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Bend Oregon Parks
MAKING TRACKS IN THE OCHOCOS
By Scott Staats
Ahead of us lay a thick blanket of sparkling
snow, like a white down comforter giving warmth to the otherwise brisk
winter morning. Behind us, our snowshoes left sets of Bigfoot-looking
tracks.
The landscape resembled a candied forest - as if
a giant truck dumped a load of powdered sugar over everything. The snow
and ice-covered trees made a stark contrast against the Crater Lake blue
sky.
When my wife and I donned our snowshoes in the
parking lot at Walton Sno-Park on the Ochoco National Forest, a cold
wind cut through the air. Upon entering the protection of the trees, the
air became still and only the rhythmic swooshing of our snowshoes could
be heard.
The snow had a thin
layer of feathery frost on top. I hoped the weather would remain cold as
these were perfect conditions for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. I
often choose snowshoes over cross-country skis since they can be used in
just about any snow conditions. Oftentimes, morning snow is icy, warming
to sticky snow by noon – making cross-country skiing difficult and
frustrating at best.
The best part about
snowshoeing is making your own tracks and not following where others
went earlier. Snowmobiling is popular at the sno-park on weekends, but
we had the morning to ourselves. Groomed snowmobile trails take off from
the parking lot, heading north and south. We decided to weave our own
trail in and out of the ponderosas and firs.
A fog bank rose up to
the east from Big Summit Prairie, giving a false impression of billowing
clouds of smoke from a forest fire. Squirrel and Snowshoe Hare tracks
interrupted, yet added to, the pattern of the forest floor. A flicker
called off in the distance, breaking the world of white and blue
silence. The experience epitomized a perfect winter day.
When Prineville is
socked in with fog, the Ochocos often rise above the cloudbank providing
spectacular views of an ocean of white with forested islands jutting
upwards and the Cascades providing a backdrop.
On a winter outing, it’s very important to carry
water, high-energy food, warm clothes and matches. And always let
someone know where you are going and when you plan on returning. Be sure
to bring sunglasses and sunscreen. Don’t try to go too far on the first
few outings. You’ll find that your legs will be a bit sore after the
first few trips.
A large warming cabin
with wood stove and picnic table is located at the parking lot. There is
also a restroom nearby. The road to Walton Sno-Park is usually icy past
the Ochoco Ranger Station. It’s best to have four-wheel drive or chains
TAKE A
TOUR
For those wanting the snowshoe experience but
are new to the sport, there is another option.
Wanderlust Tours of Bend, has been taking people
out snowshoeing for the last eight years. Owners Dave and Aleta Nissen
have a goal of introducing people to the natural wonders of Central
Oregon in an environmentally sensitive way.
Dave and Aleta chose snowshoeing over
cross-country skiing for a couple of reasons. “One of our big goals was
to get folks out and away from other people,” Aleta explained. “That’s
the great thing about snowshoeing, you can go where no one else can.”
She said there is no need for trails or signs.
“We also wanted to offer something that has a very small learning curve.
In terms of learning how to snowshoe, if you know how to walk, you know
how to snowshoe.”
Wanderlust Tours takes snowshoers to areas of
freshly fallen snow off the Cascade Lakes Highway. Two to four trips go
out everyday in the winter. All trips are half-day outings starting at
9:00 am and 1:00 pm. There are also moonlight snowshoe trips available,
which run about four or five nights a month around the time of the full
moon.
For those seeking the ultimate winter
experience, Wanderlust Tours offers something unique. “Snow camping is
for the more adventurous outdoor winter enthusiasts,” said Aleta. “We
offer two options to get out to the campsite, either by snowshoes or by
dog sled.” There are about a dozen trips per winter where people dig
their own snow cave and spend the night in the winter woods. Knowing how
to build a snow cave could save your life someday.
Around 90 percent of Wanderlust’s customers are
beginners. According to Dave, snowshoeing is still such a new sport for
people that almost everyone is a neophyte. “People are grinning ear to
ear by the time they are 20 minutes into the hike.”
Dave enjoys getting people to parts of the
winter wilderness that they otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to
see. “We show them some of the great attributes of winter ecology and
the area’s stunning beauty,” he said.
“We like to indulge people in the silence of the
winter landscape,” said Aleta. “When you’re out in a snow-muffled
forest, you feel insulated from everything around you.”
For
more information or to book a winter trek, contact Wanderlust Tours at
541-389-8359.
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