Northwest Recreation

Following an snowstorm that blanketed much of Washington, travelers over Snoqualmie Pass found themselves stranded for hours one day a few years ago.  Much to their dismay, they were unprepared for the snow and pass closures.  Many of the unfortunate commuters had no food or water, and no long term warmth without using their car, which presented a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.  After hours of waiting, the passes finally opened again, but not without leaving one thing evident in many of their minds: be prepared!

America is a traveling nation, and it becomes more and more noticeable to me as I travel just how many cars are on the roads each day.  No doubt you have been stuck in the “rush hour commute,” hurrying to return to your waiting friends and family.  One thing I often wonder is the amount of people who are truly prepared if something were to happen to them on the road.  This is especially true for recreationists who are traveling a long distance through several climates and regions without easy access to condition and traffic information.  When traveling, inconveniences and problems like a longer than normal commute come up.  However, when road closures, mother nature and other people get you in a bind, there are some important necessities that can help ease your predicament.

Among the endless list should be a gallon of water, flares, notepad and paper, food, emergency blanket, toolkit, flashlight, cell phone,  tire gauges, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, pocket knife, gloves, emergency radio, and chemical lightsticks.  With these, you will be prepared in a wide variety of circumstances to be able to wait it out confortably and safely.  Remember to be safe traveling to your recreation spot, and have fun in the snow!

For those who have been caught in the fierce winter weather, you may have noticed that cars were not quite meant for. . .snow and ice.  As a matter of fact, the whole ordeal can be somewhat disturbing when one realizes that his or her car slides readily in the cold wetness of snow.  For those who are looking for a good way to find traction, here are some options that you can use, whether that may entail your car, or even tractor or ATV.

1. Traction Tires:  Not only advised over passes, these help provide better traction in the winter time, especially on snow.  Highly suggested if lots of winter travel is imminent.
2. Chains:  The ultimate grip on snow, these offer a deep biting artificial tread to grab the snow and pull you along, providing both stopping and accelerating power.
3. Cables:  Better on ice, the thinner cables bite into the compact snow and icier areas better to provide you with better control.
4. Studded Tires: Excellent on small amounts of snow and ice, these work fantastically on trucks and cars.

Remember to drive safe out there and stay alert for other drivers.  Happy December 29th!

Sick and tired?  Literally?  It’s the story of millions of Americans each year, but it doesn’t have to be that way.  Just a few days out sick can affect your recreation plans drastically.  Winter woes can have you inside eating chicken noodle soup and reading a book, or they can find you out and healthy enjoying the great outdoors — even in winter.  Here are five tips to keep in mind when staying well.

1. Get sleep!  If you plan to be outdoors the next day, or if you have had a stressful week, take time to relax and get to bed early.  It will keep you well and give your body the vital time that is absolutely necessary to staying healthy and energize you for the next day ahead.
2. Take supplements.  Vitamin C is excellent for bolstering immune systems under stress and Echinacea is said to help supplement an immune system undergoing a current attack and to prevent the onset of colds.  In either case, both can help your immune system fight off infection.
3. Stay warm.  Dress appropriately for the weather and stay dry when outside.  Even if you are in a wet environment, dressing in layers will help you stay warm and dry, keeping you healthier and less susceptible to infection.
4. Get a flu shot.  Although colds are most definitely not caused by the flu, such a virus will definitely set you back several days, if not a week or more.  By getting a flu shot, you protect both yourself and others and help reduce the risk of being infected with the virus.
5. Drink and eat appropriately. Lots of sugar degrades the immune system, as does lack of water.  Drink plenty of water and eat healthfully to help keep you running at your peak.  Your immune system will work more effectively and you’ll be happier in the end.

Remember, you don’t have to stay inside just because of lousy weather.  As a matter of fact, the winter is a fun time to enjoy the outdoors.  Just stay healthy and enjoy all that nature can offer you in a healthy way!

As promised, a review of White Pass, WA, is due!  Although this is short, a few quick facts about the ski area, conditions, and times to go will be listed.  Stay tuned for more reviews and other awesome ski areas to go to!

WHITE PASS, WA

Location: White Pass, WA
Elevation: Bottom=4500′/Summit=6000″
Ski Runs: 32
Special Features:  Excellent terrain and tree skiing.
Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5

Conditions:  Can be extremely foggy with visibility reduced to <100 feet at times.  Views are spectacular when sunny.  Check prior to going for conditions at their website.  Trails are usually groomed or powder, offering excellent skiing and snowboarding conditions the majority of the time.  Crowds are thin on weekdays, even during most holiday times, but lift lines can become extremely long on weekends.

The Story:
Leaving early in the morning, we arrived at White Pass at 8:35 am.  Crowds were thin and tickets were purchased quickly.  Ten minutes later the lifts open and no lines were present.  Powder was excellent and covered most runs, although snow was sparse in some areas due to the recent opening of the ski area.  Most terrain was open and the runs were either groomed or powder.

The best part about White Pass is the superb terrain.  The trees along most runs offer you some of the best challenges you can tackle, and my favorite activity is boarding quickly through the trees in a fast paced, adrenaline pumping sport bordering on survival.  Jumps are present on the most runs as well, offering excellent opportunities to work on your freestyle and aerials.

If you plan to go, expect fair weather only 50% of the time, but skiable conditions 90% of the time.  White Pass is a smaller ski area, but offers far superior terrain and conditions present at larger resorts.  Happy skiing and boarding!

Winter is here!  Time for fun snow stuff, etc.  The weather across much of the northwest is snow, snow, snow!  In lieu of this cold goodness, there are a few things that should be brought to the attention of all those snow savvy people looking for a great opportunity to enjoy recreation at what I consider to be its finest!  Thus, an incomplete list has been gathered for your benefit as you consider winter sports this 2008-2009 winter season.

• Skiing:  Grab your gear and get ready for some pole-wielding fun!
• Snowboarding:  Shred the slopes on your own board and grab your buddies from extremeness.
• Snowmobiling:  Hit the throttle for high speed, low exertion recreation.
• Snowshoeing:  Prepare for a nice, easy walk to some of the few traveled places of the outdoors.
• Cross-country Skiing:  Quiet and slower paced, this offers a great way for the scenic side of us to present itself.
• Sledding:  Get ready for speed and rush as you fly down the steep hills!

Go ahead, choose a few and try them out.  Maybe even pick ones you know nothing about.  You may find  a new hobby, you may even find a new way to burn some calories, but most likely you’ll also find a new way to have fun!

It’s winter!  Winter means cold.  Cold means snow.  Snow means plenty of recreation opportunities for you!  But, not only are there opportunities for skiing and snowboarding here, Canada has plenty of resorts and winter recreation areas to choose from!  Hypothetically speaking, you want to go skiing.  You may even be a die-hard snowboarder.  You may even want to take the wife on a vacation and enjoy heated winter pools, sleigh rides, and skiing (or boarding) all at once!  Is this a problem?  No!  Is there a catch?  Yes!  You need a passport.

Folks, some of the best skiing and boarding on the planet is found in Canada.  Besides that, there are even other recreational opportunities to be had.  Snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and snow park activities are all there.  As an outdoor enthusiast, recreation in any country at practically any time is fun for me.  I know there are others out there who feel the same way, so bear with me in this new twist to recreation.  So try it out.  Grab your passport and try recreation in another country!