Tumalo Mountain looks way different in the winter. When Map Guy and I hiked to the top of the 7,775-foot mountain last July, birds chattered and flitted through the pine forest, wildflowers poked up through the duff and sunlight dappled the trail.

This time, the sun dappled, but the trail was an indentation carved by snowshoers and skiers heading straight up the hill. And everywhere, white.

This time, Map Guy, his wife and I made the trek. True to form, Map Guy grumbled about the pitch, Mrs. MG commented a lot on the wonder of it all, and I didn’t say much because I was breathing too hard.

It’s a mile-and-a-half to the top, which feels twice that on snowshoes (they don’t give you credit for vertical, just distance).

The trail begins at the Dutchman Flat parking area and climbs through a thick canopy of mixed conifers. Our snowshoes, big, fat oversized affairs that we rented at Pine Mountain Sports, afforded us surprisingly good traction, even up (and down) the steepest sections. After a good climb, about midway up the mountain, you break out into the full sun and get the first of many views of Mount Bachelor towering behind you. Look hard enough and you can see the skiers, tiny moving dots carving turns down the opposite hillside.

The upper portion of the climb takes you across an open snow field and on to the summit, where, on a clear day, you can see South Sister, Broken Top and the High Desert as well as Mount Bachelor. Chances are, if it’s the weekend, you won’t be alone. We encountered a fairly steady procession of other snowshoers, telemark skiers and snowboarders. There was even one guy with a device that looked like a modified body board. And one thing’s for sure, getting down is way faster than going up. The skiers and the boarders flew down the mountain through the trees; we rambled back the way we’d come.

I’d come to the conclusion that snowshoes are great tools for getting from Point A to Point B but are lacking a bit in the thrills department. But watching Mrs. Map Guy take off through the fluffy new snow headed down with a big grin on her face, spoke otherwise.

The one piece of equipment I wished I’d brought was a set of trekking poles. I was envious of those who had them because they give you added locomotion and stability. It took us just under three hours round trip; you may be faster or slower. But give your party plenty of time; you definitely don’t want to be racing darkness on the return trip.

From Bend, drive about 20 miles west on Century Drive toward Mount Bachelor. The Dutchman Flat parking area is on the right side of Century Drive just before the main Mount Bachelor parking lot.

A sno-park pass is required to park.