Snow Tracking

Snow keeps a record, and the story of the animals we track comes to life when we snow track! Snow tracking gives us a picture of how animals move across a landscape; it reveals the routes and habits of animals that would normally be a mystery. The way the animal moves, the speed it moves at, and the way it eats and sleeps – these patterns are all more visible in the snow.

Most mammals in the Pacific Northwest don’t hibernate. A day following their trails in the mountains of Eastern Washington can show us how they find food, stay warm, and avoid predators through a mountain winter.

In this course, you will: 

• Find and follow mammal and bird tracks and observe the track & sign they leave behind
• Learn about foot morphology, animal gaits, predator-prey relationships and animal survival strategies
• Learn how Pacific Northwest ecosystems affect the seasonal rhythm of animals’ lives

This day is open to first‑time trackers and seasoned ones alike, and to anyone who wants to get out in the snow with others on the east side of the Cascades. You’ll learn from expert trackers Kevin O’Malley and Mark Kang O’Higgins, and we’ll split into small groups to cover more ground.

Program Logistics

Class will meet at a TBD location in the vicinity of Easton, WA. Due to the nature of snow tracking being heavily dependent on the weather, we will reach out as we get closer to the program date to share the exact location. We will likely plan a carpool from the west side of Snoqualmie Pass (likely the Preston Park and Ride) for whoever is interested.

While we will strive to be based out of a location with restrooms, be prepared to be out in the field, away from facilities, for most of the day. Food is not provided for this course. Please bring your lunch, snacks, and plenty of water, and appropriate layers, as well as a pair of snowshoes. See the Program Details page for more information. 

Meet Your Instructors

Kevin O’Malley

As a child Kevin spent countless hours exploring, observing, swimming, and fishing on the lands and waters of Lake Erie. Curious and thankful for the generations that came before us Kevin received a degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Toledo. Noticing a connection with his childhood and the next generation on kids, Kevin became a Naturalist-in-Residence for the Juneau School District. Wanting to deepen his naturalist training he completed the gratifying and strengthening, nine-month Immersion program at Wilderness Awareness School. During that time, he also completed the certification through Kamana Four, a self-directed three-year nature study program. From there he served as a freelance naturalist in various settings on the West Coast ultimately becoming the In-School Programs Specialist at Seward Park Audubon. He served as a Teaching Assistant for the renowned WAS Adult Tracking Intensive Program 2015-2018. He currently holds a Cybertracker Level 3 Wildlife Track and Sign and coordinates the Ellensburg Tracking Club. As the Lead Naturalist and Executive director of South Sound Nature School Kevin also teaches birding field classes across the state of Washington and served as the Education Chair of the Juneau Audubon Society for three years.

Mark Kang O’Higgins

Mark has been teaching wildlife tracking at Wilderness Awareness School since 2008. He is the Lead Instructor and Coordinator of the Tracking Intensive program. Mark is a Track and Sign Specialist certified by CyberTracker International. He has a BA and MA in Sociology of Environment, and a HDip in Science & Technology Studies. He is a guest instructor with The Immersion, where he teaches about the art of seeing, drawing, and perspective in relation to wildlife tracking. Mark has been a team leader on the Cascades Wildlife Monitoring Project. Mark also holds an MFA and works as a professional artist and was one of the artist contributors to Peterson Field Guide to North American Bird Nests, and runs the KOH Atelier Program at the Gage Academy of Art. View his work at kangohiggins.com.