Traipsing through small amount of snow to start new year

The old barn that was part of the Jonesville Hotel. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

While snow activities aren’t usually at the top of the list for things to do in Butte County, there is white stuff to play in each winter.

I started the new year snowshoeing out of Jonesville, which is about an hour from the house.

For several New Year’s Days I would snowshoe with friends in Tahoe. It was a great way to start the year.

Three years ago I went to Lassen Volcanic National Park with my hiking group on Jan. 1. Knowing I would want to sleep in, I opted to pass on that excursion for 2025.

Plenty of white stuff for snowshoeing at the start of the trek. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

This was a first to go up to Jonesville in the winter, though I did hit snow there when I went mountain biking late last spring, which put a wrench in that outing.

Oddly, the lack of snow made the snowshoe a short trip.

I headed out from the parking area up the road toward the old hotel. A gate this time of year prevents people from driving beyond the parking lot.

While I could have walked in my hiking books, the snowshoes gave me better traction. Plenty of snow at the get-go. Even though I was on a gradual climb, the snow started to peter out. I’m guessing this is because the trees became thicker next to the road, which prevented the snow from reaching the road.

Water is rushing Jan. 1 through the creek in Jonesville. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

When I wanted to turn left, I gazed up the road. More bare ground than snow. I turned around.

I was trying to re-create the hike I last did up there. Next time I’ll snowshoe how I last biked. I know there are plenty of trails for human powered snow enthusiasts; I remember seeing the blue diamond markers. It’s known as a cross country ski area as well as a draw for snowmobilers.

I’ll chalk this up as an exploratory outing, with the next one being more substantive.