What do you do when the snow finally shows up for winter and you have several inches of it outside your own door? The white stuff rarely comes to the Pacific Northwest and when it does it is even less likely to stick around for very long. People make fun of us here, using names like Snowmaggedon and Snowpocalypse. Heck, we even make fun of ourselves.
Schools are cancelled and grocery store shelves are empty. No, really. Yes, we have a lot of hills that stay icy and treacherous but with so little practice dealing with these conditions, it’s often the drivers that choose to drive that are the scariest. It’s just best to stay off the roads.
Not wanting to put myself out there needlessly means looking for close-to-home options to get my nature fix. Luckily, I have one about 2.5 miles from my home with up to 5 miles of trails and hills to climb, Everett’s Forest Park. So, with a break in the weather I walked across town to pay it a visit and get a little fresh air.
Just check out these pictures from my snowy winter wonderland walk and I didn’t even have to drive up a forest road!
I just love how it transformed this urban area into a wintry wander in the woods! It’s not the wilderness but a wonderfully safe alternative to navigating a mountain pass.
The forecast says we may get anywhere from 5-12″ of more snow this weekend and into next week. Who knows, maybe when this is all said and done I can snowshoe through the park!
For more information about the trails at Forest Park in Everett, WA, check out my Forest Park Hill Climb page. I share stats for the hike, a GAIA track and my favorite places to stop for a bite afterwards. And check current conditions at the city to know if the park is open (for parking and bathrooms).
Do you have a favorite local hike to explore when you don’t want to drive far or at all?
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