The BulleTin • Friday, FeBruary 12, 2021 B9
Increase traction to stay safe while running in the snow
TOP PICKS
WHERE TO EXPLORE
Top picks in the mountains
FootZone in Bend offers kits and installation to put screws in any shoe.
Distance runner John Stoltz, of Bend, uses screws in his shoes to pro-
vide traction on ice and snow.
Meissner Sno-park — It’s one of the most popular sno-
parks in the area for a reason. Located just east of Mount
Bachelor and with several trails groomed regularly and sev-
eral more loops and tracks marked for Nordic skiing its many
trails can take days to fully explore. If you are a snowshoer,
there are even a few designated trails to check out, but you
are welcome to follow the Nordic trails too as long as you
walk at least 2-feet to the side of the set ski tracks. The main
lodge is closed this year, but the shelters are still open. If the
main parking area fills up, Swampy Sno-park also has access
to the Meissner trails.
South Twin Lake — You may have to hike or snowshoe into
the lake west of Sunriver this time of year, but the lake is still
open for fishing, provided you can reach the water. If you do
cast your fishing line out, a stocked rainbow trout may come
up for a bite. The summertime hotspot is beautifully cov-
ered in snow now with the tree-lined shore looking idyllic for
those out for an afternoon snowshoe trip. Don’t walk out on
the ice.
Walton Sno-park — Home to the greatest concentration
of snowmobile trails in the Ochoco National Forest, Walton
Sno-park also has few cross country skiing trails to partake
in as well. Snowmobilers can connect to trails that wind all
through the forest lands save for the Bridge and Mill creeks
wilderness areas. Be sure to stay in designated areas and
trails. Getting there: The park is located between Prineville
and Mitchell along Forest Service Road 22 off U.S. Highway
26.
Dean Guernsey/Bulletin photos
Yaktrax up the traction on a shoe at FootZone.
more packed, I switch to my
screwed shoes. When you hit
dry patches, it clicks a little, but
it feels fine.”
Runners can often venture
east or north of Bend to find
snow-free trails during the
winter. King said he likes to
run trails at Smith Rock State
Kahtoola NANOspikes can be seen on a shoe at FootZone.
Park and Gray Butte near Ter-
rebonne, and he also enjoys
trails near Lake Billy Chinook,
doesn’t do much to the shoe
including the Otter Bench and
or reduce the durability. It just
Tam-a-lau trails.
Continued from B1
puts a little hole on the bot-
Stockamp prefers the Ore-
“I think that’s the best way
tom.”
gon Badlands Wilderness east
to go, honestly,” said March
Kahtoola NANOspikes trac- of Bend, an open, flat expanse
Stockamp, an avid runner
tion devices (which cost about
of juniper trees and lava rocks
and marketing manager at the
$50 to $60) are similar to Yak-
that tends to melt more quickly
FootZone running store in
trax but do not use coils. In-
than other areas near Bend.
Bend. “It’s the most cost effec-
stead, they use only carbide
Horse Butte and Horse Ridge,
tive, and it offers the best trac-
spikes.
both southeast of
tion, as well. The main down-
“They offer bet-
“There’s a lot of Bend, are other
side is not everyone has two
ter traction, in my
popular winter-
people who just time trail-running
pairs of running shoes. You
opinion, and feel
need a second pair because
more natural when
on the
will not run in the destinations
then you can leave them in
you hit a dry sur-
High Desert.
one pair of shoes for an entire
face,” Stockamp
Some locations,
winter, or they run
winter.”
said of Kahtoola.
though, would be
on the treadmill. I best to avoid until
FootZone offers sets of car-
“They don’t slide
bide steel screws for $10, and
or slip on dry sur-
think it’s beautiful. spring.
the store provides installation,
faces. They’re also
“One area I
I think it’s nice would avoid is
as well.
a little more du-
Runners in Central Oregon
rable, but a little
Shevlin Park,”
running in the
like the screws because they
more expensive.”
Stockamp said. “It’s
seem to work better in variable
Because snow-
just an ice bowl
winter.”
conditions, including snow,
and ice-covered
in there. I’ve seen
— Max King,
ice and bare pavement, which
trails in Central
so many people
professional runner
can all be encountered on the
Oregon can be-
at FootZone who
same run. Traction devices
come lumpy and
have hurt them-
that are strapped onto the bot- uneven during the winter,
selves falling at Shevlin Park.
tom of shoes, such as Yaktrax
Stockamp does more road run- It’s a beautiful area in the win-
and Kahtoola, work great in
ning than trail running this
ter, but it’s not worth it to me to
fresh or packed snow, but can
time of year. Plowed roads and deal with all the ice there.”
be cumbersome on bare pave-
sidewalks tend to offer a more
Still, Central Oregon run-
ment and could slide on ice.
steady and stable running sur-
ners have myriad options for
“Bend is super patchy with
face.
trails and traction to get them
snow and ice,” Stockamp said.
“Right after it snows, I just
through the winter.
“With screws, you don’t have
hit the roads in my trail shoes,” e e Reporter: 541-383-0318,
mmorical@bendbulletin.com
to worry as much about where Stockamp said. “As it becomes
you’re placing your foot. With
Yaktrax, you’re more trying to
stay on the snow and ice.”
Yaktrax (which cost about
$30 to $40) employ a coil trac-
tion system. The Yaktrax Run
include carbide steel studs that
dig into the snow and ice.
“They have the most name
recognition,” Stockamp said
of Yaktrax. “Personally, I don’t
think they offer the most trac-
tion. One of the complaints is
on sheer ice surfaces, the coils
tend to slide. If you have them
on, you want the ice and snow
because on the bare pavement,
they don’t work great. But a lot
of people like them.”
King said the screws work
better because they are lower
profile, making them more
manageable on bare pavement.
“And you can take them out
in the spring,” King said. “It
Snow
Valentine’s Day &
Presidents Day Sale
February 13 th -15 th
25% OFF Gift Items
20% OFF Any One Item
25% OFF Beginner
Instrument Package
SundayGuitars.com • 541-323-2332
759 NE Greenwood Ave • Bend
— Makenzie Whittle, The Bulletin