Snowshoeing

Mom: "OK, let's go. Time to try something different - we're going snowshoeing this afternoon. " Teenager 1: "Huh? Why?" Teenager 2: "I'm not walking on waffle feet, no. " Mom: "Great, here we go. " Surprise! Snowshoeing is actually fun. Good, inexpensive, diversionary fun. If you have kids, you've been there too. Despite excellent early-season snow (it was mid-November) and some great mornings boarding and skiing on the half-dozen open lifts at Mammoth (followed by substantial portions of home-cooked meals shoveled into waiting jaws)

With more than 41 feet of annual snowfall, the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia have no shortage of powder.  But you don't have to be an expert skier to enjoy it at the aptly named Powder King , about two hours north of Canada 's Prince George. If you want to stash the skis or snowboard for a bit, the resort says you can lash on snowshoes for a different kind of outdoor winter adventure. Powder King sits at just 3,000 feet, but it's in a snow belt that provides good snowshoeing conditions from October to June.

THE LOW COUNTRIES Slide show Take a trip through the Netherlands and Belgium and explore Amsterdam's tree-lined canals, world-class museums, the World War I landscape of the Ypres area, and Brussels. When, where: 7:30 p.m. Monday at Distant Lands, 20 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Admission, info: Free. RSVP to (626) 449-3220. OCEANIA Slide show Mort Loveman will present "Papua New Guinea" When, where: 1 p.m. Wednesday at Roxbury Park Community Center, 471 S. Roxbury Drive, Beverly Hills.

TRAVEL Presentation Angel Castellanos will show travelers how to pack light without feeling deprived as well as offer tips on how to make the most of your trip. When, where: 7:30 p.m. Monday at Distant Lands, 20 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Admission, info: Free. RSVP to (626) 449-3220. SNOWSHOEING Workshop Experts will offer tips on snowshoeing basics, gear and where to go to get started. When, where: 7 p.m. Tuesday at the REI store in Rancho Cucamonga, 12218 Foothill Blvd.

It may not pack the adrenaline rush or grace of popular winter sports such as downhill or Nordic skiing, but snowshoeing is a splendid way to leave machine-groomed trails behind and head for the wild terrain. After a two-hour drive from Los Angeles, I found myself strapping on a pair of snowshoes and roaming the snow-covered woods of the San Bernardino National Forest. The winter forest, and all its tranquillity, had suddenly became accessible.

You could say every week is Wolf Week in Yellowstone National Park , now that we’re 15 years into the controversial reintroduction of the animals to the park. But this winter, the people at the Yellowstone Assn. Institute would like to say a little more on the subject. So the nonprofit institute is offering “ Lamar Valley Wolf Week ” programs Dec. 13 through 17 and Dec. 20 through 24, then again March 7 through 11 and March 14 through 18. The programs, led by the institute’s naturalists and guest speakers, include field observation, classroom learning, hikes and snowshoeing expeditions.

Here are some places where you can take on the outdoors by foot. Note that many ski resorts that have Nordic centers also offer snowshoeing. Rim Nordic Ski Area, Snow Valley: This cross-country and snowshoeing center is on Highway 18 between Running Springs and Big Bear Lake. Equipment rentals are $8 to $15, trail passes are $10 to $17 (kids 10 and younger are free). Lessons available. (909) 867-2600, http://www.rimnordic.com . Palm Springs Tramway: Ascend nearly 6,000 feet during a 10-minute tram ride from the desert floor to the mountains overlooking Palm Springs, then snowshoe through Long Valley.

Here are some places where you can take on the outdoors by foot. Note that many ski resorts that have Nordic centers also offer snowshoeing. Rim Nordic Ski Area, Snow Valley: This cross-country and snowshoeing center is on Highway 18 between Running Springs and Big Bear Lake. Equipment rentals are $8 to $15, trail passes are $10 to $17 (kids 10 and younger are free). Lessons available. (909) 867-2600, http://www.rimnordic.com. Palm Springs Tramway: Ascend nearly 6,000 feet during a 10-minute tram ride from the desert floor to the mountains overlooking Palm Springs, then snowshoe through Long Valley.

Although skiing and snowboarding may be the most high-profile winter sports, snowshoeing is gaining in popularity, especially among women, according to the Outdoor Industry Assn., a trade group for equipment manufacturers and retailers. To keep up with demand, San Francisco-based Atlas Snow-Shoe Co. has spent two years developing snowshoes specially designed for a woman's narrower stride and stance.

Sporting goods maker K2 Inc. said Monday that it bought closely held WinterQuest for an undisclosed amount of cash, K2 common stock and debt. The transaction was the Carlsbad, Calif.-based company's fifth acquisition this year. WinterQuest, which produces snowshoes under the Tubbs and Atlas brands, had sales of $18.6 million in the fiscal year ended March 31, K2 said. K2 has bought several sporting-goods companies this year as part of its plan to expand and diversify its product lines.

EUROPE Learn the ins and outs of riding the rails in Europe with Distant Lands' rail agent Susan Hickman. When, where : 7:30 p.m. Monday at Distant Lands, 20 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Admission, info: Free. (626) 449-3220. SNOWSHOEING Workshop Experts will discuss snowshoeing basics such as selecting gear and where to go to get started. When, where: 7 p.m. Wednesday at the REI store in Arcadia, 214 N. Santa Anita Ave., and 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the REI store in Huntington Beach, 7777 Edinger Ave. Admission, info: Free.

In a state with nearly 38 million residents, it's inconceivable that there's a county with a peewee population. But Alpine County, with just 1,102 residents, is by far California's smallest. But what this county, in the Sierra Nevada about half an hour south of Lake Tahoe, lacks in numbers, it more than makes up for in recreational opportunities. The bed Although Markleeville (population 210) is the county seat, the best bet for cozy lodging is about 15 miles north at Sorensen's Resort (14255 Highway 88, Hope Valley; [800]

Big Bear's Discovery Center, about two hours from L.A., is offering weekend snowshoe tours around the lake this winter. The guided tour is suitable for beginners and experienced enthusiasts. Reservations recommended, and be sure to call ahead for snow. Admission: Adults: $35, Children (8-12): $25. For info, call (909) 866-3437 . . . . The second annual Run in the Name of Love race returns to Carmel on Father's Day, June 17.  Two events will take place: a 5K run and a dog-friendly 2K walk.  For information or to register, go to runinthenameoflove.org . . . . Take a few runs at Squaw Valley with Olympic Gold medalist Jonny Moseley through Friday.

I enjoyed the article about snowshoeing in the Travel section ["Hey, Waffle Feet, Mom Knows Best" by Sara Lessley, Dec. 11]. Organizations have found that by holding a snowshoeing activity, a nonprofit can organize a successful fundraising event. The participants walk over white flakes rather than walk or run over hard ground. Sue Chehrenegar Los Angeles Pasadena history I am a mystified that Christopher Reynolds failed to mention the Pasadena Museum of History in his close-up on Pasadena ["Marvelous Magnitude," Nov. 27]

Mom: "OK, let's go. Time to try something different - we're going snowshoeing this afternoon. " Teenager 1: "Huh? Why?" Teenager 2: "I'm not walking on waffle feet, no. " Mom: "Great, here we go. " Surprise! Snowshoeing is actually fun. Good, inexpensive, diversionary fun. If you have kids, you've been there too. Despite excellent early-season snow (it was mid-November) and some great mornings boarding and skiing on the half-dozen open lifts at Mammoth (followed by substantial portions of home-cooked meals shoveled into waiting jaws)

Ben Johnson may trade his spikes for showshoes--yes, snowshoes--and compete for Canada in the 1990 Nordic sprint championships. Nick Akers, executive director of the Canadian Amateur Snowshoe Assn., said Tuesday his group has invited Johnson to compete in the championships in Edmonton, Alberta, on Dec. 9. "I think Ben would add a lot of credibility to the sport, because I don't think you can find any snow-shoers in the world who would come close to him," Akers said.

Winter hopscotched into Southern California early this year, riding an arctic blast of air and snow at local ski resorts. On the mountain, there was elation - plus jammed parking lots, hordes of noisy boarders and skiers, crowded runs and long lift lines. I don't want to sound smug, but while all that hoopla was going on, I was reveling in the backcountry stillness of a national forest. Crisp air, bright blue sky, a fresh dusting of snow. Birdsong occasionally accompanied the crunch of my snowshoes.