Winter Animal Tracking with Pathways for Wildlife

Raccoon tracks in the snow!

Description

Join us for a snowshoe hike around Spooner Lake with Pathways for Wildlife! This incredible organization uses ecological data–including animal tracks–to advocate for wildlife crossing infrastructure. Tanya and Ahiga of Pathways for Wildlife will introduce you to techniques to identify animal tracks in the snow. If you want more animal tracking, consider joining the Spooner Summit Wildlife Crossing Team.

What to Expect

TRTA treks are group treks, and we do our best to keep the group together. Trip leaders dedicate a great deal of their time throughout the year sharing their passion for the outdoors. They are well-trained and experienced. Please respect the decisions made on the trail. Additionally, please understand that animal tracking takes time and you may not cover as many miles as you normally would on a hike.

Cost

Your $10 reservation fee is non-refundable. There is an additional $10 or $15 parking fee at Spooner Lake for NV or non-NV vehicles.

Difficulty

Moderate

Distance

~3 miles roundtrip

Location

Spooner Lake Trailhead

Time

9:00 AM to ~12:00 PM

What to Bring

• Lunch
• Water (~two liter per person)
• Snacks
• Insulating clothes – we suggest a wicking layer to go against your skin
• Warm fleece-type layer
• Windbreaker/ warm jacket
• Waterproof pants
• Extra layers
• Winter hat and gloves
• Appropriate footwear
• Extra pair of dry socks
• Snowshoes (let us know if you need to borrow a set)
• Trekking poles (optional but let us know if you need to borrow a pair)
• Lip Balm (≥ SPF 15+)
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Camera (optional)
• Personal Medications/Epi-Pen*

*Be sure to communicate any medical issues in a private conversation with your guides at the trailhead.

Check out more about our wonderful partners at:

For more information about the trek, contact fionap@tahoerimtrail.org .

Leave No Trace

We practice the seven Leave No Trace (LNT) principles on each of our programs. We encourage you to learn more about these strategies for reducing your impact by visiting www.lnt.org.

• Plan Ahead and Prepare
• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
• Dispose of Waste Properly
• Leave What You Find
• Minimize Campfire Impacts
• Respect Wildlife
• Be Considerate of Other Visitors