TRADITIONAL MOUNTAINEERING ™
www.TraditionalMountaineering.org ™ and also www.AlpineMountaineering.org ™

™

FREE BASIC TO ADVANCED ALPINE MOUNTAIN CLIMBING INSTRUCTION™
Home | Information | Photos | Calendar | News | Seminars | Experiences | Questions | Updates | Books | Conditions | Links | Search

  Search this site!
Read more:

Snowshoe tour by Deschutes National Forest Volunteers

SNOWSHOE TREK
Nature Walk In Deschutes National Forest Is Not Only Informative, It's Free

Go West Cheap-N-Deep Skier
By Laurie Mcllvaine
January 6, 1997

I went on a free snowshoe nature walk yesterday. When I arrived at the west village ski shop, a few park rangers were standing around with snowshoes in hand. (Mt. Bachelor is on Deschutes National Forest land.) I knew I'd found the right place.

The rangers offered to get me a pair of snowshoes and a set of poles. While Samantha, a high school student who volunteers for the Forest Service, went inside to get the snowshoes, a couple from Austin, Texas, arrived, happy that they weren't too late.

We waited five more minutes to see if there would be any other interest, but it was only the three of us with two rangers and a ranger in training.

Bob Speik, a tall 70-year-old, began the tour by discussing winter weather concerns. He explained that we lose 60% of our body heat through our heads.

We discussed how proper layering is the best way to dress for the varied weather in the mountains during winter.

"Layering does no good if you don't peal the onion," Speik cautioned.

Speik is an experienced mountaineering leader/instructor and is the editor of handbooks used in the wilderness mountaineering classes offered here in Bend. His backcountry savvy made each stop along the snowy trail an interesting learning experience.

The Forest Service offers many other programs throughout the year to help people enjoy the national forests.

For information, contact: Bend Fort Ranger District 1230 NE Third Street Bend, Oregon 87701 (541) 388-5664

Although these tours are free, the Northwest Interpretive Association gladly accepts donations.

    WARNING - *DISCLAIMER!*
Mountain climbing has inherent dangers that can, only in part, be mitigated

Read more . . .
Prospectus for a climb of South Sister
Photos of a climb of South Sister
Longacre Expeditions teen group rescued from the snowdrifts above Todd Lake
Lost climber hikes 6.5 miles from South Sister Trail to Elk Lake

  Lost and Found
Hiking couple lost three nights in San Jacinto Wilderness find abandoned gear
Expert skier lost five days in North Cascades without Essentials, map and compass
Climber disappears on the steep snow slopes of Mount McLaughlin
Hiker lost five days in freezing weather on Mount Hood
Professor and son elude search and rescue volunteers
Found person becomes lost and eludes rescuers for five days
Teens, lost on South Sister, use cell phone with Search and Rescue
Lost man walks 27 miles to the highway from Elk Lake Oregon
Snowboarder Found After Week in Wilderness
Searchers rescue hiker at Smith Rock, find lost climbers on North Sister
Girl Found In Lane County After Lost On Hiking Trip
Search and rescue finds young girls lost from family group
Portland athlete lost on Mt. Hood
Rescues after the recent snows
Novice couple lost in the woods
Broken Top remains confirmed as missing climber
Ollalie Trail - OSU Trip - Lost, No Map, Inadequate Clothing

  About Alpine Mountaineering:
  The Sport of Alpine Mountaineering
  Climbing Together
  Following the Leader
  The Mountaineers' Rope
  Basic Responsibilities       Cuatro Responsabiliades Basicas de Quienes Salen al Campo
  The Ten Essentials         Los Diez Sistemas Esenciales