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Snowshoeing 101
Every year more and more people are getting out on snowshoes, which make it easy to leave the cabin fever behind and
enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. Instead of walking on slushy streets, you grab your snowshoes and go off to the nearest park, trail, or golf course. Modern snowshoes are lightweight, durable, and affordable. Once you buy a pair, your investment in years of great exercise and fun is done: no need for long drives or pricey lift tickets.
Choose a length of snowshoe designed for your weight. When you look
at the manufacturer's charts, make sure that
you factor in everything that you will be wearing and carrying. Boots, clothes, fanny packs, hiking poles, water, and snacks will add 10 to 15 pounds to the weight you see on your bathroom scale. Put vanity aside when determining what length snowshoe to purchase.
Since a woman's stride is different from a man's, women will want to check
out shoes designed with them in mind. Women's snowshoes have a narrower tail, which minimizes the
chance of stepping on the toe of the other shoe.
A great improvement
for both sexes is the easy entry/exit binding. With just a snap of a
buckle, the snowshoe can be on your foot. Your fingers will appreciate not having to struggle with
cumbersome straps in cold weather.
On warm-weather hikes or walks, sometimes one person in a group walks too fast, like a dog straining on a leash,
trying to hurry the rest of the group along. In snowshoeing, that person
can get the high-energy workout that he/she craves by being the one who
breaks the trail! It's much more work to be the first in line.
This makes snowshoeing a great equalizer. The slower person at the end of
the line has a nice, packed trail and can keep up with the group. When
hiking with people of similar stamina, it's a good idea to rotate the
trailblazing position.
Unless you know how to use a topo map and compass, it is best to stay on
marked trails. Be suspicious of any large, open, level area. It might be a pond. Meadows will have some undulations. Walking
on ponds in never a good idea. If a snowshoer falls through thin ice,
hypothermia can set in very quickly, and trying to rescue a friend who fell through ice can lead to multiple tragedies. Keep the excursion fun and stay away from ice.
Don't forget the snacks! Snowshoeing burns up a lot
of calories. Folks can go a lot farther and stay a lot happier if they put
some fuel in their tummies. A mixture of simple carbohydrates (as in raisins) and complex carbs (as in whole grains) will keep you warmer and give you the energy you need.
Bring some snacks for your canine companion too. Dogs work really
hard bounding through snow. Keep an eye on them and take a break if Fido is
a bit tuckered out.
Don't forget the water! In winter, sweating is not as
obvious as it is in hot weather. Stay hydrated. It wards off hypothermia.
Snowshoeing is simple and extremely enjoyable. It can be as easy as a walk
in the park or as rugged as a 10K race. You can traverse a golf course or
climb a snow-covered mountain. The winter world is yours to explore. Get
out and have fun.
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