 

• ProSki (Seattle) 

• Cripple Creek (Seattle) 

• Ascent Outdoors (Seattle, new location)

• ProSki (North Bend)

• Backcountry Essentials (Bellingham)

• Mountain Shop (Portland)

• Eastside Cycleworks (Leavenworth)

• Goat’s Beard (Mazama)

Big retailers like REI, Backcountry.com, and Evo also carry lots of backcountry equipment and regularly include great past-season products in scheduled sales and clearance events. 

Buying Second-hand

When it comes to expensive gear like the equipment used for ski touring, buying second-hand can be a great way to get into the sport. There are several things to consider when looking at used gear. 

Skis

• Skis with bindings on them may not fit your boots and might need to be re-mounted for an additional cost. Skis can typically be drilled for binding installation a maximum of three times. If a pair of skis has already been mounted twice, you will only be able to mount it one more time.

• Check for damage to the bases. No part of the core should be exposed

Bindings

• Inspect the toe and heel pins to see if they are significantly worn down or damaged.

• Engage the front spring to ensure it works properly

Boots

• Buying boots secondhand is generally not recommended unless you are already confident they fit your feet well

• Inspect the metal inserts on the boots to see if they are worn out (front and back)

• Check that all the buckles work

• Inspect the condition of the boot liner. If it’s worn out, you may need to replace it.

Consignment stores are a great way to find used gear:

• Wonderland Gear Exchange (Seattle)

• Colchuck Consignment (Cashmere)

• Next Adventure (Portland)

You can also find equipment on several online marketplaces, including Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and Ebay. Locally in the Northwest, there is the PNW Ski Classifieds Facebook page. The Turns All Year (TAY) website also has a gear sale page.

Lastly, there are also opportunities to rent backcountry gear before you buy:

• Gearhouse (Seattle)

• Proski (North Bend, Seattle)

• The Mountain Shop (Portland)

Additional Resources

If you haven’t had enough gear talk already, here are some articles that provide additional or different perspectives on ski touring gear:

• https://www.backcountry.com/explore/essentials-of-ski-touring

• https://www.switchbacktravel.com/backcountry-skiing-checklist

• https://www.evo.com/guides/backcountry-gear-checklist-skiing-snowboarding

• https://offpistemag.com/backcountry-ski-packing-list/

It’s important to recognize that having the right gear is only part of getting into backcountry skiing. To be a responsible and safe ski tourer, it’s important to build the foundations of safety-focused decision making in the backcountry, including first aid training, avalanche assessment, rescue, and other skills.

Check out the other articles in our Backcountry 101 series to learn more:

• Northwest Weather 101 

• Planning Your First Ski Tour 

• Avalanche Education & Resources (coming soon)

We’d like to kick off the season with an update on what we’ve been up to since last spring.

New ‘Backcountry 101’ Series Helps New Users Get into the Backcountry

We’ve launched a new series of educational guides we’re calling ‘Backcountry 101.’ The goal of this series is to help anyone who’s new to the backcountry find out what they need, where to go, and how to have a good time.

As more downhill skiers and snowboarders try backcountry touring for the first time and more hikers try out snowshoeing, we hope our guides can be a resource to make the transition easier.

Our first three guides are out now and more are coming soon:

• Introduction to Snowshoeing

• Washington Weather: Principles and Forecasting Resources

• How to Plan Your First Ski Tour

Avalanche Awareness Class at Wonderland Gear Exchange

CBA board member Will Russack taught a free Avalanche Awareness class for NWAC earlier this month at Wonderland Gear Exchange in Seattle. This introductory class provides an overview of how to access avalanche and mountain weather forecasts, recognize basic signs of avalanche danger, and manage risk in avalanche terrain.

Glacier Creek Road Reopened for Access to Mt. Baker’s North Side

Glacier Creek Road, which was closed from 2021-2023 due to a washout, has now officially reopened. We want to say a huge thanks to everyone who joined our letter-writing campaign last season. Your help was crucial in drawing attention to this access issue.

The road is currently open with a one-lane bypass, but the Forest Service has committed to a more permanent fix with a $1.2 million investment. This is a huge win for winter and spring backcountry access on the north side of Mt. Baker.

Whitepine Road Sno-Park Tentatively Approved by Washington State Parks

In collaboration with Cascade Meadows Camp, CBA proposed a new Sno-Park at Whitepine Road, east of Stevens Pass on Highway 2. The new Sno-Park would increase the amount of public parking along this road and improve access for skiing and snowshoeing in the Chiwaukum Range.

Our proposal was tentatively approved by Washington State Parks, which operates the Sno-Park program and agreed to fund snow removal. We’re currently working with the Forest Service to get final permission for the Sno-Park and hope that it will be available for recreation during the 2024-25 season.

NWAC’s New Avy App Offers Forecasts on the Go

NWAC released a free mobile app called ‘Avy’ that lets you check forecasts and submit observations on the go. If you haven’t tried it yet, the app is pretty slick and ensures you always have the latest forecast when you head into the mountains.

Download the Avy app for iOS and Android.

Coming Soon: CBA Community Survey Results

Thanks to everyone who took our first community survey this fall! We received nearly 400 responses and have been excited to learn more about the winter users that CBA represents.

Keep an eye out for a detailed summary of the survey results coming soon!

Looking Forward to Another Great Season

We’re actively building partnerships and working on projects to expand access and better meet our community’s needs. We have a great season ahead of us thanks to your support—stay tuned for more updates!

For anyone heading to the backcountry during the winter, the avalanche forecast is a crucial piece of information. It serves as the foundation of our decisions of where, when, and how to travel. Luckily for us, the Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC) provides our region with daily avalanche forecasts during the winter season, along with twice-a-day weather forecasts and several other useful resources. Although the website has seen significant improvements in the past several years, NWAC understood that a significant portion of its users access the forecast on mobile devices, often at the trailhead. To meet this need, NWAC compiled a committee including both volunteers and contractors and raised significant funds from the backcountry community to develop the new Avy app. Now that the app is available on all major app platforms, we thought we’d showcase some of the highlights and where to access all the information you need for your next tour.

The Avy app is currently set up to access both NWAC and the Sawtooth Avalanche Center in Idaho. NWAC hopes to  expand access to other avalanche centers in subsequent years. The new app brings several benefits:

• Consolidated forecast view with observations and weather specific to selected forecast zone

• Avalanche forecasts saved for 24-hours for offline access

• Weather data optimized for mobile viewing

• Ability to submit observations directly through the app, even when offline

The home screen is likely a familiar sight to many of us: the map of all 10 avalanche forecast zones in the Cascades, Olympics, and Mt. Hood. After selecting your preferred zone, you are greeted with the most recent avalanche forecast, with tabs on the top for weather and observations. It’s important to note that within each tab, there are several drop-down sections to access the full forecast discussions and weather synopses. 

Changing your forecast zone is easy with the drop-down menu at the very top of the page. The upside of this zone-specific orientation is that weather forecasts, weather stations, and observations are already filtered to the forecast zone you have selected, which reflects how most users engage with the forecast. From the bottom menu bar, you can go to the observations or weather data page to browse all observations or all weather data. 

Make sure you click on the forecast discussion to read all the details of the forecast!

Another big upgrade of the app is the ability to submit observations in the field. On the observations tab, simply hit submit in the bottom right corner and fill out what you are seeing in the field. Even if you are out of service, the app will cache your observation until you reach reliable service! This feature will help backcountry users submit relevant information when they see it and it is fresh in their mind, allowing for more accurate and timely observations. The forecasters who write the daily avalanche forecasts rely on timely and relevant observations to round out their understanding of conditions.  

Oh, and the app will automatically cache the forecast after you have viewed it! That means if you check the forecast when it comes out at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, the app will allow you to access that information until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. This allows you to check the forecast while in the field and compare what you’re seeing to the forecast. Future features we are excited about include push notifications when a forecast update or significant incoming weather event has occurred, and the ability to favorite the weather stations you use most frequently. 

Below is a quick run-through identifying the major app functions:

Get Involved

The Avy app is available for download now, and full avalanche forecasting has begun! Projects like the Avy app are 100% funded by the backcountry community, so consider supporting NWAC as the season ramps up. Donate here. 

Download the app here: Apple | Android

Use the app and provide feedback to NWAC to help make it better!

• Submit feedback via the button in the menu

• Send an email to developer@nwac.us

Share it with your friends, and don’t forget to rate the app!

Winter backcountry recreation can be an incredible way to experience the mountains during the snowy months of the year. However, colder temperatures, stormy weather, and the variety of mountain geography in the Cascades can make it challenging to know what you’ll find, whether you’re searching for firm climbing conditions or soft skiing conditions. Below, we’ve compiled some introductory concepts and most importantly, resources for you to begin your journey to better understanding weather and forecasting. While we believe the information presented below provides a good starting point, it is not a replacement for formal training, and like all skills, is developed over time through experiences and continued education.  If you’re feeling impatient, you can scroll down to our Resources for a list of weather sites and links. Lastly, stay tuned for our upcoming post about how weather drives avalanche problems and influences our decision about where to go on a given day.

Weather Basics

Oh Pacific Northwest winter weather...the stuff dreams are made of! It is no secret that the PNW is, in a word, WET during the winter months. Yet Washington is a diverse state and there are some regional climatic differences we need to identify.

Climate

Climate refers to the long-term weather pattern of a place, whereas weather refers to the short-term changes on the scale of days or months. Western Washington (e.g North Bend, Mt. Baker, Mt. Rainier) is characterized by a Maritime Climate with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Our proximity to the Pacific Ocean ensures that clouds are always a possibility.

However, Eastern Washington (e.g Leavenworth, Yakima, Mazama) is characterized by a more Intermountain Climate, with colder temperatures in the winter, hotter temperatures in the summer, and less precipitation throughout the year accompanied by more sun during the winter compared to the west side. And if you were wondering, there is a logic to this pattern.

Terms and Concepts

In general, the majority of our weather systems arrive from the Pacific Ocean, to the west. As a result, weather patterns, whether sunny or stormy, tend to generally travel from west to east, which is the direction of the jet stream, a narrow band of strong winds in the upper atmosphere. However, boundaries between warm and cold air cause the jet stream to wobble north and south, which forms ridges and troughs. 

Differences in air pressure are primary drivers of our weather patterns. An area of High Pressure generally indicates sunny, dry weather. This is also sometimes referred to as a ridge. Air in an area of high pressure compresses and warms as it descends. This warming inhibits the formation of clouds, which results in clear, sunny skies. Sometimes, the clear, calm weather associated with high pressure systems may instead result in an inversion, where dense, cool air (i.e clouds) sink and settle into low areas like valleys where they get trapped while sunny, warmer conditions persist at higher elevations.

A classic example of an inversion; cloudy below, sunny above!

The opposite of a ridge is a trough, which is associated with Low Pressure. Areas of low pressure typically are accompanied by unsettled weather patterns, including cooler temperatures, rain, snow, and wind. You will often hear an approaching trough described as a storm front. The intensity of a storm depends on several factors, including the energy, direction, and topography. Generally, low pressure systems, and their corresponding stormy weather, are more intense during the fall and winter.

Simplistic diagram of low and high pressure and corresponding ridges and troughs.

A few more concepts will really help us understand some meteorology basics. An important fundamental rule is that rising air cools. When air is forced upwards, either by terrain or a low pressure system, it cools dramatically. Additionally, cool air cannot hold as much moisture. 

Conversely, sinking air warms. As air drops, either by terrain or high pressure, it warms quickly. Because warm air can hold much more moisture, clouds dissipate and precipitation stops. 

Hopefully, these concepts start to explain some typical weather events in the PNW. For example, warm air, such as the kind that accompanies large atmospheric river events, are loaded with moisture. These conditions create the “Pineapple Express” events that skiers and snowboarders dread: warm air from the tropics that can hold huge amounts of moisture, resulting in rain instead of snow. It is also why as you drive east from Seattle to Cle Elum, the clouds dissipate as you travel east of Snoqualmie Pass.

The topography of Washington also plays a big part in its weather. As you may have gathered from reading above, terrain, such as steep mountains, can force air upwards, thereby cooling it down. This process is called orographic lift, and it is the reason why the west side of the Olympic and Cascade Mountains receive such whopping levels of precipitation.

In general, the complexity and variety of topography and geography in Washington creates very diverse weather conditions, even over small distances. Temperatures and precipitation amounts are often vastly different on either side of the mountains, and areas closer to the Puget Sound can be cloudy and mild while 25 miles inland it is cooler and sunny. 

Washington Specific Weather Considerations

There are also a few specific tenets of winter Washington weather that greatly impact the amount and type of snow we receive in the mountains. 

First, there is the direction that a storm is coming from. During the winter months, our storms typically arrive from the west or southwest. These storms tend to have milder temperatures, and the snow level (the elevation at which precipitation falls as snow and not rain) can be an issue.  If the snow level is at 4500 feet above sea level (ASL), that means it is likely raining at Stevens Pass (approx 4,000’ ASL), and certainly at Snoqualmie Pass (approx 3,000’ ASL). In comparison, when storms come from the northwest, they are typically accompanied by colder air, lower snow levels, and lower-density snow. The direction of a storm also impacts which areas receive more snow. For example, Crystal Mountain Resort is northeast of Mt. Rainier, and so is partially blocked during storms from the southwest, resulting in less snow than other areas.

You may have also heard about the Puget Sound Convergence Zone when reading winter weather forecasts. A convergence zone forms when strong westerly winds are split by the Olympic Peninsula and re-converge on the other side, typically near the border of Snohomish and King County. The convergence of these strong winds can result in a narrow band of intense convective precipitation, resulting in enhanced snowfall rates. Oh, in case you were wondering, convection occurs when the Earth's surface becomes heated more than its surroundings and leads to significant evaporation of moisture from soil and plants into the air. Essentially, already moist air gets supercharged by an extra shot of moisture, leading to very intense, relatively short convective precipitation events. Convective precipitation is typically associated with rapid vertical rising (and therefore cooling) of the air, forcing moisture to fall as precipitation. Convergence zones often set up near Snoqualmie or Stevens Pass, and can result in significant additional snowfall compared to other areas.

Source: KOMO News

Another weather phenomenon relevant to Snoqualmie and Stevens Pass is easterly flow. In the winter, air on the east side of the Cascade crest is typically colder than on the west side. Cold air is denser than warm air, and so the resulting pressure gradient pulls the cold air from the east side over the Passes, lowering temperatures just enough for precipitation to fall as snow instead of rain. Without easterly flow, Snoqualmie Pass would likely be far less reliable as a skiing destination. 

These are just some of the weather basics one must consider and understand when thinking about backcountry winter recreation in Washington. Luckily, we have tons of resources at our disposal to help us visualize, interpret, and predict upcoming weather conditions.

Resources

NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA is the federal agency responsible for producing weather forecasts and products for the U.S. They provide seasonal outlooks, which are long-term predictions on general climate trends. However, generally speaking weather forecasts are not very reliable beyond two weeks. NOAA also provide “point forecasts,” which are forecasts for a specific location, such as Snoqualmie Pass: 

These are helpful for understanding the general trend of weather and provide a baseline: will it be sunny and warm? Rainy and cold? During the winter, these forecasts also identify snow level at your selected location. However, these NOAA forecasts are typically not very accurate or detailed with regards to timing or sensitive enough to capture the nuances of places like Snoqualmie Pass. Plus, the interface on mobile is relatively poor. Lastly, a more thorough and technical narrative of incoming weather can be found in the forecast discussion. These are regional discussions that identify general weather trends and expected outcomes and impacts, and will often discuss mountain snow, especially in regards to the major highways.

NWAC - Northwest Avalanche Center

NWAC is the regional forecasting avalanche forecasting center for the Olympics, Cascades, and Mt. Hood. In addition to publishing annual avalanche forecasts during the winter months, they also provide a ton of vital data and weather forecasting resources. The Mountain Weather Forecast is published twice a day (~7am and ~2pm) from around late November to late April. The forecast includes a synopsis discussion of the regional weather trends and patterns, as well as forecasts for specific mountain zones including precipitation, snow level, temperature, and winds. The 2pm forecasts include an ‘extended weather’ discussion covering the next several days as well. 

Typical NWAC weather forecast

It’s important to understand a few key details of the NWAC forecast:

• Precipitation is measured in inches of water equivalent. Water equivalent is: “is the liquid water equivalent of all precipitation types; rain, snow, ice pellets, etc., forecast to the hundredth of an inch at specific locations.” To use WE as a proxy for snowfall amounts, we generally assume a snow to water ratio of 10:1 (10 inches of snow = 1 inch WE) in the Pacific Northwest. Temperatures at or near freezing will generally have a lower ratio (heavy wet snow) and very cold temperatures can have a much higher ratio (dry fluffy snow).

• So, in the above example, a forecast of 0.50 - 0.75 inches at Snoqualmie Pass would generally be interpreted as approximately 5 to 8 inches of snow, assuming typical snow ratios.

• The trend is important. Are freezing levels rising or falling over the course of the day? Is more snow forecasted in the morning or the evening?

Another very powerful weather tool provided by NWAC is the historical weather data, which can be viewed via a map or a list of weather stations. Get familiar with the graph for the station closest to your preferred ski or snowshoe areas. Learning to interpret this data can greatly help with predicting potential snow and avalanche conditions. For example, consistent strong winds from a singular direction can be observed in the 24 hours prior to your proposed hike or ski tour. Or, you may notice that the temperature rose above freezing for several hours while precipitation was occurring, indicating a period of rain instead of snow. This skill takes practice and repetition, as well as verification during your outings. 

Windy

Windy is a powerful weather forecasting tool with a mobile and desktop site. Windy is a more involved and feature-rich platform that requires some time to learn, but is well worth the effort! Some of the useful features include viewing animations of wind direction and speed, radar imagery, air quality, and more. Furthermore, Windy allows users to choose between different weather models. We won’t dive into weather models in this post, but this blog from Open Snow is a useful introduction. 

Another visualization to explore is the Meteogram (shown above), which displays temperature, wind, precipitation type, and cloud cover (percentage and base elevation) over a short-term forecast range. This is particularly useful in the Cascades, where cloud cover and base elevation can have a huge impact on visibility in the mountains and therefore our experience! Windy also has webcams, which can provide very recent visual updates to what is happening in the mountains or on the road.  

Pulling it All Together

At the end of the day, reading and understanding weather forecasts is a skill just like skiing, negotiating avalanche terrain, or packing your pack for the day. It takes practice and trial and error. One helpful habit is to regularly check the forecasts and compare your expectations of weather to what you experience throughout your day snowshoeing or skiing. To summarize, for winter recreation, some of the important factors to consider when planning an outing include:

General weather trend: will it be windy and stormy? Wet, cloudy, and warm? Or our favorite, sunny and cold?

• What to check: NWAC weather forecast discussion, the NOAA point forecast, and the NOAA forecast discussion

• Consider any safety concerns from the proposed weather. Will it be really cold and blustery on ridgelines? Will low snow levels make driving to the trailhead difficult? (Don’t forget to check WSDOT!) Of course, weather also drives avalanche hazard, but that is a topic for another post!

If you are expecting precipitation at your chosen destination, you will want to consider:

• The amount of precipitation;

• The timing and duration of the precipitation;

• The predicted snow levels and any trend expected throughout the day

Other environmental or specific weather considerations:

• Will visibility be difficult due to cloud level?

• Utilize the Windy meteogram and NWAC forecast discussion to help anticipate visibility issues

• Will east flow or a convergence zone result in significantly different conditions in certain locations?

• Has an inversion formed?

Weather is a complex and endlessly fascinating topic in the Cascades and Olympics. It also takes some time to learn and become familiar with. We hope the above helps set the course for your weather education. Let us know in the comments below what was useful and what weather-related questions you may have and thanks for reading!

To make sure your first tour is a success, it’s important to spend time planning it out beforehand. You need to know where you’re going, who you’re going with, and what lines you want to ski. All of that requires thinking about your tour several days in advance and coming up with a detailed plan.

In this guide, we’ll explain how to plan your first ski tour and offer some tips for a successful trip into the backcountry.

Kyle McCrohan

Step 1: Check the Weather Forecast

The first step in planning any backcountry tour is to know what the weather conditions are like. This will inform when you should go, where it’s safe to tour, and what kind of terrain will offer the best experience.

We have a detailed guide to understanding winter weather in the Pacific Northwest that explains how to find accurate forecasts for the mountains and how to make decisions based on the forecast.

Here are a few things to consider when thinking about the weather:

What elevation is the snow level at?

In general, skiing and riding conditions will be best when the temperature is below freezing. In Washington, it’s common for the parking lot to be above freezing, while the area where you plan to ski is below freezing.

Will there be visibility?

Cloudy weather can present a significant challenge even if it’s not actively raining or snowing. In cloudy, foggy, or “whiteout” conditions, it’s difficult to see the snow surface clearly and it’s easy to get disoriented.

If visibility is a concern, avoid alpine areas like Muir Snowfield and stick to zones that have trees to provide contrast while you’re skiing. Popular areas with tree skiing include:

• Kendall Trees at Snoqualmie Pass

• Yodelin at Stevens Pass

• Swift Creek at Baker backcountry.

Will it be windy?

Wind isn’t usually a major concern in the Cascades unless you’re touring in the alpine, which is not recommended for your first tour because of additional avalanche and ice hazards at those elevations. That said, it can occasionally get windy at lower elevations. Skiing in treed areas  can provide some shelter.

While the weather forecast is an invaluable tool for predicting conditions, it’s also important to look at what’s actually happening in the mountains. The Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC) collects data from weather stations in popular backcountry areas that you can use to see how much snow has fallen, what the temperature is, and which direction the wind is coming from.

Remember that while you might have a specific day in mind for your tour, the weather doesn’t always cooperate. Part of the adventure of backcountry skiing in the PNW is navigating the weather, and that includes knowing when to stay home or dial back your plan. Conditions don’t have to be perfect, but never put yourself deep in the backcountry in potentially dangerous weather conditions.

Step 2: Check the Avalanche Forecast

NWAC produces a daily avalanche forecast that’s released at 6pm each evening in the winter. This is an absolute must-read bulletin before any ski tour.

In addition to the forecasts, NWAC collects observations from skiers and riders. These are also important to read since they offer additional information about what avalanche activity people in the backcountry have seen or experienced. Observations are particularly useful for understanding what warning signs to watch out for in the current snowpack.

Taking an avalanche safety course is the best way to learn about snow behavior and how to interpret NWAC’s avalanche forecast. NWAC hosts avalanche awareness classes throughout the winter and provides a list of upcoming avalanche education courses. You can also check out our guide to avalanche safety, which includes a number of free educational resources.

Even if you haven’t taken an avalanche safety course, the forecast can provide you with an overview of the current danger level and inform your tour plans. Read the forecast in its entirety since the discussion provides a lot of detail about what’s going on in the snowpack and what you should watch for while in the backcountry.

In Washington, we spend most of the winter at moderate or considerable danger in most popular backcountry areas. Still, dangerous avalanches can occur even when the forecast calls for low danger, so always be conservative in your plans.

If the danger is high or extreme, it’s not the right time to venture into the backcountry. Large avalanches can run much further than you expect, so even low-angle terrain may not be fully safe on these days.

Step 3: Assemble Your Partners

Choosing the right partners is key to your tour experience. You want to go with people who have the same objectives as you and the same approach to the backcountry.

Think about what your ideal tour looks like and ask potential partners for their vision of the ideal tour. For example, if you plan to take breaks frequently on the uphill, look for a partner who also enjoys frequent breaks. If you want to ski a low-angle slope, look for partners who are also interested in skiing more mellow terrain.

The ideal group size for a tour is generally 2-4 people. Larger groups can work, but it becomes a lot to manage—especially if you’re new to touring.

For your first tour, it’s ideal to go with friends who are also new to backcountry skiing or riding. That way you can learn together and there are no expectations to achieve a major objective. You can go with more experienced skiers, but make sure they’re comfortable taking out a first-timer and know that they’ll need to plan a low-commitment tour.

Finding Touring Partners

Finding partners as a new backcountry skier or rider can be a challenge, especially if you’re also an inexperienced skier or rider. 

Places you can go to find partners include:

• Facebook: Make an introduction post in groups like Backcountry Touring in the Northwest and Turns All Year and ask for partners or an existing touring group you can join.

• Online forums: Northwest-focused forums like Turns All Year and Cascade Climbers have threads for finding backcountry skiing partners.

• Avalanche safety classes: If you take an avalanche safety class, connect with other students in the class to see if they’d like to partner for tours. Chances are, they’re also new backcountry skiers and riders who need partners.

• Local events: Local events like SnoBash in Seattle, Pray for Snow in Portland, or Banff Mountain Film Festival can also be a place to connect with other backcountry skiers and riders. There’s also a beginner-friendly Skimo Beer League at Snoqualmie.

If you don’t have partners lined up, you can do a safe solo tour in the ski area boundary at Summit at Snoqualmie. Make sure to purchase an uphill travel pass ($49 or free with a season pass) and read the uphill travel policies before going.

Step 4: Make a Plan

Now that you know what the weather and avalanche conditions are doing and you have partners lined up, it’s time to craft a plan for your tour.

Decide Where to Go

For most first-time touring trips, it usually makes the most sense to go to the backcountry area that’s closest. You’ll have a more enjoyable day—and be less concerned about bailing early if conditions dictate or you feel tired—if you spend less time driving and more time touring.

Popular touring areas in Western Washington include the Mt. Baker backcountry, Stevens Pass, Snoqualmie Pass, Paradise (Rainier), and White Pass. While there are tons of other places to go, these areas offer relatively quick access to higher-elevation terrain where the snow is often in better condition.

The popularity of these areas also makes them good for first-time tours because there is more information about them. For example, you can find maps and guidebooks with popular backcountry runs. Here are several guidebooks to get started:

• Snoqualmie Pass

• Stevens Pass

• Crystal Mountain

• Baker backcountry

In some cases, weather and avalanche conditions can vary significantly from north to south or west to east. Keep this in mind when choosing where to go.

Select a Line

Once you’ve chosen an area, you need to select a route for your tour.

Start by choosing the line you want to ski. Popular areas like the Baker backcountry and Snoqualmie Pass have many named backcountry descents that are skied somewhat frequently, and these are documented in the guidebooks listed above.

For your first tour, look for a line that’s easy to get to. Instead of choosing a line deep in the backcountry, for example, pick one relatively close to the parking lot.

Keep the avalanche forecast in mind when selecting what line to ski. Slopes at an angle of 30 degrees or less typically don’t avalanche, so they may be considered safe in most conditions and make for an ideal first tour. Taking an avalanche awareness or AIARE Level One course will help you better understand how to identify and manage avalanche terrain.

You can check the angle of slopes using mapping software like Caltopo, Gaia, and OnX, or in the field using a slope angle tool. Make sure to download the map for the area you plan to ski.

Understand Your Route

Once you’ve chosen a ski line, you also need to plan your route to reach the top of it and to exit from the bottom of it.

Often, the approach and exit routes simply involve skinning to the bottom of the line and then climbing up it. 

However, in some areas, the approach may involve skinning around to the top of the line via a different route. This is important for steep and narrow ski lines, where there is little opportunity to escape an avalanche triggered by a descending party, who often have no awareness of skiers beneath them.  

If you’re not sure of the best approach to a line, ask someone who’s been to the area before, consult a guidebook, or post a question on a community forum or in a backcountry-focused Facebook group.

It’s also important to check whether your approach and exit routes are exposed to avalanche terrain. Are there steep slopes (greater than 30 degrees) above your route that could send debris onto you if they were to avalanche?

If your route passes through or under the occasional steep terrain feature, you can move through these areas quickly and one at a time. Moving one at a time is a method to ensure that even if one person is caught in an avalanche, the other person will be safe and can carry out a rescue.

If your route is exposed to large, open, and steep slopes, you should consider an alternative route with less potential danger from overhead.

Talk to Your Partners

Talk to your partners and come to a consensus on your line, approach, and exit routes. You should identify and discuss any decision points in your plan. Questions to ask include:

• Will you cross or ski any slopes greater than 30 degrees?

• Are there other hazards to be aware of, such as creeks or rocks?

• What is your turnaround time if you move slower than expected?

This is also a good opportunity to discuss how you expect the day will go, what weather conditions you expect, and what gear and clothing you plan to bring.

Step 5: Final Checks

On the morning of your tour, it’s important to go through some final checks before you head into the mountains.

First, make sure you have all your gear. This includes avalanche safety gear, which you should carry and know how to use even if you have not taken a formal avalanche safety course. Ideally, you and your partners run through a checklist of your gear before you leave home.

There are a few other things to do before you leave home:

• Write down the phone number for the local search and rescue or ski patrol in the area where you plan to ski.

• Make sure you have maps downloaded to your phone. This includes maps covering the area of your backup plan.

• Let someone else know your plan. Tell them where you’re going, what your backup plan, and what time you expect to get home. Also discuss what time they should call for help if you haven’t made contact.

• Check Washington Department of Transportation’s real-time travel map to know what to expect on the roads. The map also has embedded videos from cameras at the major passes, which can help you understand what weather conditions are like.

As you drive into the mountains, start assessing conditions. Is the weather you expected? Do you see signs of natural avalanche activity? If the conditions don’t match your expectations, think carefully about whether your plan still makes sense. This is also a good time to discuss the plan with your partners and make sure that everyone still feels good about the day.

Throughout the day, continuously reassess conditions. If the weather or avalanche conditions aren’t what you expected, stop and discuss with your partners. If you’re faced with an uncertain decision at any point, remember that it’s much better to be conservative on your first tour and use this as a learning experience than to push into potentially hazardous terrain.

Get Out on Your First Tour

Planning out your first ski tour involves understanding weather and avalanche conditions, finding partners, and developing a plan based on the conditions. This gets easier with practice, although it’s important to always go through these steps to make sure that your tour is a success.

For your first tour, it’s a good idea to be conservative and keep your plans reasonable. Use this as a learning experience and a chance to get outside. Most of all, have fun and enjoy the beginning of your backcountry journey.

We want to hear how your first tour went and what other information would be helpful for beginners to know. Leave us feedback and questions in the comment below!

Authors: Kyle McCrohan, Cherlyn Eliza

Cherlyn Eliza

Do I need snowshoes to hike in winter?

Not necessarily! Many of our low elevations hikes (Little Si for example) rarely get significant snow. Popular hikes like Lake 22 might get notable snow towards the top, but there is enough traffic to almost always ensure the snow is packed down on the trails. In these situations, the surface can become slick and microspikes (additional traction for your shoes) are helpful.

Snowshoes are useful in deep, unconsolidated snow. This is more likely to be encountered at higher elevations (above 3,000 feet or east of the Cascade Crest). On popular routes, there will often be a path from other snowshoers, but hiking in this path without snowshoes would result in post-holing, which means sinking deeply into the snow, which can quickly become exhausting. In most situations, snowshoes will not slow you down significantly, and often will turn an impossible hike into an enjoyable winter snowshoe!

Is snowshoeing for me?

If you love hiking and exploring the outdoors and are looking to get out more in the winter, then snowshoeing can be a good gateway to winter backcountry sports. At its most basic level, snowshoeing is just walking with extra flotation for deep snow. It does not require particularly unique skills or extensive gear. However, conditions can be much more variable than summer hiking (cold and wet), and distances covered far less. But Washington has many different options for snowshoe routes, including those for beginners to test the waters and ease into the sport.

Is snowshoeing dangerous?

Any activity in the mountains in the winter can be more risky due to cold, wet conditions. Additionally, avalanches are an important consideration any time one is traveling in snow-covered mountains. However, with some good planning, it is relatively easy to avoid avalanche terrain and choose good weather days so your experience will be enjoyable and risks kept to a minimum. We cover these subjects in more depth later.

Getting the Gear

Snowshoeing is great because it requires less specialized gear compared to many other winter sports. Here is a basic overview of the key pieces of gear.

Snowshoes

Snowshoes vary in size, purpose, and price. For beginners, any snowshoe will do. Here are a few considerations about which snowshoes you choose:

• With our wet, heavy snow, longer snowshoes tend to be superfluous. Shorter ones will do just fine on popular trails in the PNW. Longer ones give more flotation when breaking trail in light, deep snow.

• Some snowshoes have sharp teeth on the bottom. These are only necessary for steeper more advanced terrain.

• Be sure to bring the boots you would wear with them if buying in person so you can make sure the attachment method works well for you.

Renting is a great way to try out snowshoeing before committing more money. Ascent Outdoors, Pro Ski Seattle, REI, Alpine Ascents, and Pro Ski North Bend all rent snowshoes.

You can even rent snowshoes at Hyak (Snoqualmie Pass) from REI! For $20, it includes parking at the rental location, so you do not need to buy a Sno-Park Pass if you are snowshoeing around Hyak. They can also give you route recommendations there.

If you want to buy snowshoes, the previously listed stores typically have options to select from. Additionally, used gear forums like Facebook Marketplace and second hand stores like Wonderland Gear Exchange offer great discounts.

Footwear

It is important to pair snowshoes with a sturdy hiking boot. PNW snow is often wet, so waterproof or water resistant boots will help keep your feet dry. Gaiters, which are garments that cover the lower leg, are great for keeping snow out of your boots in deeper snow. Regardless, bring multiple pairs of socks (wool or synthetic) in case one pair gets soaked.

Other Gear

Hiking poles with big, wide snow baskets are very helpful for balancing with snowshoes on.

Otherwise, you should bring the standard ten essentials just like summertime hiking. In addition, a prudent snowshoer will bring an extra set of dry clothes, a warm insulated jacket, waterproof gloves and jacket, and navigation equipment (more on that later). REI has a great snowshoeing gear list.

Getting the Skills

Snowshoeing is a relatively simple activity and accessible for people of all ability levels! Here are a few basic skills to consider.

Technique

Snowshoeing itself is relatively simple! You might feel awkward at first with such large, wide objects strapped to your feet, but you will get used to it! Poles definitely help for balance. REI has a nice guide to taking your first steps in snowshoes.

Fitness

Snowshoeing is hard work, especially if you are setting the track through fresh snow! That being said, there are plenty of entry level snowshoes that are accessible to a wide variety of fitness levels. When comparing snowshoe routes to regular summer hiking routes, consider that the same elevation gain and distance can take much longer because of the snowy conditions.

Navigation

If you are new to snowshoeing, we recommend that you stick to established routes where there will be a snowshoe path beaten down by others to follow. Nonetheless, it is still good to at least download maps on your phone using a backcountry navigation app like GAIA or AllTrails, and carry a map and compass. Remember that heavy snow can cover up tracks and cause travelers to get lost! When in doubt, be conservative before you have learned winter navigation skills.

Planning a Trip

With the necessary skills and gear, now you are ready to plan an actual trip! This is probably the most intimidating part of the entire process, but we are here to help explain thetrip planning process so you can ensure your first trip is a success!

Guided Options

If you feel more comfortable going on a guided snowshoe, it is a great way to enjoy the experience without worrying about all the logistics for your first few times.! Here are a few reputable options:

• Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest offers free, guided snowshoe walks that even include free gear rentals! They have programs at both Snoqualmie Pass and Stevens Pass.

• REI offers guided snowshoe trips in the Seattle area.

• Mt. Rainier National Park offers ranger guided snowshoe trips.

For more options, see the Washington Trails Association’s extensive list of snowshoe guides.

Where to Go

Now for the exciting part: where to go! There are literally infinite snowshoe routes, but we have chosen to highlight a few beginner friendly routes in a variety of areas. The information for these routes was selected from Cherlyn's excellent, extensive snowshoe guide.

Note that often summer trails are not safe or preferred winter routes because they can travel through large avalanche terrain.

Snoqualmie Pass / I-90

Gold Creek Pond

• Description: 2 miles round trip, <100 ft gain, below tree line

• Avalanche Risk: NWAC, minimal if any

• Footwear: Microspikes, usually pretty packed down; snowshoes for off trail and play in deeper snow

• Drive: < 1 hr from Seattle to Gold Creek Snowshoe Trail, Highway I-90 conditions, trailhead is just off the highway via short paved/snowy road; Sno-Park Permit if parking at Gold Creek Sno-Park

• Trip Reports: WTA, AllTrails

Kendall Peak Lakes

• Description: 8 miles round trip, 2000 ft gain, below tree line

• Avalanche Risk: NWAC, minimal up to the first lake, but higher past the middle lake

• Footwear: Microspikes, usually pretty packed down

• Drive: < 1 hr from Seattle to Gold Creek Sno-Park, Highway I-90 conditions, parking is just off the highway; Sno-Park Permit

• Trip Reports: WTA or here, AllTrails

Franklin Falls

• Description: 7 miles round trip, < 1000 ft gain, below tree line

• Avalanche Risk: NWAC, minimal on trail, exercise caution approaching the falls, which is under avalanche terrain

• Footwear: Microspikes, usually pretty packed down and icy

• Drive: < 1 hr from Seattle to start of NF 5800, Highway I-90 conditions, parking at the road closure, which is just off the highway via paved/snowy road. Sno-Park Permit

• Trip Reports: WTA, AllTrails

Hex Mountain

• Description: 7 miles round trip, 2600 ft gain, near/above tree line

• Avalanche Risk: NWAC, minimal if any, stay on ridge

• Footwear: Microspikes, usually pretty packed down unless recent snowfall

• Drive: 1.5 hr from Seattle to base of FS 116 (near Wish Poosh Campground), Highway I-90 conditions; some gravel/snow road; Sno-Park Permit

• Trip Reports: WTA or here, AllTrails

Mt. Baker

Artist Point

• Description: 4 miles round trip, 1000 ft gain, above tree line, open slopes

• Avalanche Risk: NWAC, risk increases due to open slopes and passes near a lot of avalanche terrain, minimized if you stay along the ridge and don’t venture under steep slopes

• Footwear: Almost always snowshoes or skis, snow is deep here

• Drive: 2.5-3 hr from Seattle to Bagley Lakes Loop Parking, Highway SR 542 conditions, paved road

• Trip Reports: WTA, AllTrails

Mountain Loop Highway

Heather Lake

• Description: 4 miles round trip, 1200 ft gain, below tree line

• Avalanche Risk: NWAC, minimal if any – stay on trail and don’t loop around lake if risk is higher

• Footwear: Microspikes, usually pretty packed down but can get icy

• Drive: <1.5 hr from Seattle to Heather Lake Trail, Pilchuck Road #42, dirt road and potholes to trailhead

• Trip Reports: WTA, AllTrails

Big Four Ice Caves

• Description: 6 miles round trip, 600 ft gain, below tree line

• Avalanche Risk: NWAC, low risk until near the ice caves, which is below avalanche terrain (keep a large amount of distance - stay on the far side of the clearing from the mountain!)

• Footwear: Microspikes, low elevation and less snow on road walk, but snow shoes could be helpful on the actual trail

• Drive: 1.5 hr from Seattle to Deer Creek Campground, paved road to the gated closure

• Trip Reports: WTA and here, AllTrails

Stevens Pass / US2

Skyline Lake

• Description: 2 miles round trip, 2500 ft gain, below/near tree line

• Avalanche Risk: NWAC, minimal if any up to the lake – stay on trail and on ridge

• Footwear: Microspikes/snowshoes, usually pretty packed down, but watch for skiers (heavy ski traffic)

• Drive: 1.5 hr from Seattle to Skyline Lake Trail, Highway SR 2 conditions, snow in parking lot

• Trip Reports: WTA or here, AllTrails

Nason Ridge

• Description: 5.5 miles round trip (or as far as you want), 1300 ft gain, below/near tree line

• Avalanche Risk: NWAC, minimal if any – stay on trail and on ridge

• Footwear: snowshoes for off trail and play in deeper snow

• Drive: 2.5 hr from Seattle to Lake Wenatchee State Park, Highway SR 2 conditions; Sno-Park Permit

• Trip Reports: WTA, AllTrails, WA State Park

Mount Rainier National Park

Paradise

• Description: 4 miles round trip, 1500  ft gain (depending how far you go), above tree line

• Avalanche Risk: NWAC, minimal until Panorama Point; Paradise Winter Guide by NPS

• Footwear: Microspikes, usually pretty packed down near parking lot; snowshoes for venturing further

• Drive: 2.5 hr from Seattle to Paradise; NPS road conditions; National Park Pass

• Trip Reports: WTA, AllTrails; many more if you search

Reflection Lakes / Narada Falls

• Description: 3 miles round trip, 1000 ft gain, near tree line

• Avalanche Risk: NWAC, minimal if any – use the higher trail instead of Wonderland Trail; Paradise Winter Guide by NPS

• Footwear: Microspikes, usually pretty packed down unless recent snowfall

• Drive: 2 hr from Seattle to Narada Falls; NPS road conditions; National Park Pass

• Trip Reports: WTA, AllTrails

Mt. St. Helens

June Lake

• Description: 4.5 miles round trip, 500 ft gain, above tree line

• Avalanche Risk: NWAC, minimal if any, stay on trails and ridge (know where you’re going if low visibility); Paradise Winter Guide by NPS

• Footwear: Snowshoes, often deeper snow; but if packed firm snow, microspikes work

• Drive: 3.5 hr from Seattle to Marble Mountain Sno Park; Conditions; Sno-Park Permit

• Trip Reports: WTA, AllTrails; WA State Park; many more hikes around the Sno Park

Olympic Peninsula

Hurricane Ridge / Hurricane Hill

• Description: 6 miles round trip, 1000 ft gain, near/above tree line

• Avalanche Risk: NWAC, minimal if any – stay on trail

• Footwear: Snowshoes, often deeper snow; but if packed firm snow, microspikes work

• Drive: 3 hr from Seattle to Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center; National Park Pass

• Trip Reports: WTA, AllTrails

When to Go

Choosing a good day for snowshoeing will greatly improve your experience. Our mountains have a maritime climate, meaning winter weather is warm and wet. Although we get large quantities of snow, it often rains in the mountains in the winter. This variable weather makes some days more enjoyable than others.

Some important considerations for choosing when to go snowshoeing:

• Winter weather is very unpredictable. Planning more than a few days out can be challenging, so keep that in mind if making long term plans.

• The National Weather Service is a good weather source. Here is the forecast for Snoqualmie Pass.

• Rain while snowshoeing is much colder than snow. Rain will soak your gear and create dangerous conditions within just a few hours. Even wet snow (close to 32 degrees) can have the same effect. Paradoxically, it is easier to stay warm in Washington’s mountains in the winter typically when it is colder because the snow is drier and does not melt on you.

• If you must go out in adverse conditions, consider shortening your trip.

• Weekends are obviously much more crowded than weekdays and thus parking can be a challenge. If going for a short trip on the weekend, consider going after lunch as other people are leaving.

Avalanches are a major concern for winter backcountry recreation. We always encourage you to check the avalanche forecast provided by the Northwest Avalanche Center. If you are unfamiliar with avalanche skills, we recommend that you stick to routes with no avalanche danger.

For more in depth information about winter weather and avalanches, see our posts on weather and snow and avalanche safety (insert link).

Getting There

With winter mountain activities, getting there can be quite an adventure in itself! Always check WSDOT for pass conditions and updates. If heading up in inclement weather with 2-wheel drive, make sure to have tire chains and most importantly, practice installing them before you get on a snowy road! Be prepared for extra driving time and always be cautious and respectful to other drivers.

When parking, please observe all “No Parking” signs. Park efficiently to give space for as many others. Never park another car in. Also never park in signed turnarounds, as larger vehicles like snowmobile trailers or plows need that space to turn around!

Winter parking passes can be confusing. The requirements depend on the specific spot. Some areas require a NW Forest Pass, others a Sno-Park Pass, and others are in a national park. We definitely encourage purchasing a Washington State Sno-Park Pass, which gives you access to dozens of parking spots around the state!

On the Trail

Now you are finally ready for the snowshoeing adventure! Here are a few considerations to keep in mind during your excursion:

• Try to avoid excessive sweating - the moisture will leave you very cold once you stop!

• If you encounter junctions or go “off-trail”, be sure to record your path so you can return safely to where you started.

• Travel in the snow is slow and the winter days are short - be sure to give yourself enough time to get back safely before dark!

You will likely be sharing the snow with other user groups. Here are a few reminders to ensure that we can all enjoy the snow together:

• If you are on a groomed nordic ski trail, please stay off to the right and do not step on the groomed nordic tracks. Setting these nordic tracks costs thousands of dollars and ruining the tracks threatens skier safety.

• If there is a backcountry ski track (also called a “skin track”), please try to stay to the side on a separate snowshoer track. Stepping in backcountry ski tracks can make it very challenging for skiers to travel uphill because the surface becomes uneven and they rely on maximal surface contact to travel uphill.

REI has a longer post about winter trail etiquette. Thank you for being a respectful, friendly, conscientious member of the winter backcountry community!

Into the Snow

Excited for winter snowshoeing? We certainly are. Snowshoeing is a challenging, but rewarding way to experience our beautiful mountains in the winter. We hope that your first experience goes well and is the beginning of many more adventures!

The Cascade Backcountry Alliance is here for you! Got any questions? Feel free to ask a question below or contact us directly. Happy trails!

It’s almost that time of year! With winter fast approaching, we are reaching out with a survey to better understand our community’s winter backcountry recreation experience, goals, and dreams, and how we can better serve you. We’re especially interested in learning more about where you like to go, how you get there, and what barriers you face to getting out. We hope you’ll take the time (no more than 10-15 minutes!) to fill out our survey by November 22, 2023 so we can learn more about you and better help you get out there this upcoming season!

All survey responses will be collected anonymously. If you have any questions, please reach out to cascadebackcountryalliance@gmail.com.

Photo: Kyle McCrohan

• Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument is considering allowing three year-round backcountry huts at Lahar Viewpoint, Climber’s Bivouac, and the Swift Ski Trail.

• Public comments must be submitted by email to SM.FS.r6commentGP1@usda.gov by September 20th.

Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and Gifford Pinchot National Forest are considering whether to approve a permit for three year-round backcountry huts. The huts will be run by a private operator and will each accommodate up to six people.

The planned locations for the huts are Lahar Viewpoint, near Climber's Bivouac, and near the Swift Ski Trail.

Access to the Lahar Viewpoint and Climber's Bivouac huts will be by hike or vehicle in the summer and by ski, snowshoe, or snowmobile in the winter. It is not clear from the proposal whether individuals will be able to take vehicles and snowmobiles to these huts, or whether motorized access is limited to the hut operator.

Access to the Swift Ski Trail hut is non-motorized only.

The Forest Service envisions opening the huts by the 2023/24 season.

There's a very short window for public comments on the proposal. Comments must be submitted by September 20 to SM.FS.r6commentGP1@usda.gov. You can download the entire proposal below for more information.

Park leadership met with the Cascade Backcountry Alliance, along with other stakeholders, such as Washington Trails Association, The Mountaineers, National Parks Conservation Association, and many more, on June 8th, 2023 to discuss the proposal and answer questions.

This post will summarize the alternatives, issues most relevant to our users, and highlight how the community can make their voice heard.

Making Your Voice Heard

We know that this is a lot of information to digest. But these discussions will have an impact on recreation at MRNP and even outside the park for many years to come, so it is essential to make your voice heard!

We encourage you to write a comment to the MRNP staff. These are some topics that might be relevant to snow and backcountry users:

• How climbing permits might interface with timed entry reservations.

• How you get permits (reservation, walk-up).

• When you would like to make reservations (one week before, one day before, day of, etc).

• The times of year you visit MRNP.

• Places you enjoy visiting within the Park, and how you access it.

Here are a few ways you can ensure your feedback is helpful:

• Be specific to your needs as a backcountry skier or climber.

• Offer justification for your positions. It is not helpful to just say “I don’t like Alternative X”.

• Offer alternatives or suggestions.

• Think outside the box! Your ideas do not have to fit into the listed alternatives.

• Point out any errors or inconsistencies you find in the proposal.

This is just the proposal phase, so there will be more opportunities for the public and CBA to comment on actual implementation details.

If you do not feel comfortable making a comment, but have opinions on the topics covered in this article, then let us know, either by commenting on this post or contacting us on our website! We will do our best to incorporate community feedback into a letter that the CBA will submit to MRNP.

If you would like to learn more about the important aspects of this proposal, continue reading!

Proposal Motivation

MRNP has a few motivations behind this proposal:

• Maintain a quality “visitor experience”

• Protect the environment from ecological damage resulting from overuse

• Prevent overparking problems

• Reduce entrance station queue lengths

At our meeting, MRNP expressed that the sanctioned parking supply at Paradise correlates approximately with a sustainable amount of foot traffic on the trails. When Paradise is overparked, that is when they start to see more significant ecological impact, along with a degradation of user experience (determined from surveys). Thus, from their perspective, this is not just a “parking problem”.

Proposal Overview

MRNP has outlined four different alternatives.

Alternative 1: No Action

This alternative would mean no change from existing operations.

Alternative 2: Corridor Level Access Management

In this option, timed entry reservations would be required to enter the Nisqually, Stevens Canyon, and White River entrances during peak times. Initially, “peak times” would be July 1 to Labor Day Weekend, from 7 AM to 5 PM daily, with the possibility of extending this season back to Memorial Day Weekend, which would impact snow users more.

Users entering the park before 7 AM or after 5 PM would not require a reservation. Additionally, if you have another permit (climbing, wilderness, camping) you would not be required to have an entry reservation. The details of how this would work are discussed later on.

There would be a small reservation fee (under $10) to cover the vendor’s costs.

This is currently the Park’s preferred alternative.

Alternative 3: Site Level Access Management + Cougar Rock Shuttle

This option would require timed entry reservations for Paradise and White River / Sunrise specifically, but not for other areas in the Nisqually Corridor (e.g. Narada Falls, Comet Falls). This would be enforced by some new permit check stations on the Paradise Loop Road.

There would also be a rearrangement of park entrance gates to increase throughput.

A 30 minute shuttle from Cougar Rock (inside the Park) to Paradise would bring some users to Paradise. About 100 parking spaces would be created at Cougar Rock for the shuttle. However, this would not increase the total visitor capacity at Paradise, only reduce the number of cars.

Alternative 4: Site Level Access Management

This alternative is the same as Alternative 3, but without the shuttle.

CBA Considerations

Here are a few considerations essential to this plan and our user group specifically.

Climbing Permits

In the proposal, it is stated that visitors with another sort of permit (climbing, wilderness, camping) would not be required to get a timed entry reservation permit. Beyond that assurance, there are few details. When we asked MRNP leadership about this, they encouraged us to give suggestions about how this could be implemented in an effective manner.

Snow users often get climbing permits to travel above 10,000 ft on Rainier. For skiers especially, many do one day ascents. Currently, this requires getting to the Paradise Ranger Station before it closes at 5 pm the day before, which can be particularly onerous for working folk. Many might go down to Ashford for the night. Parties could be split between multiple cars, each coming from work as quickly as they can the day before. Some parties do routes as a carryover (e.g. ascend the Kautz and descend the Emmons) and thus require multiple vehicles. For all these reasons, there are many different situations that could arise.

If a climbing permit reservation functions as an entry permit, there might need to be a way to indicate all of the vehicles associated with this permit, and each vehicle gets an entry permit that is valid during the dates of the climb and the day before.

There are a few changes to the climbing permit system that could help this situation:

• Allow for virtual interactions (phone call or video call) with the climbing rangers instead of picking up permits in person.

• Remove the need for in person permit pickup for teams with a successful unguided climb in their experience.

• Remove the need for in person permit pickup altogether. After making an online reservation, you could just self register, like at Mt. Hood, right before you begin your ascent at an early hour.

We understand that the entire climbing permit system is inconvenient and antiquated. That is why we are suggesting various alternatives that would improve the process for frequent climbers, while also decreasing the traffic to Paradise, since climbers would not have to enter the Park during peak hours just to pick up their permit.

There are of course concerns for abuse of climbing permits to get an entry permit. However, the $65 annual climbing fee cost should discourage this. And as members of the community, we should honor these policies with integrity, and encourage others to do the same.

If you have comments about how timed entry reservations should interface with climbing permits, please let us know, either by commenting on this post or contacting us through our website!

Walk-Up Permits

Walk-up permits will suffer because a visitor would be required to get a timed entry reservation just to visit the ranger station seeking a walk-up permit. Perhaps MRNP could move all walk-up permits online, but there is some value in allowing visitors to talk to a ranger and get suggestions.

If there were a ranger station outside the park, perhaps the operations could be moved outside the gate so that an entry permit would not be required to visit. If site level access management is selected, then greater use of the Cougar Rock Ranger Station, which would not require an entry permit to access, would help this problem.

Impact on Other Areas

Conservation groups are concerned about the potential spillover impact from managing visitation at Paradise. Hikers will likely seek other nearby areas and hikes in Washington that might not have the infrastructure (e.g. paved trails, restrooms) to manage higher numbers of hikers. While an extra 100 hikers might have some impact at Paradise, they will likely have greater impact at another location that is more wild in nature.

At the meeting, some other impact-reduction impacts were discussed. Hiker education and trail design can be used to discourage meadow damage. Other national parks like Glacier have successfully implemented trail closures during snowmelt season to reduce impact.

Corridor vs Site Level Access Management

Corridor vs Site Level Access Management is the key distinction between Alternatives 2 and 4. Which is better? That is challenging to answer. A few considerations we have:

• Site Level Access Management might be slightly harder to implement, with a new entrance station at Paradise. It also could be more confusing to some users.

• Corridor Level Access Management might lead to the abandonment of certain areas of the park (e.g. Westside Road). These are lightly trafficked areas that might lose any appeal if users have to compete with Paradise visitors just for an entrance permit. From the perspective of MRNP, this would run counter to their goal of spreading usage out.

How Reservations Are Made

In other National Parks, entry reservations are typically made on Recreation.gov. A certain percentage is made available at different points before the date, such as one month before, one week before, one day before, and the day of. What is the ideal distribution?

MRNP is different from many popular National Parks in that the majority of the usage is by locals. What implications does this have for how permits should be distributed?

Snow users tend to have stricter weather requirements than other visitors, so last-minute reservations might be more critical for them.

There should be a generous cancellation policy to incentivize users to relinquish reservations they do not intend to use.

There were also many discussions about equity around this topic. Some questions asked were:

• Are reservation systems more or less equitable?

• How does the amount of the reservation fee affect equity?

• What can be done to improve accessibility for people who speak or read other languages than English?

Shuttles

Many people are questioning why shuttles are not a bigger part of the proposals. Even the Cougar Rock Shuttle in Alternative 3 is relatively small in scale.

As explained earlier, MRNP does not want to increase the actual visitation to Paradise to manage ecological impacts and sustain the “visitor experience”.

There have been past attempts at a Paradise shuttle, but usage was low. Perhaps more users would use it if it provided an alternative to entry reservations. But visitors would still require a vehicle to reach the park, so that is still a big barrier.

Park leadership also admitted that a shuttle system would be costly and likely require resources to implement that they currently do not have. Thus, a shuttle does not seem likely at this point.

Winter Operations Update

We know you are all anxious about 2023-24 winter operations at Paradise. Last winter, operations were reduced to weekends only due to staffing shortages.

After the meeting, we asked the MRNP leadership about next winter. They have filled some job vacancies but others remain unfilled. We offered to share the listings for SAR and winter rangers when they are made available, since some members of our community might be interested in these roles. They expressed gratitude for the volunteers that helped through last winter and will likely lean on volunteers once again.

They are optimistic about resuming normal winter operations next winter.

Follow the CBA

Thank you for taking interest in this subject and having an impact on future recreation!

If you would like to stay up to date, please follow the CBA and subscribe to our mailing list!

Before we dive in, we’d also like to say a huge thank-you to our partners, community volunteers, and everyone who’s supported Cascade Backcountry Alliance over the past year. We’ve come a long way in a short time thanks to your support!

Our Year One Accomplishments

A lot of work this winter took place behind the scenes.

Starting from a core group of backcountry users, we reincorporated Cascade Backcountry Alliance after a more than three-year hiatus.

We created bylaws for the organization and voted in a 12-member board. We laid out our mission and identified long-term access issues that Cascade Backcountry Alliance is well-suited to address.

We also created internal teams focused on outreach, education, and working with the Sno-Parks program. We shared our efforts with the community through a new website, blog, and social media channels.

We worked hard to develop relationships within the winter recreation community. Our board members had productive interactions with local ski resorts, Forest Service offices, the National Park Service, state legislators, Washington State Parks, the Northwest Avalanche Center, and many others.

We began building collaborative relationships with other access-focused organizations including Citizens for Forest Roads, the Whatcom County Snowmobile Club, and the Central Cascade Winter Recreation Council. We also met with dozens of individuals who care deeply about winter recreation in the Cascades and who can help us achieve our mission in the years ahead.

We also worked on several time-sensitive access issues that impacted backcountry recreation this winter.

With the support of our community and in partnership with Citizens for Forest Roads and the Whatcom County Snowmobile Club, we launched a letter-writing campaign to Representative Rick Larsen to spur repairs to Glacier Creek Road on the north side of Mt. Baker.

Shortly after our campaign, Representative Larsen visited Glacier Creek Road and announced that it will be repaired using Federal Highway Administration funds. Thank you to everyone who participated in this effort for your help.

We also took an active role in meetings with Mt. Rainier National Park leadership to address the closure of Paradise on weekdays throughout the winter. While there isn’t yet a resolution to this issue, Cascade Backcountry Alliance has been recognized as an important contributor to the discussion.

We’re now involved in discussions around the proposed reservation system for Paradise with other stakeholders including Washington Trails Association, National Parks Conservation Association, The Mountaineers, Access Fund, and Winter Wildlands Alliance.

What Cascade Backcountry Alliance is Doing Now

While the Cascades are making the transition to summer, our board is already thinking about next winter. We have several ongoing efforts to offer new winter access options and to make Cascade Backcountry Alliance even more of a resource for the backcountry community.

First, we just submitted two applications for new Sno-Parks with Washington State Parks.

One is at White Pine Road, east of Stevens Pass, which would offer access to the north side of the Chiwaukum range for backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, and ice climbing. This road has been plowed by Cascade Meadows Camp in the past, but public parking was extremely limited. We partnered with the camp, which owns the land, to propose the Sno-Park.

The second proposed Sno-Park is at Tinkham Road, west of Snoqualmie Pass. The area offers great snowshoeing and backcountry skiing opportunities including Humpback Mountain.

We’ll be working with Washington State Parks this summer as we seek approval for these Sno-Parks. If they’re approved, they will likely be open for winter recreation starting in the 2023-24 season.

We’re also producing new educational content to help more people get into the backcountry safely and responsibly. That includes publishing beginner-friendly guides on how to start backcountry skiing and snowshoeing, where to get avalanche safety training, and much more.

Look for these new educational resources on our website and social media channels this fall.

We also want to get to know our community better. We plan to share a survey this fall to learn more about your priorities for Cascade Backcountry Alliance. We’re also excited to host events so we can meet more of the community and answer questions about what we do.

Our Future Plans and Projects

Expanding winter backcountry access is a long-term effort and we have exciting plans for the future to achieve our mission.

First, we’re continuing to build relationships with land managers, policy makers, backcountry users, and other recreation-focused advocacy groups. We want to be a reliable, trusted partner within the winter recreation community.

We also want to better represent the entire backcountry community. Look for more snowshoeing and non-ski-related recreation tips from Cascade Backcountry Alliance over the coming year.

We’re actively looking for ways to expand winter access in new areas. That includes working with community members and land managers to identify new potential Sno-Parks.

We’re also looking into the possibility of opening more terrain to backcountry skiing and snowshoeing through vegetation management, also known as glading. Glading has been highly successful in the Northeast, but we have a lot of work to do to determine if this is viable in Washington.

Thanks for a Great First Year

We’ve come a long way this year, and we couldn’t have done it without our community and our partners. From all of us at Cascade Backcountry Alliance, thank you for your support and we’re looking forward to next winter!

• Plowing to Marble Mountain Sno-Park, which offers access to Mount St. Helens, was inconsistent during the 2022-23 season and then stopped altogether.

• This was because the plowing contractor for that Sno-Park went out of business.

• The Sno-Parks program is accepting bids for a new plowing contract and expects to restore normal levels of plowing next winter.

Marble Mountain Sno-Park is the starting point for most skiers and climbers heading up Mount St. Helens throughout the winter and spring.

Normally, this Sno-Park provides terrific access to one of Washington’s best-known volcanoes during a part of the year when there are few other accessible high-elevation trailheads. However, during this winter and spring, plowing of Forest Road 83, which leads up to Marble Mountain Sno-Park, frequently failed to happen and then stopped altogether.

There were a few unexpected setbacks that caused the problems with plowing this year. We spoke with Jason Goldstein, Winter Recreation Operations Manager for Washington State Parks, to better understand what’s happening and what we can expect for next year.

Why Did Plowing Stop?

The main reason why plowing to Marble Mountain Sno-Park suffered this year is that Sno-Parks’ plowing contractor for FS83 went out of business.

The Sno-Parks program relies on independent contractors to plow the roads to most of its winter trailheads. In this instance, the contractor that Sno-Parks hired to plow FS83 (which also leads to the Cougar Sno-Park) went out of business and failed to notify Sno-Parks staff.

Several weeks went by before Sno-Parks was aware that plowing wasn’t happening and could take action to find a new contractor. The Sno-Parks program was able to get another contractor to take over plowing on a short-term basis, but that contractor wasn’t able to keep up with the work.

In addition, the new, short-term plowing contract was negotiated at a much higher rate than the old, long-term contract. As a result, Sno-Parks overran its budget for plowing FS83 before the end of the season. This is why plowing stopped altogether starting in early April.

To make matters worse, the Cascades received unusually heavy April snow this year. Without plowing, FS83 became all but impassable during the most popular time of the year for skiing and climbing on Mount St. Helens.

Will Access Be Restored Next Year?

Jason Goldstein told us that he expects plowing service to Marble Mountain Sno-Park to be restored next season to the same level that it’s been in the past.

The Sno-Parks program is planning to request bids for a new long-term contract for plowing FS83 over the next few months. That process should result in a five-year contract for plowing the road all the way to Marble Mountain Sno-Park.

Sno-Parks will be able to budget for the new contract at the start of the season, and the new contractor can plan their work so that the budget lasts the whole season. (This is how most Sno-Park contractors operate.)

So, it’s likely that the plowing inconsistency at Marble Mountain Sno-Park this year is a one-time issue, not an ongoing limitation for winter access.