Guided Sunset Snowshoe Tour with Tamarack Cross-Country Ski Center

Enjoying the guided snowshoeing tour with Tamarack Cross-Country Ski Center was a lovely way to enjoy the backcountry of Mammoth Lakes.

The first time I went snowshoeing, it was in Vail, Colorado. Walking Mountains Science Center’s guided snowshoe experience at the summit of Vail mountain at 11,570 feet above sea level, was incredible. It was so interesting to learn about the local animals, hibernating habits and lore.

Likewise, snowshoeing in Whistler, British Colombia in Canada with Whistler Snowshoe was exceptionally fun.

So, when planning a snowy weekend in the Sierra Nevada range, I planned the weekend around this happening-only-once-a-month event, through Tamarack Cross-Country Ski Center.

Arriving to the cross country ski center was relatively easy. Parking was the only challenging part. Luckily, I was able to find parking close to the lodge.

After strapping on the snowshoes and listening to introduction, Deja, our guide for the experience, led us away.

The experience was two miles of pure enjoyment and fun. I took some beautiful shots – while having a relatively rigorous time of hiking in the snow.

I learned about the Hole in the Wall, located on the backside of Mammoth Mountain.

Personally, I don’t know who would be batshit enough to do a ski run in an out of bounds areas on the backside of a mountain. But, after doing some research, I found numerous people who actually had – with disastrous results.

Seeing it from so far away, I felt a profound respect for the formation.

The peak of the experience, a view of the Panorama Dome, provided views of Mammoth Lakes basin, the Mammoth Crest, the southern flank of Mammoth Mountain, the Long Valley Caldera and the White Mountains – during the start of sunset was beautiful.

Overall, it was a moderate paced adventure. Even though I can bike 22 miles at sea level, hiking uphill in the snow at 7,000 ft above sea level is challenging. But, I allowed myself to go forward at my own pace, without shaming myself or my body to prove anything to anyone. Deja was a great guide. She took time to stop, explain different animals and characteristics of the area, along with give recommendations to various places in Mammoth Lakes.

Her recommendation for Shelter Distilling for dinner and getting Mammoth Lakes souvenirs from McCoy’s in Mammoth Village were great.

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