Beginner Snowshoe - Gold Creek Pond Loop

Meet at 12:00 pm at Gold Creek Trailhead parking area. Following introductions, description of route and current snow/avalanche conditions, plan to start snowshoeing at 12:15 pm. Portable toilet at the trailhead. Sno-Park permit required.

Directions: Drive Interstate 90 east to Exit 54, 2 miles east of the Snoqualmie Pass summit. Exit I-90, turn north, crossing under the freeway. A few hundred feet north of the highway interchange, turn right onto a narrow paved road (FR 4832) and drive east parallel to the freeway for 1 mile. Turn left on Gold Creek Road (142). Watch out for a few potholes on the unimproved forest road. Turn left in 0.3 mile onto the paved road and into the Gold Creek Pond parking lot.

Join my adult daughter and me for a casual snowshoe around Gold Creek Pond. Each loop is 1.2 miles with 68 ft elevation gain, so should be perfect for children as young as 8 (which is minimum age for this activity). We always travel as a group and will complete 1 loop, then evaluate if the group is up for another. Those wishing to leave can depart at this time, since we will be back by the parking area. Each loop should take about 1.25-1.5 hours.

This activity is initially open to families with children/adult children aged 8-19 with their siblings and/or parents. On December 15th, if activity is not at capacity, will open to general club membership.

For those that do not have snowshoes: 

• If you are looking to purchase snowshoes, buy early! As with other seasonal gear, there is a reasonable to high likelihood that snowshoes will sell-out by early December. Please contact leader at e-mail below with questions on purchasing snowshoes...if you are looking to take the Basic or Intermediate Snowhose Course with The Mountaineers, there are minimum requirements to consider for snowshoes. This activity is not a pre-req for these courses.
• Rentals available at REI for reasonable cost, generally $8-18 for 1st night with discount to keep longer. Be sure to rent poles with baskets as well.
• The Foothills Snowshoe Committee has a limited numbers of snowshoes available to rent for $20 per day. Please e-mail the leader if you would like to rent through the committee.

My daughter and I will be available in the parking lot to help those not familiar with snowshoes on how to put them on and basic, general movements. Please know that completing this Beginner Snowhoe will *not* allow attendees to participate in Basic or Intermediate Snowshoes within The Mountaineers. For more information on Basic/Intermediate courses through Foothills, please visit https://www.mountaineers.org/locations-lodges/foothills-branch/committees/foothills-snowshoe-committee.

For those that are unfamiliar with the Sno-Park Pass requirement: This seasonal permit may be required from Nov 1 through Apr 30 at certain winter destinations, including Gold Creek Pond. It is more expensive than the Discover Pass. For more information, please see the Washington State Park guidelines at https://www.parks.wa.gov/134/Sno-Park-non-motorized-Permits.

Gaia route: https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=15.4/-121.3799/47.3973&pubLink=h94Q1kr7vK8FVlpMmEZK12TW&trackId=a5de69a4-487c-4e38-9b16-93523b5be255

Full details will be emailed soon after registration closes on December 22. In the interim, please contact the leader with any questions: BMPeacock@aol.com.