conversations.from: human
conversations.value: What could be a title for a story about Trails, Gear, DAN with the genre: Travel, United States?
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: A title for this story could be 'Snowshoe Routes Washington'
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the first four paragraphs for the story.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Snowshoe Routes Washington
  In the mid-1990s, the age-old activity of snowshoeing began to boom as a winter sport. As the new millennium dawned, the sport kept growing. Through the first decades of the 21st century, snowshoeing continues to flourish, growing faster than any other winter sport in the Pacific Northwest—and throughout the northern states. Part of the reason for that is the tremendous popularity of hiking in the Pacific Northwest. Summer hikers are loath to give up their favorite pastime simply because the seasons change. So, come winter, hikers have two options—step onto a pair of cross-country skis or strap on snowshoes. In the past, skis have been the preferred choice for backcountry enthusiasts. But not everyone wants to take the time, or make the considerable effort, needed to master the art of cross-country skiing in mountain country. Snowshoeing has become a popular alternative.
  Probably the main reason for this trend is the ease with which beginners can become accomplished snowshoers. Anyone who knows how to walk knows how to use snowshoes—just strap them on and walk, it's as simple as that. Another reason snowshoes are increasingly popular is that hikers can get to the same areas in winter that they hike to in summer. They can move easily through thick forests and up steep slopes. Skis, on the other hand, are more difficult to maneuver on forest trails, and uphill slopes pose tougher challenges for novice skiers (although the downhill run is undeniably more fun on skis).
  Although hikers can travel many of the same trails on snowshoes that they can in the summer, more often than not the trailheads for those trails are inaccessible by car. Fortunately, the surge in interest in cross-country skiing in the 1970s prompted Washington to build and maintain a series of Sno-Parks throughout the state. These facilities are merely parking lots that are kept cleared of snow and access roads that are kept plowed during the winter. More than one hundred Sno-Parks are maintained for winter recreationists, with no fewer than fifty devoted solely to nonmotorized recreationists.
  Cross-country skiers and snowmobilers have utilized these Sno-Parks for nearly four decades. Many of the facilities also feature groomed ski trails, groomed snowmobile trails, and a few even have tracks set for skiers who prefer that mode of skiing.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me four more paragraphs.. End with the sentence ' Do this only if you are adequately prepared for extended winter exposure.'.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Route: The Chiwaukum Creek Trail pierces pine and fir forests, nicely blanketed in pristine white snow. Along the way, snowshoers can gawk in wonder at the towering ramparts of Big Jim and Snowgrass Mountains. They can enjoy the musical stylings of Chiwaukum Creek as it bounds over ice-crusted boulders and snow-laden logs. And, unfortunately, they can skip the whole thing if the avalanche danger is moderate or higher. The last mile of the road to the summer trailhead and the first mile of trail are at the base of a steep, slide-prone slope and should only be crossed when the risk of avalanche is low or nonexistent. But if the conditions are right, this trail is not to be missed.
  Chiwaukum Creek cuts through a narrow valley along its lower reaches. It is nearly flat, gaining just 1200 feet in more than 5 miles, and it pierces some of the most beautiful old forests of pine and fir in the region. The ponderosa pine is particularly pretty in this setting, with its bright-orange bark scales offsetting the brilliant white of the snow and the sparkling blue of the creek.
  The trail rolls upstream, curving gently to the west and opening up views of McCue Ridge towering above the upper Chiwaukum Creek valley and Big Jim Mountain to the south. Numerous wide areas in the sheltering forests offer excellent sites in which to pitch a camp, and the possibilities of making an extended snowshoeing adventure out of this trip are endless.
  At 5.2 miles the trail splits. This is where most of you will turn back, but if you are a hearty winter fanatic, consider pushing on into the deeper regions of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Do this only if you are adequately prepared for extended winter exposure.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the last four paragraphs.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: The index that appeared in the print version of this title was intentionally removed from the eBook. Please use the search function on your eReading device to search for terms of interest. For your reference, the terms that appear in the print index are listed below.
  MOUNTAINEERS BOOKS is a leading publisher of mountaineering literature and guides—including our flagship title, Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills—as well as adventure narratives, natural history, and general outdoor recreation. Through our two imprints, Skipstone and Braided River, we also publish titles on sustainability and conservation. We are committed to supporting the environmental and educational goals of our organization by providing expert information on human-powered adventure, sustainable practices at home and on the trail, and preservation of wilderness.
  The Mountaineers, founded in 1906, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit outdoor activity and conservation organization whose mission is "to explore, study, preserve, and enjoy the natural beauty of the outdoors." One of the largest such organizations in the United States, it sponsors classes and year-round outdoor activities throughout the Pacific Northwest, including climbing, hiking, backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, bicycling, camping, paddling, and more. The Mountaineers also supports its mission through its publishing division, Mountaineers Books, and promotes environmental education and citizen engagement. For more information, visit The Mountaineers Program Center, 7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-3996; phone 206-521-6001; www.mountaineers.org; or email info@mountaineers.org.
  Mountaineers Books is proud to be a corporate sponsor of The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, whose mission is to promote and inspire responsible outdoor recreation through education, research, and partnerships · The Leave No Trace program is focused specifically on human-powered (nonmotorized) recreation · Leave No Trace strives to educate visitors about the nature of their recreational impacts and offers techniques to prevent and minimize such impacts · Leave No Trace is best understood as an educational and ethical program, not as a set of rules and regulations · For more information, visit www.lnt.org, or call 800-332-4100.