Snowshoing in the Teanaway
I had rented snowshoes many years ago in Michigan and fondly remembered enjoying the experience.
A new snowshoe design available through local sporting goods stores caught my eye on a random shopping trip, intrigued me, and then reeled me in. The lighter weight, smaller size and high-tech plastic surface certainly appeared to offer promise over the old-fashioned webbed-string variety. I decided to take the plunge, actually springing for two pair, to enable me to take a companion along with me on the occasional excursion. Shortly after my acquisition I suggested an outing with them to Linda as an idea for a first date and she readily accepted. Saturday at 8:00 AM was agreed upon and an area slightly north of Cle Elum along the Teanaway River was selected for our initial destination.
Saturday dawned bright and clear. After gathering warm clothing and a picnic lunch, we were off. Snoqualmie Pass was our first memorable sight and during this winter trip it was once again gorgeous. Recent wet snow clung to the trees, weighing down their bows significantly. Sanding and pollution had not yet stained the brilliant, fresh, white covering. In the bright sunlight, it appeared for a moment as if the trees were actually winking back at us. We temporarily dipped below the snow line at Cle Elum but picked it up again just a mile or so north. As we gained elevation along the Teanaway Road, the snow level increased to nearly two feet.
We decided to park and start at an area where the snowplowing stopped and an extra parking lane had been established for snowmobiler’s and other outdoor enthusiasts. After strapping up, we headed out across an open meadow towards the river and instantly noticed interest in the snow. Less than 50 yards from the car we discovered fresh cougar tracks, then followed them until we observed where the animal had chased a squirrel around some jack pine. It was hard to tell from the evidence available whether the cougar was successful. During the next hour and a half we saw tracks from rabbit, raccoon, bear, deer, and even a pine martin. The snow-laden scenery along the river was outstanding. Mounded snow balanced like a gymnast on top of the rocks and logs. Association with the tumbling water further complimented the snow. The combination was better than most postcards attempting to capture similar settings. Exciting stuff!
The snowshoes worked wonderfully. We were fortunate in the snow conditions, as the snow had crusted underneath the 3-4” of recent powder. The plastic molded surface of the shoes in this environment made me feel as if I were skating across the top of the snow. The smaller narrower size of these new high-tech marvels certainly made walking much easier. We had minimal difficulty going up small hills, turning, or being forced to walk like a cowboy to keep from getting our snowshoe straps tangled while walking. These were all problems I can remember from my outings in the past.
Linda and I continued to date and eventually we were married. We still take out our snowshoes at least once a year and visit the Teanaway.
