So winter trails is actually in its 18th year. It's sponsored actually Nationally by the
Snow Sports Industry Association. And so its a way of getting people out in
the winter doing snow activities. And so all around the United States today,
and I think there are events going on at 18 to 20 different sites, this is one
of the anchor sites or biggest sites in the United States. This has
been a perfect location for us and since we're on Forest Service property, we've
always needed that partnership. We've always had a really nice partnership
with the Forest Service. They've been doing avalanche trainings and beacon traings,
and they've always helped to make sure we have a safe operation. And it's just
a great way to get people outdoors. This is a gateway event and that's what we're
excited about. For people who have never done an activity
to come and try it out. And getting people out enjoying the snow and enjoying this location.
It's just really cool. We'll have, over the years we've had anywhere from 300
to 700 people come in the day time. But these are people who generally haven't
ever snowshoed before. And it's where you've sledded and you don't ski but its that
next step to try out something new. So we're really excited to get people out
trying things. It just works for us. We couldn't do this
without a good working relationship with the Forest Service. First of all, we
needed a venue and this is the perfect location to do it. If we were just getting a permit
and going away and never talk to you, it just wouldn't work as well because you
guys know the area. We've had times when we've needed technical information about the conditions.
We've been able to get the place plowed, the facilities. We've worked with, or I've
worked with the same folks for the eight years I've been running this. And so it just makes
things go smoothly. And it just, I think, adds credability to the activity. You know
the Forest Service is here too so they really know that this is a right on event.
And they're your facilities and I also like the fact that this is your property and
that you are being good stewards of it and ensuring that things are being run in
a good and safe way. I'm here with the team I work with. We are
going to experience this shoe thing, this today.
Yesterday we tried cross link tubing. It was quite fun. Have you ever tried
snowshoeing before? Never! No? first time, huh? Yeah. Are you excited? Yes, I am.
It's a beautiful day. I'm looking forward to exploring nature and being up in the mountains
breathing the fresh air. We're also here as a team so we're bonding as a team:
having fun and being silly. Well we came up here to try out the snowshoes
and to spend some time with our cousin and neice.
My brother came up here from Albany to do some snowshoeing.
It's become kind of a family annual tradition thing now.
To get together and come up and it's a great day for isn't it?
It gives us a chance to do some things we don't normally do.
I wouldn't have thought about trying snowshoeing if
we didn't have an opportunity like this. And once we tried it. It was great!
As a forest recreation person, I want folks to come to the forest
and enjoy themselves, have a safe trip here in the forest.
They're going to go sledding. Sledding?! Everybody's going sledding.
Are you guys going to be fast like a rocket? Yeah! Okay guys can you snuggle up? Whoa!