Finding new adventures in the snow has been a fun theme this winter, and last Saturday’s visit to Brandenburg Snow Shelter up Santiam Pass was yet another excellent excursion. My partner and I took off after a hearty home-cooked breakfast with our snowshoes, snacks, map and great sense of adventure to explore the South Loop of the Ray Benson Snow Park. We were expecting it to be crowded, but with a forecast of stormy weather and rain for later in the afternoon, we only passed a handful of cross country skiers on the trail. It almost felt as though we had the place to ourselves.
The snow conditions were good for fairly easy going on the snowshoes, so we moved at a good pace. Being a lifelong backpacker, I really enjoy the work and exertion of snowshoeing.
Around every corner we were rewarded with more sweeping vistas and Cascade mountain peaks.
I enjoyed seeing the shapes of the trees set against the backdrop of snow. Form and color in the landscape really change in the Winter, and I think I am really coming to appreciate it more at this point in my life.
There was something beautiful and different to see everywhere I looked.
Now that I have visited a few of these backcountry snow shelters, I am getting an itch to visit as many more as I can. Much in the same way it feels to see a fire lookout perched atop a lonely mountain peak, it’s intriguing, indeed, to come across these little outposts of human comfort in the middle of these wild, snowy expanses.
In true rustic cabin style, the firewood supply was stacked around the walls to provide added insulation and easy fueling for the woodstove. Being a woman who can appreciate a good woodstove, I enjoyed seeing this cheery little Schrader in the middle of the room. It was great spot to rest and eat lunch before getting back on the trail to complete the loop. We made good time back to the car, and caught the storm at the very end, when the wind and sprinkling of rain was a welcome, refreshing treat. We shared a delicious Cascadian Dark ale from Three Creeks Brewing at the Hoodoo lodge, and headed home from another great snow adventure.
With the arrival of March, I am beginning to look forward to the snow melting, and hitting the trails with a pack on my back. I am glad to know that there will be abundant excursions to plan for next winter, including combining that backpack and snowshoes, and getting into some cross country skiing. It feels good to know that I am getting the most enjoyment possible from each season in the outdoors, and that life is always filled with the possibility of new experiences. Not to mention, there are plenty of snow shelters out there I have yet to visit.
*Photos by Corey Culp and Lara Colley
You all must live in a very interesting place that you can experience the relative warmth of seaside living with the serious cold of these backwoods shelters.
That's life in the Willamette Valley. An hour to the coast, an hour to the mountains, and lots of great places in between.