Introduction 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 be

Heading out on your first backcountry ski tour can be immensely rewarding. There’s nothing quite like skinning into the mountains, choosing your own line, and earning turns in untracked snow. 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 detai

Fresh snow, frozen lakes, beautiful snow capped peaks - the mountains certainly take on a majestic beauty in the winter. While it might be raining all winter down in Seattle, snow can pile up in our local mountains. Snowshoeing can be a fun, accessible way to enjoy the mountains during the winter and spring months. This guide from the Cascade Backcountry Alliance provides an introduction into snowshoeing, from getting the gear to planning an adventure! Authors: Kyle McCrohan,

Help us learn more about you and how we can help you get out there! 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 mi

Mt. St. Helens National Monument is considering allowing three year-round backcountry huts. Public comments are open until Sept 20.