We will mostly be snowshoeing EVERY week until the snows starts to melt. We've been snowshoeing every winter for the past 6 1/2 years. Tuesday and Thursday mornings are reserved for exploring the most current trail conditions and helping us decide where we want to take everyone on the weekend. Saturday is our biggest group - approx. 20 people or so. We meet at 9 am on all of our morning events. The time will change again to 8:30 come springtime but plan on meeting at 9 am through March. We generally have TWO Meeting/Carpool Places: 1)6200 So. Wasatch Blvd. UTA Park n Ride Parking Lot, far south end 2) Skyline High School, 3251 E 3760 S
Salt Lake City, UT 84109, South Side, in the Front, Circle Driveway.
The bulk of our group is somewhere between beginner and moderate snowshoer level. If you are completely new and would like a few lessons/tips on how to snowshoe, please email me ahead of time and we'll have you come a few minutes early to get some help before the group arrives.
Get to know our guides. I keep at least one guide at the back AND one guide at the front of our group 1) The guide in the back can help slower or less experienced snowshoers if necessary 2) The guide in the front of the group can keep the more experienced and fast snowshoers happy.
Decide how long you want to snowshoe. We generally snowshoe for about 2 1/2 hours
(9:30 am - noon). You don't have to stay that long. Go for a shorter time or if you have friends who want to stay longer, you can do that also. We ask that you let one of the guides know if you leave early or plan to stay longer.
It's ALWAYS wise to snowshoe with someone else. If you pay attention to most of the hiking/snowshoeing accidents in the newspaper, many of these people were alone and a LOT of problems can be avoided if you snowshoe with someone else.
It's much safer and a lot more fun snowshoeing with a group and an experienced guide. So whether or not you have any snowshoeing experience, we invite you to go with us! We have plenty of experience and stay in safe terrain that we are familiar with.
Some of my favorite places I like to snowshoe: Spruces/Jordan Pines, Donut Falls, Silver Lake near Brighton Ski Resort down through the trees into Solitude Ski Resort (Solitude Nordic Ski area), Affleck Park/Mormon Trail in East Canyon/Mtn Dell, Pipeline Trail and other trails in Millcreek Canyon, Mill D North Trail in BCC, just to name a few. Most all of these trails are within minutes from the Salt Lake valley. Canyons mainly include Big Cottonwood, Millcreek, and East Canyon. We don't snowshoe much in Little Cottonwood Canyon since that canyon is much steeper and has a greater avalanche danger in the backcountry.
At the beginning of the snowshoeing season I like to encourage everyone to practice some basic snowshoeing skills.
Some of these include: walking, walking in a single track trail, walking backwards, running, side stepping or walking sideways, walking in deep powder, trail-blazing, falling down and getting back up, using poles for balance, walking up a steep hill, stepping over another person or large obstacle, walking down a steep hill, putting on snowshoes, taking snowshoes off, carrying snowshoes in or on your backpack, dressing appropriately, etc.
If you want help with any of these skills, let me and we'll help you! They are all important when it comes to snowshoeing in the Wasatch Mountains. Practice these skills at any snow-covered park.
For those who are new to our group, cost for snowshoeing with us is $35 for 15 snowshoe or hiking outings of your choice. The first outing is free. Or you can pay $4/person if you plan to only come a few times. You'll receive a Snowshoeing/Hiking Punchcard when you pay $35, which is good for 15 outings of your choice. This card is transferable and you only punch it when you join us on an outing.
If you are new, be sure to email me ahead of time and let me know when you are coming. We'll make sure you get any extra help you need to get off to a great start!
Check my website often to see where we are going next!
Because I have 700+ people in my Outdoor Adventure Group, I don't send out weekly email invitations on everything that is going on. Instead, please check my website often to see what is happening. The Calendar of Events are updated often. I don't post a lot of details until we get much closer to the outing, due to changing weather conditions but we rarely cancel! Rain, snow or shine - we are always out there - even in 0 degree weather!
You can get rent snowshoes at REI and other outdoor recreation retail stores in SLC. I also have a pair of really nice MSR snowshoes to rent for $10/day. Let me know if you want them.
About Winter Snowshoeing AND Avalanche Danger:
I am fully aware of the huge snow accumulations we're getting and the avalanche dangers in the backcountry. I get the Avalanche Reports daily to see what is happening and where to stay away from. I am very conservative when it comes to snowshoeing in the Wasatch Mountains. Areas near steep slopes are the biggest danger which is why I stay far away from those types of areas - especially during a week like this week. There are still MANY, great, safe places to snowshoe in the Winter here in the Wasatch Mountains and I know where they all are! I hike them during the summer months and snowshoe on them during the winter months.
I hope to see you soon! Email me for ANY questions or concerns regarding outdoor recreation.
