Embrace winter: Where to go near the Tri-Cities for snow shoeing, skiing and more

The warmer temperatures at the lower elevations combined with the rain have melted the snow near Tri-Cities, making it fun to get outside this winter.

You have to drive toward the mountains or to higher elevations to find the snow at about 1,000 feet to the west or at 2,000 feet to the north and southeast.

You’ll hit snow when you get to Yakima or head north of Moses Lake or south east of Walla Walla.

The NOAA Interactive Snow Map allows you to see where the snow can be found and how deep it is.

Northwest skiing

The ski resorts are open and are reporting good conditions for skiing.

All the ski resorts had up to 3 inches of new snow Friday with more predicted over the weekend. Check out the most current conditions at each resort online.

• White Pass — 75-inches base, packed powder 100 inches at the summit.
• Mission Ridge — 29-inch base, machine groomed 48 inches at the top.
• Bluewood — 55-inch base, machine groomed 53 inches at the summit.
• Anthony Lakes — 60-inch base, machine groomed 60 inches at the summit.
• Mt. Spokane — 92-inch base wet snow 92 inches at the summit.

Snow shoeing & cross country skiing

Snow conditions are pretty good in the back country for cross-country skiing, snow shoeing and snowmobiling.

There are dozens of snow areas within two hours of Tri-Cities.

To the east you can head into the Blue Mountains:

Pomeroy Ranger District

• Big Butte Road Trail #4304
• Clearwater Big House Cabin
• Clearwater Lookout Cabin
• Cloverland Road #43
• Cloverland Sno-Park
• Godman Guard Station
• Iron Springs Road #42
• Mountain Road #40
• Rose Spring Sno-Park
• Wenatchee Guard Station

Walla Walla Ranger District

• Andies Prairie Sno-Park
• Horseshoe Prairie Nordic Ski Area
• Meacham Divide/Mt. Emily Sno-Park
• Morning Creek Sno-Park
• Touchet Corral Sno-Park
• Woodland Sno-Park

You can get detailed information and maps at the Umatilla National Forest Site website.

To the west, you can explore the Cascades where you’ll find 13 cross-county skiing/snow shoeing areas:

Naches Ranger District

• American Ridge Lodge
• American River Guard Station
• Bumping Lake Sno-Park
• Clear Lake Cross-Country Ski Trail
• Crow Lake Way Trailhead / Sno-Park
• Goose Egg Sno-Park
• Hell’s Crossing Sno-Park/Trailhead
• North Fork Tieton Cross-Country Ski Trail
• North Fork Tieton Sno-Park
• North Fork Tieton Trail #1118
• Pleasant Valley Loop Trail #999
• Union Creek Sno-Park/Trailhead
• Yellow Jacket

Maps and details are available at the Gifford Pinchot National Forest website.

Back country snow conditions

The best way to find out the conditions where you are going is to use the most recent snow data from the ski resorts and the Snotel Network.

Recent data from the remote, automated Snotel collection sites is showing the snow depth shrinking with the warmer temperatures and rain.

In the Cascades you can check Satus Pass, Green Lake, Bumping Ridge, Cayuse Pass and Lost Horse.

Snotel stations for East White Pass and Morse Lake, two critical stations along the Cascade Crest west of Yakima, are out of service.

In the Blue Mountains you can check Emigrant Springs, High Ridge and Milk Shakes in Oregon and Touchet, Spruce Springs in Washington.

Avalanche conditions and hazards

The latest reports from the Northwest Avalanche Center www.nwac.us rate the avalanche danger to be “considerable” to “high” throughout most of the Central Cascades.

Similar warnings and concerns are detailed by the Wallowa Avalanche Center for the Blue Mountains www.wallowaavalanchecenter.org/forecast/blues

Proper gear

Don’t forget the essentials when you’re heading outdoors: clothes for the temperature and conditions, a day pack, gators to keep your ankles and lower legs from getting wet and cold, a hat, gloves, plenty of water, plenty of snacks, sunscreen and sunglasses.

Dress in layers and wear breathable, synthetic fabrics that you can take off if you get warm.

To prevent sliding and slipping while walking, bring along a pair of microspikes or cleats you can slip onto the bottoms of your boots.

Trekking poles with snow baskets are really helpful so you can keep your balance while walking, especially on steeper slopes or in deeper snow.

To walk on or through the snow, you need proper foot gear for the conditions. You need to wear snowshoes if the snow is deep enough that your foot sinks in when you step on it.