Crisp, sunny winter days are an invitation to play in and enjoy the great outdoors and the Lassen National Forest in California has just the ticket for people of all ages to enjoy!
The forest’s Almanor Ranger District will host a series of free snowshoe walks this winter, giving participants the opportunity to observe beautiful mountain landscapes, and to learn about winter survival, winter safety, and trees and wintering animals on the forest.
The walks will be one to two miles long and last up to two hours. They are open to adults and children eight years and older. Walks are geared toward beginners, who will learn outdoor survival skills, as well as what type of snowshoes are best for different levels of activity. Snowshoes are provided at no cost. Programs will be held in a variety of locations throughout the Ranger District, depending on snow levels.
"Snowshoeing provides a way to experience the beauty and mystery of winter on the forest in a novel and invigorating way so that one might even forget they're actually engaging in exercise," said Barbara Jackson, public information assistant.
Those who find the idea of snowshoeing intriguing and wish to try it out should contact the Almanor Ranger District, at 530-258-2141, for more information on this winter’s program.. Walks will take place in February and March.
Looking for other winter sports? Try snowboarding or skiing. Did you know there are 122 ski areas on National Forests across the United States? That’s 60 percent of the capacity of all downhill skiing in the country. Skiing is, after all, the most popular recreational activity on national forests after hiking,
Also for kids, the new Junior Snow Ranger program teaches children in the 4th and 5th grade about the role of a real snow ranger, the use of rescue dogs, and the continued importance of wildfire prevention during the winter.