Adventures continue during winter months

  • Published
  • By Somer Breeze-Hanson
  • Northwest Guardian
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  Snow is in the forecast and the Northwest Adventure Center is bracing for the storm. As most Cascade ski areas opened last weekend, the NAC is getting equipment rentals ready and trip itineraries finalized.

The NAC, located on Lewis North, offers gear rentals for skiing, snowboarding, snow shoeing, cross country skiing and new this year, tubing. In previous seasons tubing excursions went through a contractor and trips had a strict time limit. This year the center invested in 30 of its own tubes for trips to Paradise at Mount Rainier, as well as for planned youth outings.

There are two Paradise tubing trips planned for Dec. 31 and Jan. 15.

"It's going to be a better experience," said Robert Conrad, an adventure programmer at the NAC.

The NAC organized a variety of outdoor trips this winter, including at least two snowshoe trips every month. Difficulty levels are always advertised and snowshoes and trekking poles are provided. A snowshoe trip to Commonwealth Basin is scheduled for Dec. 4. It is an easy level excursion that is family friendly. A moonlight snowshoe trip is planned for the night of Dec. 4. Participants wear headlamps and snowshoe about a mile and a half.

"Snowshoeing in the dark is a completely different experience," said Brad Hinton, an adventure programmer at the NAC.

In addition to snowshoe adventures, ski trips have been included. The first scheduled ski trip of the season is Dec. 10. It's a day trip at Crystal Mountain and transportation and gear are provided.

Through the scheduled programs, all equipment is fitted before the trip and is loaded on the vehicle the day of the trip.

For those who desire to go out on their own, the NAC offers equipment rentals at daily, three-day and seven-day rates.

Hinton said not many people are aware of the private trips the NAC offers. A group of five or more people can contact the NAC and set up an activity of their choice for just their group.

"Some people just want to be driven somewhere or some people want a whole trip," Hinton said. "As long as we can do it safely we'll do our hardest to work it into our schedules."

In mid-January, servicemembers and their families can get away for an entire weekend at Mount Bachelor near Bend, Ore. Hotel and transportation are provided and people can participate in whatever outdoor activity they prefer.

To educate and prepare outdoor winter enthusiasts, the NAC offers a snow survival class twice during the season. Before venturing outdoors, the survival class begins in the classroom with a 50-slide Power Point presentation explaining the necessities to pack and how to prepare physically.

"A lot of people go up for a day trip and don't have the skills to survive out in the snow," said Conrad.

The class ventures outdoors for an overnight adventure at Mount Rainier that includes snowshoeing and instruction on how to make snow shelters.

"We keep everyone active playing in the snow because that keeps your body temperature up," Conrad said.

The first survival class is Dec. 31 to celebrate New Year's on the mountain, but without the fireworks of course.

For more information about the NAC's trips or to sign up, call 967-8282 or visit the Outdoor Recreation page on www.jblmmwr.com.