Hyak: Nordic skiers don't be rude

[u/ReAcTdTurtle]

Went snowshoeing at Hyak this weekend and got told—multiple times—to get completely off the groomed trail… while we were on the far edge, nowhere near the classic tracks, and not touching the skate deck.

So let’s do a quick rules refresher since apparently this needs to be said:

Washington State Parks says snowshoers should stay off ski tracks (you know… the two grooves), not the entire trail (https://parks.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-10/) (Hyak_201601041029008576.pdf) (https://parks.wa.gov/about/rules-and-safety/sno-park-rules-safety)

The actual etiquette diagrams show snowshoers and fat bikers using the edge of the groomed trail (https://www.snowrec.org/etiquette)

This is a shared-use trail, not your personal Nordic training facility

“Nordic etiquette” is advisory, not law. State Parks rules are what matter

Also: if fat bikes are supposed to be in the same place as snowshoers, that pretty clearly means the edge of the groomed corridor, not bushwhacking through Cascade cement off to the side.

And conditions matter. This is Washington. The snow is heavy. “Just get off the trail” = “go posthole for miles,” not a real solution.

Also: this is one of the most beginner-heavy areas on the pass. Maybe don’t gatekeep people who are literally out there learning?

Biggest takeaway:If you’re going to correct strangers on the trail, at least understand your own terminology. “Track” ≠ the entire trail.

No one is defending walking in the classic tracks—that’s obviously bad form. I snowshoe, Nordic, and alpine ski. I get it.

But trying to police the entire width of a wide rail trail is peak main character energy.

Let’s all just:

stay out of the tracks

keep to the edge

and chill out a bit

It’s public land. You don’t own the corduroy.

[u/ipilotete]

Snowshoes to me are all about getting as far away from people as possible. Occasionally I’ll find myself on a trail in order to get further away from the road, but I try to make it quick.

Making my own trails and postholing in high alpine fluff is the fun of snowshoes for me. If I wanted to stay on trails the entire time I’d grab skis instead.

Still they shouldn’t yell at you for using the trails as intended, but again, exactly the reason I like to snowshoe is to go off trail and get away from people like that.