Snowshoeing = Winter Hiking

Woohoo!! What a great equation!

Seems obvious to me now, but it took me awhile to put that snowshoeing equation together.

I used to feel trapped inside the overheated, dry as a desert, house during the long snowy winters in upper Michigan, when temperatures dipped below zero for days on end and the snowstorms just kept coming.

And then one fine day, I borrowed a pair of old fashioned, hand made bear paw snowshoes.

My world has never been the same since.

And I mean that quite literally.

This winter hiking sport is an amazing opportunity to see places you can't get to during non-winter months. Snow covers brush, rock piles, small trees, and other obstacles. All you have to do is walk over it all! (after planning a safe route, of course)

It's a great opportunity to burn tons of calories, allowing you to eat a hearty breakfast, lunch and dinner. After my most recent snowy adventure at Mt. Rainier, I consumed an entire plate of burritos, rice, and beans, washing it all down with chips and salsa, more chips and salsa.....I thought I'd never feel full again! This, from a woman who is hard pressed to finish one burrito.

And the best part? The bathroom scale never registered this little episode of overindulgence.

So if I sound as if I'm advocating this winter sport as an excuse to enjoy good food, and plenty of it, I am!

More reasons to snowshoe: the tranquility and serenity of winter. If you're lucky enough to be able to get away from the noise of human activity, you can marvel at the crunch of snow that shuts off the instant you stand still.

Animals creep out of hiding places and go about their normal activity, because they don't even notice you as you blend into their surroundings.

And the winter sunlight is so fragile, so welcome, that you see trees and rocks and streams with fresh, appreciative eyes.

As for the physical effort required, it's true that it takes more work.

Plus, you can't get as far on snow as you can on a dirt trail.

You will also be using different muscles, or perhaps I should say you'll use the same old hiking muscles in different ways. Be prepared for some soreness!

And if you're the first person, or the only person (lucky you!!), to go in that direction, you'll need to break trail. That's when you work up a good sweat, all for a good cause.

This unique, low tech sport requires very little in the way of gear, but you will need to put some thought and experimentation into that gear. My most cherished possession for winter outings isn't my carefully selected pair of snowshoes, it's my boots! My waterproof, insulated, clunky, absolutely not stylish, but uber-functional boots! What makes them even sweeter? They were a bargain bin purchase!

Snowshoeing has gained in popularity lately, at least in the United States. That means there are lots of brands of snowshoes to choose from. Be careful when considering a purchase. Be realistic about your commitment to this winter sport, and don't over or underspend for features that won't benefit you. Some of the stuff being marketed to women is just junk.

And be smart about where & how you snowshoe. Stay on marked routes until you're ready with a strong skill set to explore on your own. Be prepared mentally and physically for the winter season risks, which may be quite extreme when the weather decides to exert its authority over you as a mere mortal.

A few more random thoughts....

......it brings me a sense of peace that I don't always achieve during hiking adventures in other seasons.

And it gives me a sense of freedom, too. I can explore, wander, backtrack (literally!), stop, stare, lick tree icicles, ponder what that rabbit was doing as it laid down its tracks.....

If you haven't tried it yet, rent or borrow a pair of those special shoes and get out there. It's an absolutely amazing experience, regardless of where in the world your snow falls.

If you're interested, you can download a free "What to Expect" handout I give to folks who take my snowshoe classes. Enjoy!

Snowshoeing is just one type of hiking. Explore the other types here....


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