RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Stuck in the lodge while your family schusses down the slopes? Or simply shut out of your regular weekend hike by a plush blanket of new snow? Snowshoeing is your immediate ticket out, a great way to stretch your legs and have some fun in the winter weather. Plus, spending time outdoors is a proven way to beat the winter blues. And no lessons—or ski helmets—are needed.
"With their great gripping teeth, snowshoes by design provide great traction and no real slipping," says Zeke Zucker, director of the Smugglers' Notch Resort Nordic Ski & Snowshoe Adventure Center in Vermont. "So snowshoers can thoroughly enjoy the beauty of the winter woods and meadows without having to take lessons to develop control on the snow to keep from falling down."
THE DETAILS: The basic technique for snowshowing is, well, walking—walking with your feet wider apart than normal because snowshoes are wider and longer than street shoes, but walking nonetheless. "Around here, we say 'three steps and you're an expert,'" says Zucker. "It's a bit of hyperbole—but not much. Snowshoeing is just not very technically difficult." It is, however, physically arduous enough to provide a great workout.
"After strapping on snowshoes, snowshoers carry more weight on their feet than hikers, and significantly more than walkers. Plus they're moving through snow, which gives a little with each step," says Zucker. "The combination adds up to a very doable but demanding aerobic workout." Add poles for support and propulsion, and—presto—snowshoeing is a full-body exercise.
GETTING STARTED: All you need to snowshoe are snowshoes, plus poles and the shoes you would typically wear to go out in the snow. For hiking/trekking, that means ankle-height, waterproof boots. For running—which gives you an even greater workout—that means running shoes. Zucker says he also wears ankle-height snow gaiters when he goes running in snowshoes.
Many ski and snowboard retailers will rent snowshoes and poles, some for as little as $10 a day (although prices can climb to $25 a day). Renting's the perfect way to try them out and see if you like them. If you decide to buy your own pair, snowshoes range in price from about $100 to $300 (poles may be thrown into the package). Like any type of sports equipment, the more rugged and technical they get, the more snowshoes cost. Kids' snowshoes typically run less than adult sizes.
To help you decide what to buy, consider how hard you'll be using your snowshoes. "Most manufacturers make three shoe levels," says Zucker. "The basic models are for folks who simply want to walk in the woods and wouldn't dream of jogging. The mid-level, which most of our guests wear, are a bit more rugged in structure because they get lots of use (and some abuse), and would be appropriate for someone who is planning on doing somewhat longer and more energetic trekking." Top-of-the-line shoes are generally referred to as mountaineering types, says Zucker, and usually have a special heel lifter for climbing steeper slopes and snowfields. "Those are beefier and more rugged, and are generally used by mountain climbers who have to negotiate steep snowfields before they get to the craggy stuff." Shop at a sporting goods or outdoor-supply store, and consult with the staff to find the smallest size that will support your weight for the snow conditions and terrain you'll be in. The smaller the snowshoes, the easier they are to handle.
Here are some other suggestions for beginning snowshoers:
• Join a guided tour. Zucker recommends newbie snowshoers start by joining a guided group, if possible. "That way, you'll immediately learn the correct way to put on and use snowshoes, and someone who's knowledgeable will be close at hand to assist you, if necessary," says Zucker. "You can certainly rent snowshoes and go out on your own, but it's less stressful and more enjoyable when an expert is leading the way, at least initially."
• Use poles. "I recommend everyone use them, since you never know what obstacles you'll encounter on snow," says Zucker. "On our dedicated snowshoe trails, which are summer hiking and biking routes, you can expect to find at least one log over which you'll need to step, snow potholes, side slopes, deep snow, and lots of ups and downs." Poles provide stability that helps you in all those situations. And, as he tells snow-pole skeptics, they let you engage your upper body as you trek and get a more well-rounded workout.
• Bend your knees. If you bend your knees slightly when ascending or descending, you'll ensure that the front talons (teeth) under the shoes get maximum positive traction, says Zucker.
• Up the ante: If you're in good shape already and walking in snowshoes doesn't give you the burn you want, try running. "Basic snowshoeing is a good workout, picking up the pace to a brisk walk is an excellent workout, but accelerating into a jog or even a run is a great workout," says Zucker, an experienced snowshoe runner. "Running one mile on snowshoes is the equivalent of running two miles on the roads or on snowless trails." Zucker recommends running on packed trails, which you can usually do safely without poles. He says you can run on unpacked snow, but it's more difficult (and slower going) due to the unevenness of the surface.