Snow camping is a great a way to experience the joys of the outdoors year round! Learn how to avoid common winter adventure mistakes to stay warm, dry, and confident in the backcountry no matter what the season. Whether it’s cupping your hands around a hot cup of hot chocolate or snuggling into your warm sleeping bag in the crisp, snowy mountain night, you’ll have unforgettable experiences that will build your outdoor skills and prepare you for more winter adventures. These trips take place at Mt. Rainier National Park, with breathtaking winter views of Mt. Tacoma (Rainier) and surrounding peaks.

Highlights

Snow – Forests – Camping

Difficulty Level

Easy: Little elevation gain and loss

Length

Two days

2024 Schedule:

February 17-18

Price: $300 per person

Includes gear rental, food from lunch on the first day to breakfast on the second day, and all entrance fees, permits, and passes.

Our mission is to make outdoor recreation accessible to all. If you cannot afford the total trip cost right now, please send us a brief message to request a discount form.

Itinerary

• Day 1: Hike in and set up camp
• Day 2: Hike out

Learning Goals

• Leave no trace
• Gear management
• Plant and wildlife identification
• Basic winter camping skills
• Local geography
• Cultural history

Logistics

• Meet Location: TBD
• Meet Time: 9 AM
• Pick-up Location: TBD
• Pick-up Time: Approximately 11 AM, guides will reach out to guardians to communicate ETA

Gear Provided

• Tent
• Backcountry sleeping pad
• Sleeping bag
• All meals from lunch the first day through breakfast on the second day
• All entrance fees, permits and passes 
• First-aid kit and satellite phone
• Group kitchen and food service gear

Packing List

• Packing Checklist

Paperwork

• Waiver
• Photo Release
• Medical History

“It [Lushootseed] is from the beginning strength of the people, and it is from what the Creator put down upon this land for people…. The earth speaks. The animals speak. Everything has a voice.”

Vi Hilbert, Grandmother Video Project

The traditional homeland of the Nisqually people includes about two million acres of the Nisqually River drainage from Mt. Rainier to Olympia. They have inhabited this land for thousands of years, since, according to their history, their ancestors, the Squalli-absch, came north across the Cascades from the Great Basin. Nisqually life, territory, and culture have been heavily impacted by the European invasion of the Puget Sound area, and they have fought hard to maintain their identity and dignity in the face of displacement, violence, and suppression. Multiple names around the Puget Sound area honor Leschi, a war chief of the Nisqually Tribe during the mid 19th century, who, along with his brother Quiemuth, led the fight for his people’s right to remain on their ancestral homeland. 

The Nisqually way of life revolves around salmon, and today, they lead the stewardship of fisheries resources in the Nisqually River area. The tribe operates two fish hatcheries on Clear Creek and Kalama Creek. The tribe’s resilience, dedication, and commitment can be seen in their continued efforts to come alongside, guide, and lead these efforts to care for the land.
Nisqually is a Southern Coast Salish language, and is a dialect of Lushootseed. Stories, songs, and other Nisqually language resources can be found on the tribe’s website, www.nisqually-nsn.gov.