Out & about

Northwest Guardian

Ski weekend

Make plans now for the greatest ski weekend of your life. Outdoor Recreation will take you to spend the Presidents Day weekend at Mount Bachelor in Central Oregon. The group will head out on Feb. 12 and return Feb. 15. Mount Bachelor is one of the largest ski areas in North America, offering skiers, snowboarders and Nordic skiers great conditions, plenty of powder, big terrain and short lift lines. Bachelor even offers tubing, snowshoeing and dog sledding. The cost of the trip is $225, which includes three nights’ lodging, two lift tickets and gear. Preregistration is required. Call 967-6263, or stop by the NAC, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Horse-drawn sleigh ride

Sign up at Adventures Unlimited on McChord Field for the Feb. 13 family winter sleigh ride at Leavenworth. Cost for adults (ages 13 and older) is $40; children 3 to 12 are $30; 2 and younger are $15 — which includes transportation and the sleigh ride. Bundle up for a traditional horse-drawn sleigh ride through open meadows of snow with a beautiful, mountainous backdrop. Afterwards, enjoy cocoa and apple cider by a wood-burning stove. Call 982-2206 or 982-2303, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekends, 7 to 11 a.m.

Snowshoe the Iron Horse Trail

Head over Snoqualmie Pass to Cle Elum Feb. 18, for a day of snowshoeing on the Iron Horse Trail, where beginner and intermediate-level terrain is suitable for the whole family. Cost of the trip is $25, which includes an instructional clinic, transportation, snowshoes, cocoa and a guided snowshoe tour of the area. Call Adventures Unlimited at McChord Field at 982-2206 or 982-2303, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekends, 7 to 11 a.m.

Snowmobile in the Cascade Mountains

For those seeking some fun-filled winter excitement, join Outdoor Recreation Feb. 13 for a snowmobiling trip in the Cascade Mountains near Ronald. Cost of the trip is $150, including transportation, snowmobile, helmet and snowsuit. Dress in layers — ski wear, boots, gloves, hat, goggles and sunglasses are ideal. Passengers ages 15 and younger are only $60. You must be at least 16 to drive. Preregistration is required. Call 967-6263, or stop by the NAC, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Sledding and tubing at Snoqualmie

Sign up with Adventures Unlimited at McChord Field for a fun day of family sledding and inner tubing at Snoqualmie Pass, Feb. 20. The Summit Tubing Area offers machine- groomed lanes, commercial-grade tubes with covers and surface tows that pull you back to the top of the hill. The price for adults, 13 and older, is $30; children 6 to 12 are $25; those 5 and younger are $10. The cost covers transportation and a two-hour tubing session. Don’t forget to dress warmly and get ready to go for a wild ride. Call 982-2206 or 982-2303, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekends 7 to 11 a.m. Closed on federal holidays.

Snowshoe Commonwealth Basin

Sign up with Outdoor Recreation for an adventurous snowshoe trek through a web of trails over varied terrain and through a shadowy old-growth forest in the Commonwealth Basin on Sunday. Minimum age is 12; difficulty, moderate; time, 3.5 hours; distance, 4 miles. Preregistration is required. Call 967-6263, or stop by the NAC, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Aquarium and market tour

New to the area or just want to enjoy the city without the hassles of driving yourself? If so, then sign up for Outdoor Recreation’s Feb. 21 trip to the Emerald City. The group will head to the Seattle Aquarium to see the ever-changing exhibits at one of the West Coast’s top displays of sea life. Next, they will head up the hill to the famous Pike Place Public Market. Cost of the trip is $35, which includes transportation and admission to the aquarium. Preregistration is required. Call 967-6263, or stop by the NAC, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Northwest Trek

Lovers of wildlife will not want to miss Outdoor Recreation’s Feb. 27 trip to the Northwest Trek wildlife park. Explore the park’s 723 acres, home to more than 200 species of North American animals, including bighorn sheep, caribou, beaver and grizzly bears. Do it all from the comfort of the park tram. Cost of the trip is $20; children ages 3 to 13 are $15, those 2 and younger are free. Preregistration is required. Call 967-6263, or stop by the NAC, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

St. Patty’s Run

Dress in your finest Irish threads and race for the finish line March 13 at the St. Patrick’s 5K and 10K Run. The race starts at Cowan Stadium at 9 a.m.

All participants will receive a free race T-shirt. First- through third-place medals will be awarded to the top three men and women in each of the following age categories: 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, and 80-plus. Early registration deadline is March 3; late-registration deadline is March 10. Active military, military family members and military retirees are $5; DOD employees are $10; and civilian non-government employees are $15. Add $10 for registration after March 10.

There will be no day-of-race registration. You must register, pay and sign a Hold Harmless Agreement before participating in this race. Register online at JBLMMWR.com. For more information, call the Sports Administration Office at 967-2604.

Snowshoe Paradise

Explore Mount Rainier National Park’s Glacier Vista during the Feb. 28 trip led by Outdoor Recreation. Cost of the trip is $30, which covers guide, gear, instruction and transportation. Time, three hours; distance, 3 miles; minimum age, 10. Preregistration is required. Call 967-6263, or stop by the NAC, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.