Pagei

Snowshoeing
OUTDOORPURSUITSSERIES
SallyEdwards
MelissaMckenzie

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LibraryofCongressCataloginginPublicationData
Edwards,Sally,1947
Snowshoeing/SallyEdwards,MelissaMcKenzie.
p.cm.(Outdoorpursuitsseries)
Includesindex.
ISBN0873227670
1.Snowshoesandsnowshoeing.I.McKenzie,Melissa,1955
II.Title.III.Series.
GV853.E381995
796.92dc209440482
CIP
ISBN:0873227670
Copyright1995byHumanKineticsPublishers,Inc.
Allrightsreserved.Exceptforuseinareview,thereproductionorutilizationofthisworkinanyformorbyanyelectronic,mechanical,orothermeans,nowknownor
hereafterinvented,includingxerography,photocopying,andrecording,andinanyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem,isforbiddenwithoutthewrittenpermission
ofthepublisher.
Photosonpages2,26,52,and105RobBossi,Portsmouth,NH.
Photosonpages3638,4044,54,65,and121RoyWilcox.
SeriesEditorandDevelopmentalEditor:HollyGillyAssistantEditors:JulieMarxOhnemus,DawnRoselund,KirbyMittelmeierCopyeditor:John
WentworthProofreader:AnneMeyerBylerTypesetters:StuartCartwright,RubyZimmermanTextDesigner:KeithBlombergLayoutArtist:Stuart
CartwrightPhotoEditor:KarenMaierCoverDesigner:JackDavisInteriorArt:ThomasBradleyIllustrationandDesignCoverPhoto:JohnKellyPrinter:
BuxtonSkinner
HumanKineticsbooksareavailableatspecialdiscountsforbulkpurchase.Specialeditionsorbookexcerptscanalsobecreatedtospecification.Fordetails,contact
theSpecialSalesManageratHumanKinetics.
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica10987654321
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Contents
Chapter1
GoingSnowshoeing
GettingStartedontheRightFoot

ATypeofSnowhoeingforYou

Chapter2
SnowshoeingEquipment

11

WhatKindofSnowshoesDoYouNeed?

12

AnatomyofaSnowshoe

13

DecidingWhattoBuy

19

DressingforSuccess

21

TheWellEquippedSnowshoer

27

WheretoFindItAll

29

Chapter3
SnowshoeingCorrectly

33

SteppingOut

35

SteppingUp

39

GettingtoKnowtheGreatOutdoors

45

Chapter4
SnowshoeingFitnessandSafety

51

HowReadyIsYourBody?

54

ImprovingYourSnowshoeingFitness

55

SnowshoeingSafely

60

BeatingtheElements

61

StayingFound

64

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Chapter5
TheBestPlacestoSnowshoe
FindingtheBestLocalTrails

68

SnowshoeingSkiResortsandGolfCourses

70

TrailEtiquette

71

UnitedStatesGetaways

71

CanadianTrails

81

SnowshoeingintheUnitedKingdom

85

WesternEuropebySnowshoe

88

ScenicAustraliaandNewZealand

91

LimitlessAdventure

94

Chapter6
PursuingSnowshoeingFurther

95

Running

96

Racing

99

CampingandMountaineering

101

Tracking

103

BeingaSnowshoer

104

AppendixForMoreInformation

67

107

Organizations

107

OtherReading

107

SnowshoeManufacturers

108

SnowshoeingLingo

111

Index

117

AbouttheAuthors

121

Page1

1
GoingSnowShoeing
Whenwasthelasttimeyoudidsomethingforthefirsttime?Stopandaskyourselfthatquestion.Itisimposing.Itischallenging.Itisoneofthereasonswesnowshoe.
Weaskedourselvesthisquestiononewintermorningin1991.Oncewedecidedithadbeentoolongsinceourlast"firsttime,"wewereofftopursueamutualfirst
thatwehadbeencuriousaboutforsometimesnowshoeing.Wemadehaltingprogress,however,becausewedidn'tknowwheretogo,whattotake,whattodo,
or,forthatmatter,whatwildcrittersawaitedusbasically,weknewnothingaboutthesportorhowtogetstarted.
Butsmmehowwedidgetstarted,andourfirstsnowshoeingexperiencechangedourlives.Thatmorning,wepackedalunchandheadedtothe

Page2

SierraNevadas.Itwasablast.Ourdogscouldn'thavebeenhappier,andwhenwestoppedforapicniclunchontheridgeline,wehadapanoramicviewofthe
westernslopesoftheSierras.Thatwasthedefiningmomentinwhichweknewwehadfoundasportthatcouldofferablendofadventure,solitude,andpeacefulness
(andalmostnolearningcurve!).Wehadtotellothersaboutourdiscovery.

Asportfitforboththetwoandfourleggedcrowd.
R.Bossi

Sincethentherehasbeennolookingback.Inoursnowshoeswehavewitnessedthewinterworldopeningtous,asitwillforyou.Ultimatelytheactofsnowshoeing
canbringyousomuch:thethrillsofthedownhill,thejoyofthesilence,andthehealthandspiritualbenefitsthatcomefromexploringtheoutdoors.

Page3

GettingStartedontheRightFoot

Imagineyourselfsnowshoeing.Drawthementalpicture.Itlookslikeyou,dressedwarmly,wearinglightweight,easytousesnowshoes.Itlookslikeyou,walkingwith
friendsonyourfavoritesummertrails,butthisisterrainyoucan'tcoverinthesummerbecauseitdoesn'texistthenthisisalandscapethatappearsonlyinthewinter,
withitssnowwhitedriftsandfields,andtheonlywaytoexploreitisonsnowshoes.Itlookslikeyou,doingasnowshoerunforfitness.Itlookslikeyou,discovering
thetracksofasnowshoehare.Itlookslikeyou,climbingupandoutofyoureverydayroutineandontothenearestmountaintop.
Prettypicture,isn'tit?Nowthatyouaredoneimaginingit,getoutanddoit.Grabafriend,apairofshoes,yourgear,andgo.
Wegrabbedquiteafewfriendsonenightlastwinter,whenwedecidedtoinviteagrouptojoinusona"winterwanderingabout"adventureafullmoonsnowshoe
walk.Weaskedseveraldozenpeople,assumingonlyafewwouldshowup.ItwasapleasantshockwhenwearrivedattheNordicresortwewerestartingfromand
foundacrowdof65waitingforusonly2ofwhomhadevershoedbefore.Theskiresortfolkshadbuiltabonfireinthemiddleofameadowitwouldbearelaxed,
45minutewalktoourdestination.
Wesensedinourcompanionsanervousexcitementblendingwiththeirhungerforadventure.Bringinguptherearandpullingasledloadedwithmarshmallows,
grahamcrackers,andchocolatebars,wejoinedourfriendsatthebonfireandstartedtolistenandtalk.Allpresentwereaskedtointroduceandsayonepositivething
aboutthemselves.Weheardsomesaytheywerenotsurewhytheyhadwantedtocome,buttheyknewwhynow.
Wereturnedtoourhomesclosetomidnight.Mostofushadtobeatworkthenextmorning,butnooneseemedtired.Wesharedafeelingofupliftedness,muchlike
arunner'shigh.Overthenextseveralweeks,wereceivedlettersandphonecallsfromthemoonlightsnowshoerssayinghowmuchtheyhadappreciatedourinvitation.
Theircommentsrangedfrom"Ireallyneededthehikeithelpedmefindsomethinginsidemyself"to"Whydidn'tanyoneevertellmethatwintercouldbesomuch
fun?"Forus,wehadsimplywantedtosharewithothersthejoyofwinterwanderingabout.Wedidn'tknowtheimpactitwouldhave.Butnowwedo.
Thesnowshoeingexperiencecanbesimple,withminimalpreparationandtraining,asyou'veseenfromourmoonlightwalk,butsomehowitsrewardsfaroutweighthe
investment.Readon.Thenyoutoocanjoinusfloatingonthesnow.

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SNOWSHOEINGTHROUGHTIME
SnowshoesarrivedinNorthAmericafromCentralAsiasome6,000
yearsago,atatimewhentheBeringStraitwaspassablebyfoot.The
indigenouspeopleofNorthAmericawerethefirstgreatsnowshoe
designers.Startingwithabasicbearpawshape,theydeveloped
hundredsofframepatternssuitedtoallpossiblesnowandterrain
conditions.
WhenthefirstEuropeansarrivedinNorthAmerica,theyadoptedthe
snowshoe.DuringtheEuropeanexpansionsnowshoeswerevery
helpfultotrappers,hunters,explorers,andsurveyors,particularlyin
Canada.
Inthemid1800s,snowshoeclubsbeganorganizingthefirst
snowshoeraces,withdistancesrangingfrom100yards(91m)to6
miles(9.7km).Theseclubsalsoorganizedsnowshoe"tramps,"or
trainingworkouts.Otherearlysnowshoeeventsgrewinpopularityas
wellCanadianwintercarnivalsandNewEnglandcommunity
snowshoehikesthrivedthroughthelate1930s.
Itwasn'tuntil1862inMainethatthefirstcommercial,largescale
productionofsnowshoesbegan.Othermanufacturersjoinedin,and
afteronlyafewdecadesthemajorityofsnowshoeswerefactory
built.Still,itwasn'tuntilthe1950sandthedevelopmentofWestern
snowshoes(assportsnowshoeswereoriginallyknown)thatthe
modernerainsnowshoeingbegan.

ATypeofSnowshoeingforYou

Thebasicsnowshoeconceptstayingaloftbyincreasingthesurfaceareaofyourfeet,therebyreducinghowmuchyousinkinthesnowisprettyunsophisticated.
Snowshoesarebasicallyfootextenders.Butthedevelopmentofsnowshoesasameansoftravelranksuptherewiththeinventionofthewheelandsnowshoescan
takeyouwherewheelscannot.
Yet,whenpeoplethinkofsnowshoeingtheytypicallyvisualizesomeonetrudgingalongwithroughhewntennisracketsstrappedtoherfeet.Quaint,butmostfitness
andrecreationalathleteswouldfindsuchaworkoutunappealing.Fortunately,anynotionsofsnowshoeingaslaboriousandprimitivenolongerhavebasisinfact.
Thankstoeverimprovingtechnologyanddesign,today'ssportsnowshoesarelight,stylish,andfun.Theyhaveturnedthedrudgeryofthepastintotherevolutionary
newpastimeoftoday.

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Snowshoeingnolongermeanstrudgingthroughthesnowwith
nnisracketsstrappedtoyourfeet.
FStock/DavidStoecklein

Today'ssnowshoerstakeadvantageofthenewlighterandslimmersportsnowshoestorace,hike,andexploreareaspreviouslyofflimitstoallbutthemostintrepidor
unwary.Whetherit'salongstretchofwildernessoryourownbackyard,modernsportsnowshoesallowyoutogowhereyouwanttogo,instyleandcomfort.

Page6

Stillnotsurethatsnowshoeingisforyou?Well,therehappentobesnowshoeingoptionstosuitalmostalltastesandabilities.Thethreebasictypesofsport
snowshoeingactivitiesarewalkingandrecreation,trainingandracing,andbackcountrymountaineeringandwintercamping.Thisbookpreparesyouthoroughlyfor
thefirsttypeandadequatelyforthesecond.Ifyougethookedonsnowshoeingandwanttodosomecampingormountaineering,werecommendyoupickupa
coupleofotherbooksthatgointogreaterdetailaboutthesemoreadvancedactivities.Theappendixlistssomegoodones.
Rememberthatyoudon'tneedtobeathleticoroutdoorsytohavefuninthesnow.Infact,ifyouareoneofthemillionsofpeoplewhohelpedmakeexercisewalking
thehugelypopularparticipationsportitis,thensnowshoeingmaywellbeforyou.Snowshoeingisthewintertimeversionofexercisewalking.Ifyouliveoutsidethe
Sunbelt,youknowthatwinterwalkinginyourtennisshoesjustwon'tdo.
Doyouthinksnowshoeingsoundstoocasualorsedate?Ifso,thinkagain.Atthe1993Mt.HoodSnowshoeRace,runnerHerbLindsey,whoonceheldtheUnited
Statesrecordinthe10,000meters,overcameothercompetitivesnowshoerstowintheoverallmen'sracingdivision.FourtimeOlympicbiathleteLyleNelsonwon
thesnowshoe/crosscountryskibiathlon.Sport

Snowshoeingisfunfortheyoungandtheyoungatheart.
CarlHeilmanII

Page7

snowshoeingattractsathletesfromothersportsnotonlybecauseitissimpletostartrightinbutalsobecausethephysicaleffortoneexpendscanbeadjustedtosuitthe
fitnessneedsofeveryone,fromnovicetopro.
Maybeyou'renotinterestedinexerciseforitsownsake.Well,ifyoulovethegreatoutdoors,snowshoeingisthebestwaytoexperienceallitswinterglory.Hikers,
trackers,campers,andmountaineerscanallpickupandputonapairofsnowshoesatminimalexpenseandwithlittle,ifany,learningcurve.
Andhowdoessnowshoeingstackupagainstskiing?Whenpeopleaskustocomparesnowshoeingwithskiing,wesay,''nocontest."Here'swhy:
Snowshoeingiseasytolearn.Youdon'tneedlessons,becauseifyoucanwalk,youcansnowshoe.Age,sex,size,conditioning,andcoordinationarenotfactors.
Snowshoeingisinexpensive.Onceyouhavepurchasedthesnowshoes,therearenoothernecessaryexpensesexcepttransportationtoandfromthetrailhead.
Snowshoeingislowtonomaintenance.Withmodernsnowshoes,there'snowaxingtoworryabout,andthereisverylittlechanceofequipmentbreakage.
Snowshoeingisconvenient.Youdon'tneedapackedtrailtosnowshoe.Snowshoesarealsoeasiertocarryinthefieldthanskisare,inadditiontobeingabreeze
totransporttoandfromyourdestination.
Snowshoeingissafe.Thepossibilityofbeinginjuredwhilewearingsnowshoesisslight,andthechancesoffallingonsnowshoesarefarlessthanonskis.
Snowshoeingisfast.Whenyou'vegotadirectdestination,youcanalmostalwaysgorighttoittherearefewlongdetourstogetpastthekindofobstructionsthat
skiscan'thandle.
Snowshoeingisslow...whenyouwantittobe.Snowshoesallowyoutotakethetimetoexploreyourwintersurroundings,togoofftrailandspendhalfanhour
trackingafoxifyouwant.
Snowshoeinggoeswithcamping.Youcan'tbeatsnowshoesforwinterbackpacking(nottomentionthefactthatsnowshoesareveryefficientforstampingouta
campsite).
Snowshoeingisgoodexercise.Well,skiingistoo,solet'sjustcallitadrawonthisone!
Snowshoeingisforanyone.Wanderer,walker,crosstrainer,runner,racer,tracker,camper,climber,explorerallofyou,you'llloveit.

Page8

So,areyouawalker,hiker,racer,parentwithactivekids,outdoorsperson,orcrosstrainer?Areyoutryingtoget(orremain)fit,ordoyousimplyenjoybeing
outdoors?Ifso,snowshoeingisforyou.Readonandwe'llshowyouhowtogetwhereyouwanttogoandhaveagreattimegettingthere.
Inthefollowingchaptersyou'llfindacomprehensiveguidetogettingontherightsnowypathandstayingthere.Ifyou'relookingforthoroughinstructionon
snowshoeing,readthechaptersinorder.Ifyoualreadyhavethebasicsdown,usethisbookasareferenceandconsultthechapters,appendix,andindexasneeded.
Ofcourse,wethinkallreaderscangainsomethingfromsharingoursnowshoeingexperiences.Wehopedoingsoinspiresyoualltogooutandhavesome
snowshoeingexperiencesofyourown!
MOONSANDMOTHERS
Ihavealwayslovedtheoutdoors.AlthoughIdon'tconsidermyself
anathlete,Idoliketokeepfit.InsummerIswim,hike,andclimb
mountains.InwinterIcrosscountryski.Ihadheardabout
snowshoeingandwhatagreatwayitistoexperiencethewilderness.
Tenyearsago,Irentedapairoftheoldstyleheavywoodenframes
lacedwithanimalhides.Althoughthesnowwasbeautifulandtheday
sparklingclear,theclumsysnowshoesdestroyedwhatcouldhave
beenaspecialexperience.Notonlydidtheyfeelasiftheywere
fallingoff,theydidfalloff,repeatedly,untilIsimplygaveup.
BythetimeImetSallyandMelissa,Iwasconvincedthat
snowshoeingwasnotforme.However,whentheyinvitedmeona
fullmoonshowshoehike,Idecidedtogivethenewer,hightech
snowshoesatry.ThenightintheCaliforniaSierraswasbeautiful.
Betweencloudsthemooncreatedmagiconthesnow,andIfelttruly
partofnature.Aftera2mile(3.2km)walk,weclusteredarounda
campfireandsharedstories.Toenhancethemood,Ireadsome
quotationsandpoems.
Encouragedbyourmagicmoonlightevening,andatSally's
suggestion,Idecidedtoinvitemymotherforadaytimesnowshoe
walk.

(tablecontinuedonnextpage)

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(tablecontinuedfrompreviouspage)
Motherhasalwaysbeenadventurous.Inheryouthshewasanavid
hiker,climber,andswimmer.Butatage81,shehashadtoslow
down.Althoughshewasinitiallyreluctanttotrysnowshoeing,I
convincedherwhenIasked,"Howmanynewthingsdoyougetto
tryatthispointinyourlife?"
SowewentbacktotheSierras,andIfittedherwithsnowshoesand
skipolesforstability.Thedaywasjustperfect,andthetrailwe
chosewasuncrowded.IwouldhavebeenafraidtotakeMother
crosscountryskiingbecausethereissomuchmoretolearnandthe
dangeroffallingisgreater.Butonsnowshoesshefeltperfectly
stable,andwecouldadjusttoherpace.WhenIaskedherlaterwhat
shelikedabouttheday,shesaid,"Iwasthrilledtobeabletowalk
onthesnowwithoutfallingthrough.Iwasexhilaratedwithmynew
adventure.Ilovedthesilenceandthebeautyofwinter,anditwasso
nicetoexperienceitwithoutfeelingcrowded."
Itwasaspecialexperienceforusboth.Sheisalreadyaskingme
whenwearegoingagain.Thankstothenewgenerationof
snowshoes,asnowywalkinthewoodsisatreatIcanenjoywith
friendsofallages.
MartyMaskall

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2
SnowshoeingEquipment
You'rerighttothinkthefirstthingsyouneedtosnowshoearetheshoes!Butbeforeyourunoutandpluckapairofftheshelf,werecommendthatyoulearnalittlebit
aboutthem.Onceyou'vegotthebasicsdownsnowshoecomponents,differentmodels,andsoonyou'llbeinamuchbetterpositiontochoosetherightpairfor
you.Afterthat,youcanstartthinkingaboutthegear,clothing,andaccessoriesthatwillcompleteyoursnowshoeingpicture.

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WhatKindofSnowshoesDoYouNeed?

Thankstoeverimprovingtechnologyandtherecentprogressionofsnowshoesfrombackcountrytooltosportingtoy,therearenowenoughtypesofsnowshoes
availabletosuitanyone'stastesandneeds.Thevarioussnowshoesyou'llfindonthemarketfallintotwogeneralcategories:traditionalsnowshoesandsport
snowshoes.Whichkindisbestforyoudependsonyourintentionsandhabits.
Theprimaryruleindeterminingthebestsnowshoeforyouistoselectthesmallestandlightestweightsnowshoethatprovidesthenecessaryflotation.Theotherthing
tokeepinmindisthatinvaryingsnowconditions,different

Traditionalsnowshoesarebeautifullycrafted.
CarlHeilmanII

Page13

shoesworkbestfordifferentuses.Thiscouldleadthehighintensityshoertomakemultiplepurchases.
Traditionalsnowshoeshavewoodenframesandarebeautifulpiecesofcraftsmanship.Theirnaturalmaterialshavethecolor,thehistory,andthewarm,humantouch
thatsportsnowshoessacrificefortheirlightweight,hightechnologycomponents.Butbeforeyoucanputawayapairoftraditionalsnowshoesattheendofwinter,
you'llneedtowaterproofthewebbingandthebindings,aprocessthatrequiresremovingtheharnessandapplyingaresinbasedsparvarnish.Eachyearthebindings
alsoneedtobetreatedwithacoatofhighqualitywax.Onlythenmayyoustoretheshoesinaplacethatisdry,cool,andmousefree.
Theadvantagesofsportsnowshoes,madefromaluminum,rubber,andother"hightech"materials,aredurability,easeofuse,andlowupkeep.Sportsnowshoes
requirenomaintenanceandareruggedenoughthatmanycompaniesprovidelifetimewarranties.Attheendofaseason,youcanpitchyoursportsnowshoes
anywhere,andthey'llbereadytogoforthenextseasonwithnolossintheirlifespan.
AnatomyofaSnowshoe

Therearefivepartstomostsnowshoes:theframe,bindingsystem,pivotsystem,cramponsorclaws,anddecking.Whenitistimefortesting,rental,orpurchase,put
oneachpairofsnowshoesandcomparethesepartstodecidewhichpairbestsuitsyou.
Frames
Ingeneral,therearethreedifferentsizesofsnowshoeframes:shortoval,mediumwide,andlongnarrow.Becauseofthecontinuousdeckingmaterialinsport
snowshoes,smallershoesgetmoreflotationthantheirearlier,longercounterparts.Forexample,a10inchby36inch(25cmby91cm)traditionalwebbedshoe
mayhavea200pound(91kg)carryingweightrating.Easily,an8inchby24inch(20cmby61cm)sportsnowshoewillprovideequalifnotbetterflotationinthe
samesnowconditions,andathalftheshoeweight.
Thereareonlytwofundamentalsportsnowshoeframeshapes:asymmetricalandsymmetrical.Thesymmetricalshoedesigncentersthefootinthemiddleoftheshoe.
Theasymmetricaldesignisshapedinacurvesimilartothatofthehumanfoot,whichallowsthebindingtobesettotheinsideandthefeettobebroughtcloser
together.Thisdesignhelpseliminatethecharacteristic"snowshoewaddle."

Page14

PartsofaSnowshoe

Page15

Allsportsnowshoeshaveturneduptoesinfront,asthispreventssnowfromcollapsingontheshoeandmakesiteasiertomoveforward.Forthesamereasons,most
modernsnowshoesareweightedsuchthatthetailisheavierthanthetoe,whichkeepsthetaildownduringmovement.
Traditionalsnowshoescomeintwobasicshapes:elongatedteardroporoval.Theteardropshoestendtobeoftwotypes:thelong,narrow(10inchby56inch,or
25cmby142cm)shoeswith5to6inch(13cmto15cm)upturnedtoes,calledtheAlaskanorYukonortheshorterMaineandMichiganshoes(about12inches
by48inches,or30cmby122cm).Bothmodelsaregoodfortravelinwideopenspacesanddeepsnow.TheOjibwaissimilartotheAlaskanbutismadefromtwo
piecesofwood,resultinginapointedtoethatcutsthroughdeepsnowandislesslikelytoloadupthismakesforamuchfastershoe.
Ovalshoesarecalled"bearpaws"andarewiderandshorterthantheteardropstyles.Standardbearpawsrangefrom12inchesby24inches(30cmby61cm)to15
inchesby33inches(38cmby84cm)andhavea1to2inch(2.5cmto5cm)upturnedtoe.Morepopularforrecreationalusersarethemodifiedbearpawshoes
called"GreenMountainbearpaws,"whichare10inchesby36inches(25cmby91cm)andhaveabouta4inch(10cm)upturntothetoe.GreenMountain
bearpawsnowshoesmaneuverwellinthickbrushanddenselyforestedareasandaregreatforusearoundcamp.
BindingSystems
Traditionalsnowshoesareheldonyourfootbyrawhideharnessescalledeither"A"or"H"bindings,dependingontheirshape.Sportsnowshoeshavereplacedthe
rawhideharnesswithbindingsadaptedfromthoseusedincyclingorskiing.Themostadvancedsportbindingsworkincoordinationwiththepivotsystem.Whether
youarebuyingtraditionalorsportsnowshoes,lookforbindingsthatprovideasolidlandingplatformandasecureconnectionbetweenyou(yourshoe)andthe
snowshoe.
Ourcriteriaforbindingsareeaseofuse,littlelateralorfore/aftmotion,nopressureacrossthefoot,universalfit(onesizefitsall),useofbucklesorquickrelease
systems(nolacing),andproperheelpositioning(nocontactwiththeframe).Ifyoulookforthesequalities,youwon'tgowrong.
PivotSystems
Thepivotsystemisahighstresspointinasnowshoeandneedstowithstandconsiderableweightandrotationalforcessimultaneously.Pivotsystemsusingthick
rubberstrapsallowforlimitedrotationasthefootflexes.

Page16

SportSnowshoeModels

BackCountryModels
Theseonesizefitsallmodelsaretherealworkhorsesofsnowshoes.They'llgetyouthroughdeepsnow,butnotveryquickly.Allareatleast8incheswideby30
incheslong(20cmby76cm),andmayweigh2to3pounds(11.4kg)pershoe.Youcanusuallyfindapairforabout$200to$250.*
WalkingandRecreationalModels
Theseallpurposesnowshoescombinegoodflotationwithlighterweightandbettermaneuverability.Widthsaregenerallynomorethan10inches(25cm)andlengths
shouldbeunder32inches(81cm).Walkingmodelsweighless,tooaround2pounds(1kg)each.Thecostisalsoalittlelessaround$160to$200perpair.

Page17

CrossTrainingModels
Withcrosstrainersyoubegintomoveintotherealsportmodelsofsnowshoes.Thedimensionsshouldbesmall(under9inches[23cm]inwidthand26inches[66
cm]inlength),andtheweightcouldbeaslowas1pound(.5kg)pershoe.You'llpayalittlemoreforcrosstrainersabout$200to$210apair.
RacingModels
Thesearethetrueelitesofsportsnowshoes.Racingmodelsareverysmall(8inches[20cm]orlessinwidth,andlessthan25inches[64cm]inlength)andverylight
(generally1pound[.5kg]orlesspershoe).Racingsnowshoebindingsareoftensizedtofit,andsomeallowfordirectmountingofyourathleticshoestotheframe.
Fordirectmountmodels,expecttopayaround$160to$180forstandardbindingmodels,around$210to$250perpair.

*PricesareinU.S.dollars.

Page18

Snowshoeswiththis''stationarypivotsystem"(SPS)areidealforhardpackedtrailsbecausetheyprovideareboundeffectanddon'tallowthesnowshoetodrop
awayfromthefootasthefootpushesofffromthesnow.Ontheotherhand,rotationalpivotsystems(RPS)allowforthetailofthesnowshoetodropawayfromyour
heelandthefrontoftheshoetorise,whichkeepssnowfrombuildinguponthetoe.ThereisalsoamodifiedRPS,whichusesareturnsystem,therebyprovidingthe
bestfeaturesofSPSandRPS.
CramponsandClaws
Sportsnowshoescomeequippedwitheithercramponsorclaws,dependingupontheirintendeduse.Thesearethepartsofthesnowshoethatprovidetractionandare
particularlynecessaryinconditionswhereiceorsteepterrainarecommon.Cramponsareusuallymadefromheattreatedaluminumortemperedcarbonsteelandare
generallyattachedtothepivotrod.Mostcramponshavethreetofive"points"inthefrontthatareahalfinchto1inch(1.32.5cm)inlength.Lateralpointsarealso
common,addingmuchneededtractionandstabilitywhentraversing.Rearpointsforadditionaltractionalsohelpinicyconditions.
Aclawislikeacramponbutlessspikyitsserratedteetharehalfthelengthofaveragecrampons.Clawsareusedonracingsnowshoesorinconditionswithlittleice
orfewsteepsurfaces.Serratedorsmoothangleclawsarenotadequatefortheicecrustthatformsabovethetreelineincloudy,subfreezingweather,however.
Therearedrawbackstotheuseofclawsandcrampons.Itispossible(althoughdifficult)tofallontothecrampons,whichcancauseinjury.Also,wetsnowtendsto
packintocramponsbecauseoftheirconfiguration,whichcanbedangerousbecausetractionislostwhenballspackbetweenthepoints.Finally,ifyouenjoy
snowsliding,aclawseriouslyimpairsyourabilitytoglissadedownaslope.
Decking
Thedeckingisattachedtothesnowshoeframeandprovidesthemajorityoftheshoe'sflotation.MostsportsnowshoedecksaremadeofHypalon,arubberized
syntheticmaterial.Deckscomeinvariousweightsandareattachedwithaluminumrivets.Intraditionalsnowshoes,thedeckingisattachedwitheithersyntheticor
rawhidelacing.Severalcompaniesalso

Page19

makeplasticdeckings,whichhaveaslicksurfaceandarecorrespondinglyslickonthesnow.
Mostdeckingincludesareturnsystem,whichlimitstheshoe'srangeofmotionwhenpivoting.Withoutareturn,thetoeoftheshoecanswingupwardandnickyour
shins.Also,whenyouarejumping,thereturnsystempreventsthetailfromlandingperpendiculartothegroundandthusplacestheshoeinthebestandsafestposition
toabsorbyourweight.
DecidingWhattoBuy

Wecan'temphasizeenoughthatshoeweightandsizearecriticalinsnowshoeing.Itisestimatedthat1extrapound(.5kg)onthefootequals5to10pounds(2.34.5
kg)ofweightonyourback.Also,narrowerisalwaysbetterthanwider,becausewidthintheframetendstomakemovementmoredifficultandawkward.Italso
slowsyoudowntohavewidershoesbecauseyourlegsextendoutwardfromthehipsocketsratherthanmovingdirectlyunderneathyou.
Thinkofwhattypeofsnowshoeingyou'llbedoingandwhereyouwillbedoingitbeforedecidingonthesnowshoemodelandspecifications.Thereisnoonebest
sportortraditionalsnowshoeforeveryoneforeveryday.Ifyouarearacerorcrosstrainerinanareawithwellpackedsnow,youcanlookforasmallsport
snowshoe.Ifyouareawalkerorrecreationalist,consideraslightlywiderandlongersnowshoe.Ifyouareabackcountryenthusiastorawintercamper,you'll
probablyrunintoafairamountofunpackedpowderinthatcase,lookforalargesnowshoewithenhancedflotationandgoodtraction.
Whenyoubuy,dokeepinmindthekeydifferencebetweensportandtraditionalsnowshoes:Becausethedeckingontraditionalsnowshoesisnotcontinuous,their
flotationisnotasgreat,sothemassofthewearerandtheconditionsthatprevailwhereyouwillbesnowshoeingwillbemoreimportant.Traditionalsnowshoersneed
tocheckasize/weightchartforspecificsonsnowshoedimensionsappropriatefortheirfullyladenweightmostsnowshoeretailerskeepthesesize/weightcharts
aroundforyoutouse.Ontheotherhand(or,inthiscase,theotherfoot),ifyouareusingsportsnowshoes,becauseoftheirsoliddeckingandresultinghighflotation,
whatyoudowiththeshoesmattersmorethanhowmuchyouweigh.Thus,sportsnowshoersfollow"use"chartslikethefollowingtodecidewhichmodeltoselect.

Page20
SportSnowshoeUseChart

Widthofsnowshoe*

Use

Upto8
inches(20
cm)

8to10
inches(20 10+inches
25cm)
(25+cm)

Walking/touring

Backcountryhikingorcamping

Crosstraining

Racing

Withsnowboarding

Iceclimbing

Withsnowmobiling

Mountaineering

*Ifthesnowinyourareaisparticularlydryandpowdery,considerchoosing
thenextlargersizesnowshoe,asdriersnowrequiresgreaterflotation.

SNOWSHOEMYTHS
Whenyougoouttobuyorrentyourfirstsnowshoes,keepinmind
thatthereareafewlongheldmythsthatawellmeaningoutfitter
mighttrytopassalong.Thetruthis,snowshoesareevolvingso
rapidlythatitisdifficultforretailerstokeepupwithallthenew
features,especiallyforsportsnowshoes.So,whileitisdefinitelya
goodideatoconsultthesalespersonforhelpwhenyoubuy,keepin
mindthatsometimesyou,thecustomer,mightreallyknowbest.
Myth1:IfIambig,Ineedabigsnowshoe.
Bodysizeisnotthemostimportantfactorindetermininghowlarge
sportsnowshoesneedtobe.Rather,thekeyfactoristheamountof
moistureinthesnow.Inverydry,powderysnow,everybody
sinksnomatterhowlargeorsmalltheyortheirsnowshoesare.
Andinmoist,heavilycompactedsnow,asmallracingsnowshoewill
doforeventhebiggestsnowshoers.Fora150pound(68kg)
person,thedifferenceinsinkagebetweena24inch(61cm)anda
32inch(81cm)sportsnowshoeisonly3inches(7.6cm)in
normallyhydratedsnowconditions.

(tablecontinuedonnextpage)

Page22

Thetypicaloutingrequireslittlespecializedgear.
JohnKelly

Fortrainingandracing,simplydressasifyouweregoingtocrosscountryskiorruninwinterconditions.The"25degreerule"applieshere:Taketheambient
temperature,add25degreesFahrenheit(about15C),anddressasifyouweregoingtobeexposedtothattemperature.That'stheeffectofthewarmthyouwillfeel
fromtheheatyouaregenerating.Alwaysbringalongclothesforcolderconditions,though,becauseweathercanchangerapidlyandyou'llneedtobeprepared.Also,
whenyoustop,the25degreerulegoesoutofeffect,andyouwillfeelnotonlytheambienttemperaturebutalsotheeffectsofthemoistureonyourskinevaporating.

Page23

Footwear
Thisiswhereitallbegins:Ifyourfeetarewarmandcomfortable,you'llbehappyifyourfeetaremiserable,you'llbemiserable.Thatsaid,ifyouarejuststartingout,
wesuggestthatyouwearwhateverfootwearyoualreadyhaveforyourinitiationintosnowshoeing.Forexample,snowmobilebootswillwork,buttheyarerather
heavyandclumsyforlongtermuse.Crosscountryskibootswillalsoworktemporarilybutdon'tprovidemuchinthewayoffootsupport.
Ifyoudecideyoulikesnowshoeingenoughtodoitregularly,youwillwanttopurchasefootwearthatallowsyouthemostcomfortanddexterity.Theruleforfootwear
isthesameasfortherestofyourequipmentandsnowshoes:thelighter,thebetter.Heavyleatherordoubleplasticbootsaregreatforclimbingoverexposedrocks,
butinareaswheretherocksarecoveredandthereisnoneedforicecrampons,youpaythepriceinencumbrance.TheGI/Koreaboot(alsocalledtheMickey
Mouse,mouse,orbunnyboot),heavymountaineeringboots,andcommercialleatherinsulatedbootsallworkwellfortheultimateincoldweatherprotection.
However,whenchoosingaboot,makesurethatyougetapairthatisnotsorigidthatyouranklecan'tflex.Also,avoidbootswithhardorsharpheelsbecausethey
willabradeandwearthroughyourdeckingquickly.
Yourfirstchoiceforsportsnowshoeingcanbeassimpleaslightweightathleticshoesorhikingboots.However,youmustwearbootiesorapairofgaitersoverthese
tokeepyourfeetwarm.Ifyouareawintercamperandonflatterrain,softbootsareprobablybest.
Traditionmayplayasmuchofaroleasperformanceinyourfootweardecision.Incold,drysnow,thefootgearfortraditionalsnowshoersisIndianstylemoccasins,
adaptedwithfeltlinersandwornwithextrasocks.WhenAlaskanativeBenjaminAllenbeatShawnLyonsinthe1993Iditashoerace,heworehismukluks,ahigh
risingNativeAmericanmoccasin,theentiredistance.Maybethereissomethingtosayforcustomfootwearsansmidsoles,archsupports,andnylonuppers,ifthat's
whatyou'reusedto.
Booties
Asyouknow,it'sreallyannoyingtogetyourfeetwetandcold.Thesimplesolution,especiallywhenyouarewearingathleticfootwear(crosstrainers,walkingshoes,
racingflats,etc.),istoslideintoaneoprenebootie.Bootiesareessentialifyouwanttocoverthegapbetweenyourpantsandthetopofyourfootwear.Withacenter
bandthatattachesunderneath,abootiecoversyourentireshoe,leavingexposedonlytherearandfrontof

Page24

thesole.BootiescomeinseveralsizesandtypicallyhavearearentrysystemandaVelcroclosurealongthetoptopreventsnowfromentering.

Bootiesandgaitershelpkeepyourfeetwarmanddry
FStock/ChrisHuskinson

Gaiters
Theylooklikespats,coveringtheankle,instep,andlowerleg,buttheyaremadeofwaterrepellentfabrics.Thedrawback:Theyleavethetopofyourbootsorshoes
exposed.Ifyouaresnowshoeinginheavyhikingboots,gaitersworkgreat,sousethem.Gaiterscomeintwolengths:long,whichreachesjustbelowtheknee,and
short,whichcoversabout2inches(5cm)abovethetopoftheboot.Supergaitersareheavynylonoverbootsthat

Page25

extenduptotheknees.Theyareinsulatedandareamustforextremelycoldtemperatures.astheydoublethewarmthofasingleboot.Theyusuallyhaveafront
zippertoprovideyouaccesstoyourbootsorshoes.
TopsandBottoms
Highfashionskigearmaylookfantastic,butitgenerallydoesn'tworkforsnowshoeing.Wearingtightfittingnylonjacketsandelasticizedpantsmaynotkeepyou
warmanddryorallowfree,comfortablemovement.Whatworksbest?Modernrunningapparelisagoodbet,asisanythingelsethatprovideslayerability,
breathability,andmovability.Ifyoucan'truninit,don'ttrytosnowshoeinit.
Eachlayeryouwearincreasestheamountof"deadair"thatsurroundsandinsulatesyourbody.Thus,themorelayers,themorewarmth.Butyoulayernotonlyfor
warmthbutforcoolnessaswell.Asyoumove,yourbodystartstoheatup,andifyoucan'tadjustyourappareltocooloff,you'llbegintosweatandriskdehydration
(orevenhypothermiafromyourdampenedclothes).
Foryourinnermost(underwear)layer,wearfabricsthatwickmoistureawayfromyourskin.Overthat,wearathermallayertokeepyouwarm.Finally,yourouter
layershouldbebothwindandwaterrepellent.Themorelayersyouwear,themoreoptionsyouhaveforcontrollingyourbody'stemperature.
Forbreathability,youwantwhatarecalled"pull/push"or"hydrophilic/hydrophobic"garmentsmadeofsyntheticsandblendsthatarewidelyavailableatsporting
goodsstores.Withinthesamepieceofclothing,thehydrophilicfabric"loves"perspirationanddrawsyoursweatawayfromyou,throughthefabric,tothe
hydrophobiclayer,which"fears"moistureandreleasesittotheoutside.Thesepropertiesareprimaryrequisitesforyourfirst(underwear)layer.Avoidcottonitdries
slowlyandoncewetwon'tkeepyouwarm.
So,youwillneedthreetops,eachcorrespondingtooneoftheaforementionedlayers.Thereshouldbeaventilationlayernexttoyourskin,usuallymadeofapull/push
fabricamiddle,thermallayerofamaterialwithloft,likepolarfleeceordownandawaterandwindprooflayerontheoutside.
Forbottoms,followthesameguidelinesasfortops,withanaddedemphasisonrangeofmotion,asitisyourlegsthatdomostofthemoving.Chooseanouterlayer
pantwithaleglengthzippersoitcanbeeasilyremovedoradjustedtocompensateforbodytemperaturechanges.Infit,yourbottomsshouldn'tbetoobaggy,butitis
morevitalthattheynotbetootight.Tightpantsrestrictmovementandpreventinsulatinglayersofairfromformingbetweenyourskinandyourclothes.

Page26

Accessories
Youdon'tneedalotofextraaccountrementsforanenjoyablesnowshoeingexperience,buttherightaccessoriescanhelpmakeagoodthingevenbetter.
Headgear
Consideredthemostrepresentativepieceofwinterapparel,hatsareinexpensive,colorful,andanecessity.Why?Ifyouhaven'theardalready,takenotenow:More
heatisreleasedfromyourheadthanfromanyotherbodypart.Lookatanyskier'sorsnowshoer'shatandyou'llseethatitiscoveredbythehoarfrostthatformsasa
resultoftheheatandmoisturethatescapefromthescalp.Hatsarealsoagoodwaytoreleaseheatremoveyourhatandfeelyourbodycool.Thebestmaterial:
hydrophilic/hydrophobic.Thebestcolor(s):bright,forsafetyreasons.Foraddedwarmthtryearbands.
Thetraditionalheadgearforsnowshoersistheknittedtuque(pronouncedtook),withitstrademarktasselaffixedtothetop.Onsunnydays,tryacapwithavisorto
shadeyoureyesfromthesnow'sreflectedlight.Thebalaclava,alsoknownasafacemaskormonk'shood,isanecessityinextremecold.

Therightclothingandaccessoriescanincreaseyourenjoyment.
R.Bossi

Page27

Gloves
Onmostdays,alightweightglovemadefromapull/pushfabric(orevencotton)isallyou'llneed.Onchillierdays,rememberthatmittensarewarmerthangloves.The
warmestofallisacombinationofthreehandcoverings:athininnerglovetokeepyourfingerswarmwhenyouneedthemfreefordexterousmanipulation,aninsulated
gloveormittenforthemiddlelayer,andawaterandwindproofoutershell.
Sunglasses
Sunglassesareamusttoprotectyoufromexposuretodamagingultravioletraysandglare.Whatlenscolorisbestwilldependonatmosphericconditions:Choose
grayorgreenforbrightdaysandamber/yellowforovercastdays,asthisshadewillenableyoutoseedipsinthesnow.Ingeneral,avoidpink/redorblueshades.
Photochromiclensesthosethatlighteninsubduedlightanddarkeninbrightsunworkverywellwithsnow.Forthebrightestdays,choosealenswithmaximum
absorption(85%to90%).Coatedlenses,mirroredontheoutside,aregreat.Selectonewithvaried"gradientdensities,"whichmeansthatthetopandbottomthirds
ofthelenswillbemoreheavilycoatedthanthecenter.
You'llfindthatglarecanpenetratefromtheedgeofsunglasses,sodon'thesitatetogetaccessoriestocoverthesides.Inwindyandcoldconditions,goggleswork
betterthanglasses.
SAFETYTIP
Allglassesandgogglesfog.Don'tliveindenialbringalongasmallpieceofclothwithantifogger,andyou'llbeprepared.

TheWellEquippedSnowshoer

Althoughthereisalonglistofrecommendedequipmentforanovernightorevena1daysnowshoeouting(seethechecklistattheendofthischapter),thefollowing
arecommonkeypiecesofsnowshoeinggear.
Snowpoles
Mostcrosscountryandtrailsnowshoersusepolesformaneuverabilityandbalance.Someuseonlyonepole,asbalanceismuchbetteronsnowshoes

Page28

thanonskis.So,whyuseasnowpoleatall?Theycomeinveryhandywhenyouaremovingforward,backward,orturning.Theyalsoprovideleverageforgettingup
afterfalling,brakingwhendownhilling,andsupportforcrossingfences,trees,orotherobstacles.Snowpolescomeinmanyshapesandsizes,sobeawareofthe
followingvariables:
Shaftlengthandcompactibility.Totestforcorrectshaftlengthmakesureyourelbowsareat90degreeangleswhenyourhandsareholdingthegrip.Somepoles
canadjustinlengthandoftencomeintwoorthreeparts.Themoreparts,theeasierthepolewillbetocollapseandcarryinyourpackwhenconditionspermit
polelesssnowshoeing.
Weight.Therearemanyverylightweightpolesmadewithenhancedmaterialsoutthere.Keepinmindthattherewillbeacostofworkloadversuscostindollars
tradeoff.
Basketsize.Selectapolewithalargebasket,asmuchas6inches(15cm)indiameter.Inicyorroughconditions,somesnowshoerspreferalonghandlediceax,
withabasketattachedtothepointendasawalkingaid.

Snowpoleshelpyoubalanceandmaneuver.

Page29

FoodandDrink
Whatyoueatwhilesnowshoeingcanbekeytoyoursuccessandenjoyment,sobringalongthefoodsthatyoumostenjoy.Planinadvanceandplaceyourfoodsin
freezerbagswithnotestellingyouwhattheyareandwhatmealtheyarefor.Alwaystakemorethanyouthinkyouwilleat.The''moreisbetter"ruledefinitelyapplies
whenyouareoutinthewintercold,milesfromcivilization.
Note,too,thatproperhydrationwillgetyouextramiles.Avoidcoffee,asitisadiuretic,andyou'llloseasmuchfluidasyougainfromdrinkingit.Instead,putsome
hotwaterinathermalcontainerorinsulatedwaterbottlesothatyoucanenjoyhotchocolateoranotherhotdrinkforlunch.Sportdrinkscanreplenishlostminerals,
buttrytheminadvancetomakesureyoulikethem.Finally,drinkaccordingtotime,suchasevery30minutes,notthirstincoldweatheryoursenseofthirstcanbe
dangerouslydistorted.
SAFETYTIP
Dehydrationisverycommonamongbeginnersinanysportingactivity.Remembertobringalonghydratingliquids,anddrink!

WheretoFindItAll

Rentingisagoodwaytotryoutaparticularbrandorstyleofsnowshoeswithaverylowinvestment.Snowshoesareavailableasrentalsfromoutdoorretailshopsand
frommanufacturers(usuallyatsponsoredeventssuchasraces).
Ofcourse,outdoorretailshopsaregreatforallkindsofsnowshoeingrelatedpurchasesshoes,gear,clothing,andsoonandyoucanusuallyfindmanystoresright
atornearyourlocalsnowshoeingorskiingareas.
Don'tforgetmailorderasanoptionforpurchasingsnowshoes.Buyingdirectfromthemanufacturercangiveyoutheaddedbonusofbeingabletovoiceyour
questionsandconcernstothepeoplewhowillknowthemostabouttheproducts.Youcanfindalistofsnowshoemanufacturersandcontactinformationinthe
appendix.
Onceyouhaveyoursnowshoesandgear,findingclothesistheeasypart.Mailordercatalogsandsportinggoodsstoresofferwiderangesofapparelsuitableforthe
walker,runner,hiker,orcamperfromLycratodowntoflannel,youcaneasilyfindwhatyouwantbyasking.

Page30

EQUIPMENTCHECKLIST
Althoughyoushouldn'tconsiderthislistofimportantitems
completebecausetherearealwaysmoreitemstotryuseitasa
startingpointtohelpyouthinkthroughtheclothes,gear,tools,
equipment,food,anddrinkthatyoumayneed.Whetheryou're
planninga2houroutingora5daytrip,youneedtothinkahead
aboutallofyourgear.
Clothing
InnerLayer
__Tights
__Longsleeveshirt
__Innersocks
__Earband
__Neckgaiter/scarf
__Thingloves
__BalaclavaMiddleLayer
__Longsleeve,polarfleeceshirt
__Polarfleecepants
__Sweater
__Outersock
__Down/syntheticvestorjacket
__Insulatedgloves
OuterLayer
__Jacketoranorak
__Overpants
__Overglovesorovermittens
__Bootiesorgaiters/coveralls
__Hat
__Sunglasses
Equipment
__Snowshoes
__Snowpoles
__Iceax
__Waterproofsunscreen
__Maps
__Compass
__Handandpocketwarmers
__Backpackorfannypack
__Waterproofmatches
__Plasticpolicewhistle
__Flagging(tomarkyourtrail)
__Cash(incaseofemergency)
__Pencil
__Candle
__Flashlightand/orheadlamp
__Extrabatteries
__Flares
__Firstaidkit

(tablecontinuedonnextpage)

Page31

Tools
__Leathermanwithleatherpunch
__Ducttape(torepairsnowshoes)lb__Ropeornyloncord
__Sewingkit
__Spareparts
FoodandDrink
__Minimumonequart(about1L)water(inthermalcontainer)
__Drysoup,oatmeal,fruit,chocolate,nuts,energybars

Page33

3
SnowshoeingCorrectly
Oneofthefinestaspectsofsnowshoeingisitssimplicity.Thebasicsofsnowshoeingarewithoutadoubttheeasiestofanyactivityyouwilleverlearn,otherthan
walkingandrunning.Youcaneasilyteachyourselfwithouttheneedofavideooratrainer.Anyoneatalmostanyagewithlittleornosportsbackgroundcan
snowshoetheirfirstdayandbealmostasgoodasthebest.
Perhapsbecauseofthissimplicitysnowshoeingdoesn'talwaysgettherespectitdeserves.Forexample,lastyearSallytooka3daywintersurvivalcourse.Eachof
thestudentsarrivedwiththerequiredgearlist,whichincludedaheavilyloadedbackpack,mountaineerskis,andboots.Sallyalsotookhersnowshoes.

Page34

ThegoalwastopeakCalifornia'sMountLassen.At10,457feet(3,187m),Lassenisaneasymountaininthesummerbutnotsosimpleinthewinter.Everyoneelse
skied,butSallyworehershowshoeswhileshepulledhersled.Startingatabout4,000feet(1,219m),thegroupstepclimbedandkicksteppedtheirwayupthe
mountainforabout4hours.
Thenextdaythegroupstayedputhalfwayupthemountainandlearnedaboutwinterfirstaid,avalanches,snowcrystals,anddiggingsnowcaves.Onthethirddaythe
groupwokeearlytohighwindsanddarkeningskies,buttheygearedupandstartedthesummitattempt.
Skiershadtheirworkcutoutforthem,slidingheavyskisupthemountainside.InSally'scase,however,itwasmerelyamatterofkeepingherbalancewhileliftinga
20ounce(567g)snowshoewitheachstep.And,whilethemountaincramponsonthesnowshoesweremorethansufficientfortheclimb,theskierswereforcedto
eventuallydroptheirskisanddonicecrampons.

Snowshoesmakewintertime"gettingawayfromitall"easier.
FStock/DavidEpperson

Page35

Aftertheexhaustingclimb,thegroupstayedatthesummitonlyaslongasittooktofeelthesatisfactionthattheyhadmadeitamatterofminutes.
HeadingdownLassen,theskiersmadelong,gracefulturnsandSallycouldenjoythegravitationfreefeelingofdownhillsnowshoeing.Onceyouhavetriedit,youtoo
willknowthattherealthrillofsnowshoeingisthedownhill.Takeastepand,witheasygrace,youcanfloatforseveralyardsormetersiftheconditionsareright,and
thepowderwillcomeuptoyourkneesorwaistandslideonbyyou.
Returningtothecampsite,thepartypickeduptheirgearandheadeddownthemountain.Theskiersweresofatiguedbythistimethattheykeptfallingandhadtotake
theirpacksoffbeforetheycouldevenstandupagain.
Finally,onemancouldn'tgoon.Sallytookhispackandputitonhersled.Hetookoffhisskisandslowlywalkedthoselastmiles.Hehadcometoappreciatethe
usesofsnowshoes,andmaybenexttimehe'lltryapairhimself.
NO,NO,NO
Ifyoucanrememberonlythesethreeadmonishments,you'llbewell
onyourwaytomasteringsnowshoeingtechnique.
Nevercrosstails.Ifyoustepontherearorstationaryshoewiththe
forwardmovingshoe,youwillalmostalwaysfallfacefirstina
nosedive.
Neverbackup.Snowshoesdon'tknowreverse.Ifyoustep
backward,you'lldrivethetailintothesnowandplacethesnowshoe
perpendicularinsteadofparalleltothesoleofyourshoe,whichwill
generallycauseafall.Insteadofbackingup,takesmallstepsto
makeaUturn.
Avoidtraversing.Snowshoesreallyaren'tdesignedtogripwith
theirsides.Avoidcuttingacrossslopes,whichrequiresdiggingin
withtheedgeofthesnowshoeratherthanthesoleordecking,if
possible.

SteppingOut

Whenstartingout,werecommendthatyoufirstsnowshoeonlevelground.Thehorizontalbasicsarequicklymastered,andonceyouhavethemdownyoucanquickly
"govertical."

Page36

Striding
Withsymmetricalsnowshoes,asyourbackfootswingsforward,youneedtoadjustyourstridetoallowforthewidthoftheshoetoclear,swingingeachfootoutand
aroundinasemicirculararctocleartheankle.Ifyoudon'tmindaccentuatingthesnowshoer'swaddle,justkeepyourfeetapartandyouwon'tneedtoswingthem
aroundasmuch.Ifyouareusingasymmetricalsnowshoes,youcanwalknaturallywithnooutswingandnowaddle.
Stamping
Stampingproduceschangesinsnowstructuresuchthatwitheachsucceedingsteponthesamefootprint,thesnowhardensandafirmerbaseforms.Whenyoustamp
yourfeet,youshouldsteplightly,pause,thenplaceyourweight.Ifyoutrybothtostampandplaceallofyourweightontheshoesimultaneously,youwillsinkdeeper
thanifyouhadnottriedtostampatall.Asyoumoveforward,you'llfindthataveryslightpauseattheendofeachstepallowsthesnowtoconsolidateevenmorefor
thetrailingshoers.
Turning
Called"kick"or"step"turns,thisturningtechniqueallowsyoutoreverseyourdirectionasyouwouldifyouwereskiing.Plantyourpolealongside

Whenturningwithyourpolenexttothebindingofyourforwardshoe,
swingthebackshoearound180degrees.

Page37

thebindingofyourforwardsnowshoe,shiftyourweightontotheforwardsnowshoeandpoleandturn180degrees.Swingthebackshoearoundtopointinthenew
direction,andstampitintothesnow.Makesureyoudon'tcrosstailsorsteponthebackofthefrontsnowshoewiththerearone.Planyourpathinadvance,choosing
theeasiestroutesandthegentlestplacesontheslopetonavigateyourturns.
BreakingTrail
Whenbreakingtrail,keepyourstridelengthsshortandstartstepswiththetailoftheshoetopreventthetoefromcollectingsnow.Sincetrailbreakersexertnearly
50%moreenergythanthosefollowingintheirfootprints,theleadshouldberotated.Usuallythetrailbreakerleadsfor2to5minutesandthenstepsasidetofallinto
therear.Takingturnsbreakingtrailallowstheentirepartytomovefasteroverthetrail.
Themostdifficulttrailbreakingcanbefoundinrelativelyflatcountryside,wherethesnowmightbe6to10feet(1.83m)deepand,withconsistentlycold
temperatures,softandpowdery.Breakingtrailhere,evenwiththelongestandwidestsnowshoes,meanspostholing,orsinkingintothesnow.

Rotatetheleadfrequentlytogivethetrailbreakerachancetorest.

Page38

Bushwhacking
Bushwhackingisusedtosnowshoethroughpatchesofbrush.Becausethebrushextendsabovethesnow,youneedtostopsoastosweepthethicketunderyour
shoe.Sometimesitrequiresthatyouuseyourarmsandshoulderstopullyourselfthroughthebush.Bewaryofsteppingamongthetopsofshort,partiallyburied,
evergreentrees.Powdersnowwillfalloverthemandnotaccumulateunderthebranches,leavinghollows.Haplessvictimswhosinkintothesehollowsmusttrytoget
freewithsnowontopofthemandtheirshoesbelow,trappedintreelimbs.
EARTHWATCH
Stepoveroraroundsmallshrubsandtreesthatpokethroughthesnow.Steppingonthemwithyoursnowshoescankillplantsalreadyweakenedbywinterweather.

UsingPoles
Placethepolestoyourside,notinfront,anddon'tusethemtopushofflikeacrosscountryskierdoes.Instead,useyourpolestogiveyouabetter

Polescanhelpyougetbackonyourfeetafterafall.

Page39

cardiovascularworkoutandtostrengthenyourarmsastheygiveyourlegssomeassistance.Telescopingorvariablelengthsnowpolesworkbest.Onhills,youcan
shortenthepoleonyouruphillsideandlengthentheoneonyourdownhillside.
Whenyoufall,useyourpolestohelpyougetbackonyourfeet.Ifthereissomuchpowderthatyoucan'tgetyourfooting,layyourpoleouthorizontallyontopofthe
snow,grabitaroundthemidpoint,anduseittopushoff.Ifthisdoesn'twork,simplyloosenyourbindingsandpullyourselffreefromtheshoes.
SteppingUp

Ingeneral,it'sbettertogouphillonthefalllinethantotraversebecausesnowshoesdon'ttraversewell.(Thefalllineisthelineaballwouldtakeasitrollsdowna
slope.)Toavoidslippingbackward,takeshortsteps,keepyourheadup,andplaceyourweightontheballsofyourfeetfortraction.Checkoutthecramponsthat
comeonmostsportsnowshoesandmakesurethattheyhavelateralpointsorteethinfrontofthepivotrod.Ifthepointsarebehind,youwon'tgetasmuchtraction.
Therearemanytechniquesformakingascentslearnthemnowandapplythemwhenappropriate.
RestStepping
Reststeppingletsyoumaintainanaerobicworkloadwhileallowingyourlegmusclestorecover.First,plantorstampfirmlywithoneshoetocondensethesnow.
Thentransferyourweightontothatlegandlockthekneeinplace.Thisputstheweightonyourbonesandjointsandallowstheworkingmusclestorest.
Switchbacking
Inopenforestswithwidelyspacedtrees,snowshoerscanclimbaslopebybreakingatrailat45degreeanglestothefallline.Onlydoshortswitchbacksforsteep
andnarrowslopesanduselongzigzagsonwiderexpansesbestofall,gostraightuphill.Butrememberthatneithersportnortraditionalsnowshoesperformwell
duringlateralsteppingortraversingbecauseoftheirlackoflateraltraction.
Scrambling
Thisisthefreeforallascendingstylecommoninareaswherethetreesaresoclosetogetherthatthebestsolutionisoftenjusttoscrambleoverthecrust

Page40

bytheshortestroutepossible.Whenscrambling,useatechniquecalled''walkingonyourtoes,"inwhichyoustampwiththefrontofthefoottodiginthecramponand
forcethelateralpointsintothesnow.

Whenscrambling,keepyourbodylowand
useyourarmstopowerupthehill.

SideKicking
Sidekickingisn'trecommended,sincesnowshoesaren'tdesignedtogripwiththeirsideshowever,sometimesitisnecessarytomoveacrossasloperatherthan
straightupordownit.Alsoknownas"traversing,"thistechniqueisusedformakingdiagonalstepsacrossthefaceofaslope,therebydecreasingitssteepness.To
maintaintractionwhensidekicking,theuphilllegmustbeplantedfirmly,withastampingaction,diggingintheforefootandmovingtheheeltotheuphilledge.Tryto
placeasmuchweightontheuphilledgeofthesnowshoeaspossible,asthiscutsthesnowandforcestheuphilledgeintotheslope.Atthesametime,you'llwantto
plantthecrampon

Page41

intothehillside.Thedownhilllegwillstampaswell,butitisextendedandwon'ttakethestressthattheuphilllegcan.Keepyourpoleplantedontheuphillsidefor
balance.Ifyoucan'tmaintainaholdonthehillside,resorttokicksteppingandgoingstraightupordown.

Whensidekicking,besuretodigtheoutsideedge
oftheuphillshoeintothesnow,thenplaceyourweight
onyouruphillshoeandpole.Finally,bringyourdownhill
footupanddigitsinsideedgeandcleatinto
thesnowwhileusingthepolesforbalance.

KickStepping
Whenyoukickstep(or"toein"),youtakethefrontoftheshoeandkickitstraightintothesideoftheslopeabout6to10inches(1525cm).Sometimesyoumust
makeseveralkickstodigdeepenoughtoplantthe

Page42

clawandshoesotheywillholdweight.Ifthesnowisunconsolidated,thestepscanbeveryfragile,andoftenthetrailbreakerwillhavelessdifficultythanthe
followers,asthestepsthatwerecutbreakout.Thelineofstepsmayalsobecomeaneverdeepeningtrench,requiringmoreworkforthoseintheback.Wherethere
isnotmuchbaseunderthesnow,itmaybebettertogowithoutyoursnowshoesanddoabarebootkickstep.

Tokickstepcorrectly,kickthetoeoftheshoe6to10inches
(1525cm)intothesideoftheslope.

SideStepping
Withthistechniqueyouedgethesnowshoeinwhilefacing90degreestothefallline.Commonforskiers,sidesteppingrequiresstamping,planting,transferringweight
totheuppershoe,andthenbringingthetrailingshoeuptoaparallelposition.Kicksteppingispreferredbymostshoersoversidestepping.

Ifyouascendbysidestepping,faceacrossthefallline,stampyouruphill
shoeintothesnow,andbringyourdownhillfootuptomeetit

Page43

HerringboneStepping
Usethistechniquetoclimbmoderateslopes.Witheachstepland"toeout"sothatyourshoeformsananglewiththepitchoftheslope.Keepyourkneeswellbent
andstraddlethefalllinewithyourshoesinareversesnowplowposition.Thisstanceisnotcomfortableforlong,butitwillprovidetractionwhenyouarestartingto
backslide.

Whenherringbonestepping,keepyourkneesbentandyour
shoesinareversesnowplowpositiontogiveyouenough
tractiontopreventbacksliding.

Downhilling
Downhillsaretheultimatetestofthequalityofthesnowshoebindingbecauseallofyourweightisdrivenforwardintothetoepiece.Ifthebindingisanopentoepiece
andthetoestrapisn'ttightenough,thetoewillslideunderthecrosspieceandyou'llfallfacefirst.
Planyourdescentinadvancebasedonthepitchandthesnowcover.Ifyou'relookingforsomefun,trysnowsliding:Leanbackanddrawbackontheclaws,forcing
thetoeupwardyoucanalmostglissadedowntheslopewithlongstriding,glidingsteps.Someshoerspreferridingthetailsofthe

Page44

snowshoesdownaslope.Youcanalsorideyourshoeswithonefootinfrontandtheothertrailingtoadjustforbraking.Leaningonyourpolesturnsthemintoa
rudderorabrakewhenyouneedtoturnslightlyorslowdown.

Snowslidingonadescentisamplerewardforatoughascent.
SAFETYTIP
Foracontrolleddescent,usesnowpolesforbalanceandstability,keepyourweightbackonyourheels,andwalkdownslowly.

Jumping
Jumpingiswhatteenagersandkidslikemostaboutsportsnowshoeing.Tryitonpowderthelandingissoft.Justmakesureyourshoeshaveareturnsystemsothat
yourtailslandfirstandhelpbreakthefall.Somesnowshoejumperstheseriousonesorthosewithoutreturnsystemsontheirshoestietheirheelsdowntothe
deckingtoguaranteeastablelanding.

Page45

SKILLSCHECKLIST
Withalittlepractice,feedbackfromyourfriends,andavideo
camera(notnecessary,butfun),andyourmuscles,you'llhavethe
followingskillsdowninnotime!
HorizontalMoves
__Striding
__Stamping
__Turning
__Breakingtrail
__Bushwhacking
__Usingpoles
VerticalMoves
__Reststepping
__Switchbacking
__Scrambling
__Sidekicking
__Kickstepping
__Sidestepping
__Herringbonestepping
__Downhilling
__Jumping

GettingtoKnowtheGreatOutdoors

Abigpartofsnowshoeingcorrectlyisbeingawareofyourenvironment.Fromwatchingtheweathertokeepingtrackofwhereyouare,itisyourresponsibilityto
yourselftobeaneducated,awaresnowshoer.
Nothingaffectssnowshoersmorethanthesurfacetheyareshoeingon.Forexample,whereasskiersadorethelightestanddeepestpowdersnow,snowshoersprefer
amorecompactedsnowbase.ThebeautyofsnowshoesisthattheyreallycantakeyouanywhereonanyofthewintersurfacesMotherNatureoffersyou.Aslongas
youarecareful,beitonsnoworice,youcanbeouttherehavingfun.
Snow
Ifyoubecomeanavidsnowshoer,youwilllearntoloveyourelementandwanttoknowmoreaboutit.Youcanlearnthedynamicsofsnowby

Page46

studyingitandtheconditionsthataffectit.Forexample,compressibilityisapropertyofsnowimportanttosnowshoers.Asweightisappliedtosnowcrystals,they
restructurethemselvesintoatighter,firmermass.However,snowdoesnotcompressitselfproportionatelytotheweightyouputonitwhichiswhya200pound
(91kg)adultdoesn'tsinktwiceasfarintothesnowasa100pound(45kg)adolescent.

Studyingthesnowcanhelpyouspotconditionsthatareperfectforsnowshoeing.
FStock/DavidWheelock

Incoldertemperatures,newsnowwillbelightandpowdery.Freshlyfallenpowdersnowisimpossibletocrosswithoutpostholding,nomatterhowlargeyour
snowshoesare.However,after2or3daysthepowderwillbecomefirmlypackedsnowthatisperfectforsnowshoeing.
Whentemperaturesriseandthenfall,acrustwillformonthesnowbecausewarmththawsthesurfaceandthenthecoldfreezesitoveragain.Youwon'tsinkmuchin
crustedsnow,butoftenit'snotpleasanttowalkonbecauseitcanbeslipperyandhard.
Wheresnowfallsaffectsitaswell.Snowontheshadedsidesofmountainsandonleeslopes(theoppositesideofthewindwardslope)istheslowesttopackandthe
mostlikelytoavalanche.Snowindeepandshaded

Page47

valleysandinheavilytimberedareasfirmsslowerthanexposedsnowandislikelytostaypowderylonger.Snowonthesouthernsidesofmountains(inthenorthern
hemisphere,thatis)canfreezeovernightintoathickcrust.
Wind,too,affectssnow.First,windactsasapackingagent,condensingthesnow.Forexample,whensnowisfallinginwindyconditions,solidslabsofsnowcan
formthatcanbeveryunstable.Orsometimeswindcanbesostrongastoblowthesnowoffexposedterrainandpileitevendeeperinshelteredareas.
Avalanches
Inanavalancheyouareatthemercyoftonsofrapidlymovingsnowaforceofnaturemuchtoopowerfulforpeopletosurmount.Theonlyeffectivestrategyfor
survivinganavalancheistoavoidit.Todothat,youmustlearntorecognizeareasandconditionswhereavalanchesarelikelytooccur.
Themostcommonareasforavalanchesaretreelessslopes,steepleeslopes,andgulliesandotherexposedslopesofbetween25and45degreespitch.Most
avalanchesoccurduringorimmediatelyafterasnowstorm,whenalargeamountoffresh,unpackedsnowfallsonolder,packedsurfacesoficeandglazedsnow.
That'syourhighestdangertime.But,really,anythingthatdisturbsunstablesnowsnowshoers,skiers,evenanidiotmaker(thosehugesnowbombsthatfalloutof
treeswithanoisy"whump")cancauseanavalanche.
Manylocalskiandrecreationareasofferavalanchesafetycoursesthataredefinitelyworthyourwhileifyoucanfindonelocally.Otherhelpfullocalresourcesare
radioandtelevisionskireportsandavalancheinformationhotlines.Takethetimetofindoutwhattheconditionswillbelikebeforeyouarriveatyourdestination.
Ice
Ice,oftenhiddenbysnow,presentstwopotentialproblemareastothesnowshoer:balanceandtraction.Iceisalowfrictionsurfacethatcancauseannoyingand
sometimesdangerousfalls.Icecanalsobedeceiving.Youwon'tforgettheexperienceifapatchofthinicegiveswayunderyouandyoufallintoanearfrozencreek
orpond.
Good,soundicewillholdhugeamountsofweight,butyoumustmakesurethereareatleast2inches(5cm)ofsolidiceunderyouwhencrossingoveranywater.
Grayareasonanotherwisewhiteicedsurfaceindicatethinice.Ifyouarenearalocationwhereastreamflowsintoapondorotherwaterway,beware.Iceisusually
poorlyfrozeninsuchareas.Rivericeis

Page48

moredangerousthanstandingwaterbecausemovingwaterfreezesirregularly.Snowbridgescanalsoformupovermovingwaterandcamouflageadangerpoint.
Whenindoubt,loosenyourbindingsbeforeyoucrossovericesothatyoucanremoveyoursnowshoesquicklyifyoubreakthrough.Also,carryacoilofropeinyour
handstohelpincaseofrescues.Ifyouarepartofagroupmovingoverice,separateyourselvesby20foot(6m)intervals.
SAFETYTIP
Rememberabasicdifferencebetweenthickandthinice:Thickiceissolidwhite,whereasthiniceisgrayorhasgrayishpatches.Keepyoureyesopen!

DON'TGO"BAREFOOT"INTHESNOW
I'moftensurprisedathowmanypeople,whentalkingabouttheir
recentclimbs,remark,"Well,thetrailwasprettywellpacked,sowe
justcarriedoursnowshoes.Webrokethroughhereandthere,butit
wasn'tbadatall."Theclincherformeoccurredacoupleyearsback,
whenIwasclimbingintheAdirondacks.Iarrivedandgearedupfor
myhikeandstartedforthetrailheadbehindthreeotherfellowswho
hadtheirsnowshoeslashedtotheirpacks.Isooncaughtuptothose
three,andoneofthemsaidinasurprisedtone,"Oh,you'rewearing
yoursnowshoes!"Ireplied,''That'swhatthey'refor,"andproceeded
onpastthem.Hesaid,"IfIhadonesassmallasyours,I'dbe
wearingthem,too."WhenIarrivedatthesummit,abittiredfrom
breakingtrail,Iwaselatedwiththespectacularview,whichI
enjoyedforaboutanhourbeforeheadingbackdown.
Nearlyamile(about1.5km)belowthesummit,Ifoundthetracksof
thethreefellowsI'dpassed.Theyhadmadeitasfarasthe
snowdriftsbeforeturningback.Clearly,theyhadexhausted
themselvesbysinkingwaistdeepwitheachstep.
Whyisgoing"barefoot"arealproblem?First,consideryourown
safety.Whenclimbingwithoutsnowshoes,Islipbackwardasmuch
asIgoforward,whichisverytiring.Aboot'ssmallsurfacearea
doesn'tgripenoughandwillbreakupthesnowandthetrail's
surface.Thenthesnowwilloften"mushout"onallsidesoftheboot,
greatlydecreasingmuchneededstability.

(tablecontinuedonnextpage)

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(tablecontinuedfrompreviouspage)
Next,considerthesafetyofthosewho"followinyourfootsteps."
Walkingonatrailfullofpostholesisdangerous,whetheryouare
wearingsnowshoesornot.Holesmakeitdifficulttomaintain
balance,especiallywhenyou'regoingdownhill,andthere'sa
constantworryabouttwistinganankle.Evenworse,someonecould
breakabonebyfallingintoafrozenposthole.
Walkingaroundwithoutsnowshoesinwinter,particularlyatthe
upperelevations,couldbecomparedtorunningwhitewaterwithouta
lifepreserver.Winterisabeautifultimeofyear,butitcanalsobe
harshandunforgiving.Snowshoesshouldberegardedasnecessary
equipment,justasmuchasawarmparkaandboots.
CarlHeilmanII

Page51

4
SnowShoeingFitnessandSafety
We'vesaiditbefore:Anyoneinanyconditioncanputonapairofsnowshoesandgo!However,thisisnottosaythatanyoneinanyconditioncanputonapairof
snowshoesandgoanywhere.
Physicalfatiguetakesthefunoutofanyoutingandsnowshoeingisnodifferent.Fatiguecanalsoleadtomakingdecisionsliketakinganunknownshortcutratherthan
wiselybacktracking.Thebottomlineisthatfitnessisanexcellentpreventivemeasureagainstemergenciesandthebestinsuranceforagoodtimeinthewintry
outdoors.

Page52

TypesofConditioning
CardiorespiratoryFitness
Anythingmorestrenuousthanshortdistancesnowshoeingstrollsonlevelgroundrequiressufficientaerobicstaminatomaintainyourheartrateinaerobicandhigher
thanaerobicrangesforanextendedperiodoftime.Determiningyourcardiorespiratoryfitnessandcontrollingyourlevelsofexertioncanbeeasywithaheartrate
monitorwerecommendusingoneforallphasesoftraining.(Note.Ifyouareinterestedinlearningmoreabouttrainingwithheartratemonitors,refertoTheHeart
RateMonitorBook,bySallyEdwards.ForinformationwritetoSallyat2636FultonAvenue,Sacramento,CA95825,USA,orphone9164817283.)

FStock/DavidStoecklein

R.Bossi

MuscleStrength
Whenusingpoles,snowshoeingrequiresbothupperandlowerbodystrength.Generally,though,snowshoeingmostinvolvesthreelowerbodymusclegroups:thehip
flexors,theupperlegmuscles(thequadriceps,whichliftthesnowshoe,andthehamstrings,whichmovethelegforwardoutofthesnow),andthecalfmuscles(which
youusewheneveryouarepushingoffwithyourfeetorliftingontoyourtoes,especiallyontheuphills).

Flexibility

Snowshoeingdemands
thatyoustretchyourbodyinunexpecteddirectionsatunexpectedtimes.Oneparticularareaofflexibilityshouldbethegastrocnemius(calf)muscle,becausesnowshoersareofte
upandcooldownperiods,ishighlyrecommended.

JohnKelly

FStock/ChrisHus

Coordination

You'llneedbothcoordinationandbalancetoclimbuphill,glidedownhill,andnegotiaterocks,trees,ice,andsoon.Thewayssnowshoersgetandstaycoordinatedarenearlyunli
choices.

Page54

HowReadyIsYourBody?

Youmayneverwanttodoanythingmorestrenuousthantakeaniceleisurelywalkonthesnow.That'sfine!Butifyougethookedontheactivityandwanttomake
snowshoeingthespringboardforafitnessprogram,we'llshowyouhow.Thereareacoupleofeasywaystodetermine

Awellconditionedbodypreparesyou
formanysnowshoeingchallenges.

Page55

ifyouaresufficientlyfittogosnowshoeing.Thefirstistoreadthroughthischapter'sdescriptionofthefourtypesofconditioningandhowtheyrelatetosnowshoeing
andtodecideifyouareuptosnuffineach.Thesecondissimplytogoout,stretchyourmuscles,andtryashort(maybeanhourlong)snowshoeingwalkonmostly
levelterrain.Ifyoufindyourselfwinded,ortooweaktowalkinsnowshoescomfortably,it'sprobablybestforyoutodoalittlefitnesstrainingbeforeheadingoutfor
anythingmorestrenuous.
SAFETYTIP
Ifyouareover40,aremorethan20%overyouridealweight,orhaveanyknownorsuspectedcardiorespiratoryproblems,youshouldconsultaphysicianbeforestartingany
conditioningprogram.

ImprovingYourSnowshoeingFitness

Thebestwaytotrainistofollowtheprinciplesofspecificityandprogression.Thismeanstrainingthespecificmusclesandsupportsystemsinthespecificwaytheyare
neededinthegivenactivityandprogressivelyaddingworkload.Putsimply,tobeagoodsnowshoeryouneedtosnowshoe,andifyouwanttokeepimprovingyou'll
needtokeepincreasingtheamountofsnowshoeingyoudo.
Oursnowshoetrainingprogramispresentedhereinthreephases,eachwithitsownfitnessgoal.Eachphaseismorechallengingthanthepreviousone,theworkout
sessionlonger,andthetypeofworkoutmorespecific.
Phase1:
BuildingaBalancedFitnessBase
Phase1isdesignedtobuildabasicfitnessfoundationandisnotspecifictosnowshoeing.Ifyoufollowtheformatofthisfirstphase,you'lldevelopafitnessbasetouse
foranyexercisepursuitsnowshoeing,mountainbiking,softball,oranyotheractivity.

Page56
Phase1TrainingPlan
Week

Mon

Tues

Wed

Thurs

Fri

Weights20
min.

Run/walk20
min.

Aerobics20 Stretching
min.
25min.

SatorSun

SameasWeek
1

Weights15
min.
Run/walk
15min.

Stretching15
min.Weights
15min.

Aerobics30 Run/walk15
min.
min.
Stretching
15min.

SameasWeek
3

PHASE1:
PERIOD:4WEEKS
DURATION:2030MINUTES
FREQUENCY:4DAYSPERWEEK

Thegoalofthisfirstphaseistogetyourfitnessleveltoapointwhereyoucanexercise20to30minutesaday,4daysaweek,inthefourdifferentfitnessareas,forat
least4weeks.Acoupleofnotesaboutthetrainingchart:To"run/walk"istoalternatebetweeneachwithinthesameworkoutperiod.Forexample,youmaywalkfor
3minutesandrunfor1minutefivetimesforatotalof20minutes.Withtime,youcanlengthentherunningperiodsandshortenthewalkingperiods.Also,foryour
aerobicsclass,stepaerobicsispreferredbecauseitdoesawonderfuljobofstrengtheningthemusclesyouuseduringsnowshoeing.
Ifyouchoose,youcanaltertheindividualworkoutstofityourdailyschedule,andyoucandothemeitherbacktobackorwithadayofrestinbetween.Youcanalso
changetheworkoutstosuityourpreferences.Ifyouwouldratherclimbstairsthantakeanaerobicsclass,that'sfine.Justmakesureyouexchangeoneaerobic
workoutforanotherdoingfourstrengtheningworkoutsaweekwillnotgetyouwhereyouwanttogo.ItisalsofinetostayinPhase1trainingformorethan4weeks
ifyou'vebeenunconditionedforawhileandneedmoretimetodevelopyourbase.MakesureyouarecomfortablewithPhase1trainingbeforeprogressingtoPhase
2.

Page57

Phase2:
BuildingABiggerTrainingBase
Thisnext,morechallengingphaseisdesignedtoraiseyourfitnesslevelabovethethresholdofconditioningyouachievedinPhase1.NotethattheworkoutsinPhase
2lastlongerandincludealargeraerobiccomponent.
Phase2TrainingPlan
Week

Mon

Tues

Wed

Thurs

Fri

Fitness
class30
min.

Run/walk30
min.

Aerobics
30min.

Run/walkor Stretching
Snowshoe 15min.
30min.
Weights15
min.

SatorSun

Sameas
Week1

Weights20
min.
Run/walk
20min.

Stretching
15min.
Fitness
class25
min.

Aerobics
30min.

Run/walkor
Snowshoe
30to40
min.

Stretching
10min.
Weights10
min.
Machines
20min.

Sameas
Week3

PHASE2:
PERIOD:4WEEKS
DURATION:3040MINUTES
FREQUENCY:5DAYSPERWEEK

"Machines"referstoanyworkoutmachines,suchassteppers,rowers,stationarybikes,ortreadmills,towhichyouhaveaccess.Machinesarechallengingandfun,
andasyoutrainonthedifferentonesyouwillstrengthenspecificmusclegroups.
Yourfitnessclasscanbeanysuchclassyouprefer:swimming,racquetball,running,dancing,orwhateverjustmakesureit'saerobic.
Again,feelfreetostayinPhase2trainingaslongasyouneed.Ifyouaresimplytrainingforoverallfitness,youcanstayinitindefinitely,aslongasyoucontinueto
graduallyincreaseyourworkload.Longerdurationsandmorechallengingworkoutsaretheonlywaytokeeponthepathofcontinuousphysicalimprovement.
However,ifyou'rereadytofocusontrainingforsnowshoeinginparticular,itistimetomoveontoPhase3.

Page58

Phase3:
SpecificityTraining
Phase3focusesspecificallyontrainingforsnowshoeing,althoughitstillincorporatessomeoftheearliercrosstrainingworkouts.Duringthisphase,weneedtowork
theupperbodymusclesusedforpolingaswellastheareasofthelowerbodywementionedbefore:thequadriceps,hamstrings,hipflexors,andcalfmuscles.
Specificityalsomeans(finally!)doingthespecificactivity:snowshoeing.Forthoseofuswhodonotliveonsnow,thiswillmeantravelingtoanareawhereyoucan
shoe.
Phase3TrainingPlan
Week

Mon

Tues

Wed

Thurs

Fri

SatorSun

Run/walk40
min.

Aerobics40
min.

Snowshoe
40to60
min.

Weights,
Stretching,
Machines
60min.

Snowshoe
40to60
min.

SameasWeek
1

Endurance
snowshoe3
to6miles
(1.93.7km)
withrests
(~60min.)

Aerobic
Aerobics40 Interval
snowshoe2to min.
snowshoe
4miles(1.2
60min.
2.5km)at70%
to75%
maximumheart
rate

SameasWeek
3

PHASE3:
PERIOD:4WEEKS
DURATION:4060MINUTES
FREQUENCY:5DAYSPERWEEK

Hillclimb
snowshoe
60min.

"Endurancesnowshoeing"isacardiovascularworkoutinwhichyoumaintainasteadyheartrateoveralongduration,withrestperiodsasneededtokeepyouheart
rateunderaerobiclevels.
Whenyou"aerobicsnowshoe,"youkeepyourheartratewithinyouraerobictrainingzone,70%to75%ofmaximum.(Toaccuratelydetermineyourmaximumheart
rate,seeyourphysicianforamaximumheartratetest.)So,anaerobicsnowshoeworkoutisofaslightlyhigherintensitybutoverashorterperiodthananendurance
snowshoeworkout.
To"intervalsnowshoe"istotrainoverintervalsfrom2to10minutesatahigherthanaerobicintensity,thenslowdowntoaerobiclevelsforabrieferexercisebout.It's
analogoustotherun/walkswe'vebeendoingallalong.

Page59

Anexampleofanintervalsnowshoeworkoutwouldbetorunat80%to85%ofyourmaximumheartratefor3minutesandwalkfor2minutes.
''Hillclimbs"aretoughworkouts,buttheybuildstrengthquickly.Mostpeoplepreferdoingrepeathillsofabout90secondsduration,progressingweeklybyadding
moreandlongerrepetitions.
WhenyouaredoingweighttrainingormachinetraininginPhase3,spendextratimeonthestationsdedicatedtothecalf,thigh,chest,shoulder,andhipflexormuscles.
SOLORUN
WhenImovedtoMinnesota,itdidn'ttakemelongtodiscovermy
favoriteoutdoorsplacetoplay.It'sanenormousparkwithan
extensivenetworkoftrails.Becausetheparkisrelatively
undeveloped,itattractsfewpeople,especiallyinwinter.Ivisited
thereonefrigidJanuarynight,thetemperaturehoveringatzero
Fahrenheit(18C).Therewasnothingoutoftheordinaryaboutthat
particularsnowshoerun,exceptthatlikemostsnowshoeoutings,it
allowedmetogetalotmorefrommytimethanjustanothergood
workout....
Becauseofthelowtemperatures,Imakemyfirststepsshortand
fast.Ipumpmyarmsvigorouslytoheatthelayerofairtrappedinside
mywindbreaker.Thepackedsnowoftheparkinglotgiveswayto
deepsnowonthepathacrosstherollingfieldtothecrosscountry
trailsandthewoodsinthedarknessahead.
Ilowermyheadandclimbthefirsthillquickly.Thesunhas
disappearedbelowthehorizon,andIamnow10minutesintotherun
andaboutamileintothewoodland.Thedescentfromthehilltopis
exhilaratingasItakelong,slowmotionstrides.Iapproachan
intersectingtrailanddecidespontaneouslytoleavethegroomed
path.Mynewtrailisnarrow,andsnowladenbrancheshanglowto
formatunnelleadingtothesouthernfringeoftherugged,wooded
sectionofthepark.
Iamcomfortableonmysnowshoes,evenwhenrunningquickly
downhill.Somepeopleunfamiliarwiththetechnologyofthenewest
shoesdon'tappreciatehowlightweightandmaneuverabletheyare,
andhowfastyoucanrunwhilewearingthem.Mysnowshoesare
narrowandshortperfectfortravelingoverpackedtrailslikethis
one.
I'vebeenrunninglongenoughtoachieveabaselevelofstrengthand
conditioning,andnowIcancomfortablyexploretheseemingly

(tablecontinuedonnextpage)

Page60

(tablecontinuedfrompreviouspage)
endlessexpansesofthe"superhighwaythroughthewoods."Ifind
spendinganhouronastairclimberisboring,butanhourgoing
somewhereonsnowshoesisenjoyable.Therearemanyplaceslike
thispark,forthosewholook.
Cruisingthroughdeepdrifts,myshoespickupandthrowthesnow
intogreatwhitepuffsbehindme,illuminatedbythelightofthemoon.
Ahead,crossingthetrailataperpendicularangle,isaheavily
traveledpathformedbythepark'sprolificwhitetaileddeer
population.Thelakesherearenamelessandnumerousandare
linkedbythesedeerruns.Iforgeahead,thinkingthatit'stimeslike
thisthatIappreciatewinterasthebestseasonforbushwhacking.
ThetrailIamrunningtonightisimpassableinthesummermonths.
Turningonmyheadlamptoreadmywatch,Iamstirredfrommy
reverie,andIrealizeitislaterthanIthought.Iheadfortheroad.
Uponreachingtheroadside,Iamgreetedbyacarspeedingbywith
itswakeofswirlingsnowandexhaust.Spoiledbymilesofrunningon
asnowsofttrail,Iregretfullyremovemysnowshoesforthe2mile
(3.2km)runbacktothecar.
HerbLindsey

SnowshoeingSafely

Snowshoeingisnotparticularlydangerousasfarasinjuriesareconcerned.Therearethreekeys,though,toreducinganypossibilityofinjury.Thefirstistobe
physicallyreadytosnowshoe.Thismeansbeingstretchedandwarmedupbeforestarting,aswellasbeingfitenoughtogooutinthesnowandhikeorrunaround.
Thesecondkeyistobeawareofyourenvironment.Wanderingaroundinavalancheareasoroverthiniceisinvitingmajortrouble.Thethirdkeyistosetreasonable
goalsforanygivenouting.Don'tgoforalonghikeat10,000foot(3,050m)elevationunlessyou'resureyou'rereadyforsuchanendurancetest.
SAFETYTIP
Themostcommoncauseofsportsinjuriesisinadequatestretchingandwarmupbeforeparticipation.The10or15minutesittakestowarmupcansaveyouaworldoftimein
rehabilitation.

Page61

Becauseoftherisksinvolvedinnotbeingintopformwhenoutdoorsinthewinter,snowshoeingwithpreexistinginjuriesisnotrecommendedunlessspecialcareis
taken.Forexample,ifyouhaveabackinjury,snowshoeingsafelymeansgoingoutwithoneormorecompanionsonashorttrekinabovefreezingweather.
BeatingtheElements

Althoughwinterisbeautiful,itcanbedangerous.Theforcesofnaturecanpresentsomechallenges.Knowingwhattoexpectandpreparingfortheunexpectedwill
helpyousnowshoesafely.
Frostbite
Frostbiteispainless.Theonlywaytoknowthataportionofyourbodyisfrozenistolookatyourskinifitischalkywhite,youhavefrostbite.Thetreatmentisto
thawthefrozenpartbyrestoringcirculationtothearea.Mildfrostbite(or"frostnip")canbecontrolledbyholdingtheaffectedareaagainstawarmbodypart
thawingmustbegentle,withnorubbingorabrasion.Freezinganentirehandorfootisveryserioustheaffectedareamustbecompletelyimmobilized,submergedin
warmwater(105F,orabout40C),bandaged,andelevated.Afrostbitevictimmustnotwalkonafrozenfootandmustbeevacuatedtosafety.Thepreventionfor
frostbiteissimple:Avoidexposingyourskinorwearingwetclothing,anddressfortheconditions,includingtheeffectsofwindchill.
Hypothermia
Duringhypothermia,bodytemperaturedropsbecauseofexposuretocold.Mostcasesofhypothermiaoccurinrelativelymoderateairtemperaturesofbetween30
and50degreesFahrenheit(1to10C),butthewindcompoundsthechillandcausespeopletodangerouslymiscalculateandsufferundueharm.
Thefirstsymptomsofhypothermiaarechillsandtiredness,followedbydisorientationandlackofcoordination.Treatmentneedstobeimmediateifyourclothesare
wet,takethemoffandputondryones.Warmupwithincreasedexercise.Drinkfluids,especiallywarmonesifavailable.Startacampstoveorbuildafire.Anddon't
hesitatetoturnbackimmediatelyifsomeoneiscoldandyoucan'tgetthemwarmed.

Page62

AltitudeSickness
Alsocalledelevationsickness,thisconditioniscausedbyinsufficientoxygeninthebloodstream.Thefirstsymptomsarefatigueandhard,heavybreathing.The
immediateresponseshouldbetoslowdownorstopmovingentirelysotheavailableoxygencangettovitalorgans.Afterresting,returntoalowerelevation.Ittakes
timeforacclimatizationtohighaltitudesandtheirlowerlevelsofoxygen.

Restfrequentlywhensnowshoeinginhighaltitudes.
CarlHeilmanII

DehydrationandHeatExhaustion
Itdoesn'tmakemuchsensetomostpeoplethattheyhavetoworryaboutdehydrationandheatexhaustionwhentheyareoutinthecoldsurroundedbymilesoffrozen
water!However,ifyouarekeepingupagoodpaceofmovement,youcanfindyourselfbothoverheatinganddehydrating.Thesymptomsarearapidpulse,nausea,
andaheadache.Youcanavoidthembydrinkingfrequentlyanddressinginlayerssothatyoucanremoveclothingasyouheatup.Thetestofadequatehydrationis
theneedtourinateonceevery3hours.

Page63
SAFETYTIP
Nowhereintheworldisitrecommendedthatyoudrinkwateroutoflocalriversandstreams.Meltingsnowisgenerallysafeaslongasyoudigdowntoaclean,untroddenlayer.
Thebestchoice,though,istobringyourownwaterwithyou.

Sunburn
Thecostforlackofsunprotectionishighenoughthatovercompensationshouldbetherule.Clothingisfarandawaythebestblockerofsunrays,socoveryourself,
especiallyyourheadthereareavarietyoffaceandheadcoveringswidelyavailableforjustthispurpose.Thesecondlineofdefenseistoapplysunblockorsunscreen
toanyskinthatremainsexposed.Remembertoothatsunlightreflectingoffthesnowcanburnplacesyouforgetabout,includingyourears,theinsideofyournose,the
undersideofyourchin,andtheareasaroundyoureyesandlips.
SAFETYTIP
Protectyourselffrombothsunburnandfrostbitebystayingcoveredup.Thereisprotectivegearavailableforeverypartofyourexposedskinuseit!

SnowBlindness
Snowblindnessisausuallytemporarylossofvisionaccompaniedbypain,tears,andswellingcausedbyultravioletlightreflectingfromthesnow.Polaroidtype
sunglassesthatblocktheultravioletandinfraredspectrumareamustoutonthesnowfields.Don'teventhinkaboutgoingoutwithoutthem.

Page64

StayingFound

It'seasytogetlostoutdoorsinthewinter,butafewbasictipswillhelpmostshoersavoidthispredicament.
Followatrail.Ifpossible,selectaroutewithatrailandstayonit.
Avoiddangers.Pickacoursethatavoidsobstaclessuchasice,crevasses,partiallyfrozenwater,andareasthatlookpronetoavalanches.Themoreoftenyouare
forcedtodetourfromyourcoursebecauseofobstacles,themorelikelyyouaretogetlost.
Useprominentlandmarks.Don'tjustcheckoutthelandscapeonceinthemorning.Continuetopayattentiontolandmarksthroughouttheday.
Knowthearea.Taketimetolearnabouttheareathatyouareshoeing.Lookatmapsandtalktolocals.
Markyourtrail.Useflaggingorwandstomarkyourtrailincaseitstormsandlandmarksaren'tvisible.
Writeitdown/tellsomeone.Beforedeparting,leaveadetaileditinerarywithafriend,includingyourdestination,route,andthetimeframeforyourtrip.
Takeacompanion.Inareasthatyoudon'tknowwellormaynotbesafe,alwayssnowshoewithabuddyor,betterstill,severalbuddies.
Taketools.Alwayscarrynavigationandsnowshoerepairgear:maps,acompass,ducttape,cord,andaknifearebareminimums.Knowhowtousethem.
Haveabackupplan.Considerandpreparefortheunexpected,fromencounteringastormtobeingforcedtospendanovernight.Noonehaseverregrettedbeing
overprepared.

Page65

Alwaystakeafriendwhenventuringtounfamiliarareas.

Page67

5
TheBestPlacestoSnowshoe
Therearethoseluckysnowshoerswhocanpickuptheirsnowshoesandheadrightoutintotheirbackyardformilesoffunandadventure.Butformostofusgoing
snowshoeingrequiressomeadvanceplanning.Evenifyouarenotblessedwiththebackyardoption,therearestillmanywaysyoucantaketothewintersnowfields.
Allyoureallyneedisapairofsnowshoes,somesnowcover,andasenseofadventure.

Page68

FindingtheBestLocalTrails

Favoritedestinationsformanysnowshoersaretheverysametrailstheyenjoyhikinginthesummerandfall.Weallhavefavoritetrailsthatwelovetohikefortheflora,
theterrain,theviews,thequiet.Exploringthesesamepathschangeddramaticallybyablanketofsnowcanbearealchallenge.Asmuchasyoumightknowatraillike
thepalmofyourhandinthesummer,you'llfindanentirelydifferenttrailinthewinter.Becauseofthisunfamiliarityyou'llneedtobemorecarefulthanyouwouldinthe
summerwhenyouventureoutonthesetrails.
SAFETYTIP
Whensnowshoeingfamiliarsummertrails,makesureyouareequippedforalongerhikethanyoursummertimejourneysanunexpectedwrongturnwithoutadequatewateror
foodcanturnapleasantwinteroutingintoamiserableone.

Somesnowshoerslookingforamoresolitaryexperienceheadforopenpubliclandsorunpavedroads,suchasthefireroadsprevalentinmuchofthewesternUnited
States.OneavidsnowshoerinNevadagetshisdailyworkoutbyheadingupafireroadnearhishouseeverymorning.Heoftentakesatrainingbuddyandalways
takeshisdog.Theadvantageofsnowshoeingonanunpavedroadisthattheterrainunderthesnowholdsfewsurprises,suchasrocks,smallbrush,orholes,thatcan
causeinjuryorabrokensnowshoe.Oftensnoparks(parkinglotsinsnowcoveredareas)willbelocatednearthesepubliclandsorunpavedroads.Thecrowdsof
snowenthusiastswhofrequentthesesnoparksrarelyventuremorethanaquartermilefromthepavedroad,butthatneedn'tbethecaseforyou.
Parksystemsofferawidevarietyoftrailsandunusuallybeautifulscenery.Ifyouhaven'texploredtheminthewinter,whenthecrowdsaregoneandthesnowhas
arrived,youdon'tknowwhatyou'remissing.Parkrangersarewonderfulresourcesforthebestroutesandinformationaboutsafety,animallife,andweather
conditions.Ifpossible,stopatthelocalranger'soffice,introduceyourselftothepersononduty,anddiscussyourproposedsnowshoerouteandtheweather
conditions.

Page69

Familiarsummertrailstakeonawholenewlookduringwintermonths.
AncilNance
EARTHWATCH
Goingofftrailinnationalorotherpublicparkscontributestotheerosionanddegradationofwhatareoftenveryfragileecosystems.Don'tdoit.

Trailstosnowshoecanalsobefoundvialocalhikingguides,topographicalmaps,ortrailmaps.Readuponyourlocalvicinityoronamoredistantareayouwould
liketovisitthisway.Outdoorshopsroutinelycarryawideselectionofguides.

Page70

SnowshoeingSkiResortsandGolfCourses

Whiletheromanceofsnowshoeingisoftenassociatedwithventuringintotheuntroddenwilds,therearemanybeautifullycultivatedtrailsthatyouwillnotwantto
dismissmerelybecauseoftheirpopularity.Dozensofcrosscountryskiresortsnowoffersnowshoerentalsandsnowshoepasses.Theadvantagesofsnowshoeingat
theseNordicresortsarethekilometersofgroomedtrails,wellplannedtrailsystems,and,often,warminghuts.Suchareasareasafewayforbeginnerstobecome
comfortablewithsnowshoeing.Thedisadvantagesarethecostandthereducedsenseofadventure.However,manyfindthetradeoffsworthit.
Ifyou'reinterestedinsnowshoeingatalocalcrosscountryresort,besuretocallfirsttofindoutwhethertheyallowsnowshoeingandwhattheirrulesare.Some
resortsaresosupportiveofsnowshoersthattheynowblazespecificsnowshoetrails.Thesetrailsusuallyconsistofacrosscountrytracklaiddownbysnowmobile,
producingenoughofatrailtofollowbutnotsomuchpackthatitisn'tachallenge.Atthoseresortswithoutspecifictrailsforsnowshoers,theruleistostayoutofthe
diagonaltrackslaiddownforcrosscountryskiers.Ifyouarenotsurewhatsortoftrailsyou'relookingat,youshouldaskfirsttomakesureyoudon'tdestroythe
resort'shardtrailwork.Nottakingcarecreatesbadbloodbetweensnowshoersandskiersandmakesitharderforthesnowshoerswhofollowyou.
AnoptionthatisincreasinglypopularissnowshoeingatAlpineresorts.Thistendstobeanuphillaffair,withsnowshoerslookingforthataerobicburnheadingstraight
upthemountain,ignoringthechairlifts.Ifyoulikegoingverticalwithoutgoingintooxygendebt,atmostresortsyoucanpurchaseatickettothetopoftheliftfora
reducedprice.Thiswillallowyouaccesstouppertrailswithoutusingallofyourenergyjustgettingthere.Oncethere,youhavethebestofbothworldswonderful
views,ridgelinestofollow,andsnowslidingtothebottom.AswiththeNordicresorts,besuretocallfirsttomakesuresnowshoeingisallowed.MostAlpineresorts
thatallowsnowshoeingrequirethatsnowshoersstaytothesideoftheruns,outofthewayoftheskiersandsnowboarders.
Finally,atleastintheeasternUnitedStates,snowshoeingongolfcourseshasbecomefairlypopular.Generally,golfcoursesofferaflatormoderatelyrollingterrain,
sufficienttogetinagoodworkoutornicewalk.Youwillneedtocheckwiththecoursemanagementbeforeventuringoutontothecourseand,oncethere,trytostay
clearofthesandtrapsandoffthegreens,ifyoucantellwheretheyare.

Page71

TrailEtiquette

Whenshoeingunmaintainedareas,besuretoconsidertrailetiquette.Venturingoffatrailmeansdisturbingthelocalecology.Itiseasyforaheavylayerofsnowto
coveranythingfrommanzanitabushestosmallpines.Trompingoverthevegetationonsnowshoescandamagetheenvironmentanddestroythehabitatofsmall
animals.Keepinmindthaterosioncausesseriousproblemsinmanypubliclandseachyearcheckingyourmapbeforetreadingisonewaytobesureyouarenotpart
oftheproblem.
Otherkeypointsoftrailmannersincludetheobviousones:don'tlitter,packoutwhatyoupackin,anddon'ttrespassonprivateproperty.Ifyoudon'tknowifanarea
ispublicorprivateland,findoutorstayout.
UnitedStatesGetaways

BecausemostoftheUnitedStatesreceivessnowfallforatleastaportionofthewinter,andforsomeareaswellintothefallandspring,therearesnowshoeareas
readilyaccessiblefrommostAmericanlocales.VisitorstotheUnitedStateswillfindthatcombiningsnowshoeingwithsightseeingiseasy,asmanyoftheAmerican
nationalparks,favoritedestinationsfortouristsfromathomeandabroad,receiveampleamountsofsnowallwinterlong.
TheWest
ThewesternUnitedStatesfeaturesanextremelywidevarietyofsnowconditions,suitableforalltastesandabilities.Withconditionsrangingfromthepowderofthe
RockyMountainstothecomparativelywetsnowoftheCascades,alittlebitoftravelingwillenableyoutopursueyoursnowshoeinghabitfornearlyhalftheyear.And
thisisnotevencountingtheiceandsnowfieldsofAlaska,whicharesnowshoeablenearlyyearround.
WethinkthewinteristhebesttimetovisitArizona'sGrandCanyon.Thesnowaddstothebeautyofthelandscape,andtheoppressivecrowdsofthewarmer
monthshavedisappeared.Thereisalmostneversnowinthecanyonitself,however,andyoushouldcallfirsttomakesurethereisamplesnowontherim.You'llalso
wanttobringyourownsnowshoes,asthelocalNordiccentercurrentlydoesn'trentthem.Forroadconditionsandweatherinformation,phone6026387888.
ThetrailsofYosemiteNationalParkinCaliforniahavebeentraveledbyNativeAmericans,frontierspeople,shepherds,thecavalry,backpackers,

Page72

ContinentalUnitedStates
1GrandCanyon,AZ
2Yosemite,CA
3EagleMountain,CA
4Mammoth,CA
5LakeEldora,CO
6Aspen,CO
7SummitCounty,CO
8MountBachelor,OR
9MountHood,OR
10ParkCity,UT
11SnoqualmiePass,WA
12Yellowstone,WY
13LutsenMountain,MN
14Mequon,WI
15PowderRidge,CT
16SundayRiver,ME
17DelawareWaterGapNationalRecreationArea,NJ
18AdirondackStatePark,NY
19FrenchCreekStatePark,PA
20BlueRidgeParkway,NC
21MonongahelaNationalForest,WV

Page74

andgenerationsofhikers.Yosemite'swintergrandeurisoneofnature'sgreatestmasterpieces.SnowshoeingonYosemiteValley'sfloor,withitsrelativelylow4,000
foot(1,219m)elevation,isusuallylimitedtoJanuaryandearlyFebruary.But15minutesaway,justoffGlacierPointRoad,isthepopularBadgerPassarea,where
youarelikelytofindsnowforseveralmoremonthsoftheyearsnowshoerentalsareavailablethere.TheParkServicemarksall90miles(145km)ofYosemite's
trailsanddistributesnumerousmaps.Twohour,rangerledsnowshoehikesthroughthehighcountryofBadgerPassareavailablewithfree,roundtripshuttlebus
servicefromYosemiteValley.Wintercampingandlodgefacilitiesareavailable.Write:YosemiteNationalPark,P.O.Box577,Yosemite,CA95389orphone209
3720265.
EagleMountainisafavoriteforNorthernCaliforniasnowshoersbecausetheproprietorisanavidsnowshoerandprovidestrailpassesfor$8*andhostssnowshoe
eventssuchastheYubaShoeMarathonandthe5Kand10KEagleMountainSnowshoeSeries.EagleMountainisalsoafirsttime

NorthernCalifornia'sEagleMountainfeaturesseveralexciting
snowshoeraceseveryyear.
TeriHenderson

Page75

snowshoer'sdelightbecauseitoffersthechoiceofaflat,3mile(4.8km)loopaswellasahikeuptotheridgelineat6,442feet(1,964m).EagleMountainislocated
offtheYubaGapexit,75miles(121km)northonUS80fromSacramento.Therearetwowarminghutsandplansforahuttohutovernightsnowshoeingsystem.
Write:EagleMountainCrossCountrySkiArea,15250VenturaBlvd.#710,ShermanOaks,CA91403orphone8003912254.
MammothisoneofSouthernCalifornia'smostpopularwinterattractions.YoumightwanttochooseatrailpassfromMammothCalNordic,thecrosscountryski
areathatoffersinstruction,rentals,andtoursaswellasmountaineeringamenities.It'sa6hourdrivefromLosAngelesandboastsanaverageannualsnowfallof300
inches(762cm).Write:MammothSkiTouringCenter,TamarackLodge,Box69,MammothLakes,CA93546orphone6199342442.
IntheLakeEldora,Colorado,area,youcantravelonsnowshoeswith14,000foot(4,267m)summitstoweringoverhead.StopinBoulderonyourwayandpick
uptheUnitedStatesGeologicalSurvey(USGS)trailmapssoyoucanlookoveryourtrailoptions.LakeEldoraisonlya30minutedrivefromBoulderandanhour
fromDenver.YoualsomightwanttocheckwithDavidFelkleyinnearbyNederland.HeoperatesBigFootSnowshoeToursandleadsabout20snowshoetours
eachwinter.Write:DavidFelkley,BigFootSnowshoeTours,P.O.Box1010,Nederland,CO80466orphone3032583157.
Famedformanyreasons,Aspen,Colorado,providessnowshoerswithamplechallengesandawarmwelcome.Aninformalsnowshoegroupmeetsatthebaseofthe
Aspenliftseverymorningat8:00andworksoutforthehalfhourtohourittakestoassaulttheuphillfromdirectlyundertheliftpolestothetop.Youcanalsotakea
shuttlebusfromtheHotelJerometotheghosttownofAshcroft,whichoffers24miles(39km)oflonelycrosscountrytrailsforasmalltrailfee.Write:AshcroftSki
Touring,Box1572,Aspen,CO81612orphone3039251971.
SummitCountyisthehomeofsomeofColorado'sbestsnowshoeingareas:Vail,Dillon,Keystone,andBreckenridge.Bepreparedforthehighaltitudealmostall
oftheterrainis10,000feet(3,048m)andabove.ThisiswheretheColoradopowderisitslightest,andifyouareoffgroomedtrails,youmightappreciatebringing
alongabackcountrysizepairofsnowshoes.TrytheArapahoForestnearKeystoneforitsnumeroustrailsintheMontezumaValley.There'snofee,andthetrails
aremarkedandmaintainedandofferexplorationoflongdesertedminingtowns.Write:KeystoneResorts,Box38,Keystone,CO80435orphone3034682316.
BorderingtheThreeSistersWildernessAreaandonlya20minutedrivefromthecityofBend,Oregon,MountBachelorisgreatfordaysnowshoeingbecauseof
thenumberofforestservicetrailsavailable.Ifyouareinclined
*Allpricesinchapter5areinU.S.dollars.

Page76

togentlerenvirons,theMountBachelorNordicResortofferseverythingyoucouldpossiblydesire,includingasnowshoer'strailpassandfrequentsnowshoeraces.
Youmaywanttocallinadvanceforalistofsnowshoeandskiactivities.Write:Mt.BachelorCrossCountryCenter,P.O.Box1031,Bend,OR97709orphone
5033822442(askfortheCrossCountryCenter).
Providinganentireregionofhighaltitudeterrainandsnowshoeopportunities12monthsayear,MountHood,Oregon,isoneofthefewplacesinthecontinental
UnitedStateswhereyoucansnowshoeinAugust,astheresortrunstheirskiliftseventhentothetopofthebowl.Thoseseekingquietersurroundingscanfindforest
serviceroadsinabundanceandtheydon'tsnowploworsnowmobilethemduringthewinter.Stopattherangerstationonthedriveup,whereyoucangetmapsand
checkonspecifictrails.OneofourfavoritetrailsstartsatStillCreekRoadandHighway26andcontinuesfor4.5miles(7.2km)acrossopenland,withacircleof
TriliumLake.Write:MountHoodNationalForest,2955NWDivisionSt.,Gresham,OR97030orphone5036660771.
InParkCity,Utah,youcanfindoldminingtrailsandroutesthattakeyoufromminingclaimtominingclaimonfairlyflatterrain.ParkCityisUtah's

SpectacularsceneryaboundsinParkCity,Utah.
DavidWhitten

Page77

biggestAlpineresort,butitsoldersibling,ParkCityWest,isalsofun,takingyoubackacenturyintimewithitsclapboardbuildingsandwoodensidewalks.Guides
areavailabletohire.ContacteitherNorwegianSchoolofNature,P.O.Box4036,ParkCity,UT84060(8006495322),orWhitePineTouring,P.O.Box680068,
ParkCity,UT84068(8016498710).
InSnoqualmiePass,Washington,beginnersanddaytripperscantakeadvantageofweekendnaturewalks,startingattheSnoqualmiePassVisitorInformation
CenteradjacenttotheSnoqualmieSummitSkiLodge,whichareusuallyleadbyaMountBakerSnoqualmieNationalForestnaturalist.Thechargeis$3andincludes
snowshoes.Phone2064346111tospeaktotheVisitors'Center.
Awesomeinthesummertime,manyfeelthatYellowstoneNationalParkinWyomingisevenmorebeautifulwithitswinterblanketofsnow.Thebestmonthsforthis
RockyMountaingemareDecembertomidMarch.Bewareofthesnowmobilesanddon'tmissthemainattraction,OldFaithfulwhensnowshoeingfromtheSnow
Lodge,youcanviewthegeyseratitsmostspectacular.Write:TWRServices,P.O.Box528,YellowstoneNationalPark,WY82190orphone3073447311.
TheMidwest
TheMidwestorcentralUnitedStatesischaracterizedbyhighsnowfallsandwatercontent.Althoughwe'llmentiononlyacoupleofmidwesternsites,ifyouliveinthe
centralUnitedStates,for3to5monthsoftheyearsnowisoftenascloseasyourbackyard!
IdeallysituatedonthenorthshoreofMinnesota'sLakeSuperior,LutsenResortisthebiggestoftheMidwestdownhillresorts,encompassingfourmountainsand
1,500acres(607ha).WithitsproximitytoLakeSuperior,Lutsenhasapeculiarmicroclimate,featuringtwicethesnowfallofitsneighboringareas.It'saneasy90
mile(145km)drivenortheastfromDuluthora240mile(386km)drivenorthfromMinneapolisSt.Paul.Youcanspendweekstravelingoverthe200KNorth
ShoreTrailSystem,whichisconnectedtothe35KLutsenTrailSystemforthecrosscountryskiset.Betterstill,buyachairlifttickettothesummitsandenjoythe
glissadedownhill.Write:LutsenResort,P.O.Box9,Lutsen,MN55612orphone2186637212.
Mequon,Wisconsin,hasawonderfulcityparkthatattractsthelessaggressivesnowshoer.JohnBrowning,ownerofalocaloutdoorretailshop,recommends
venturingoutafterorduringasnowfalltodiscoverthetracksofothercreaturesandenjoythepeacefulvistas.TheareaalsohostsaTubb's10KSeriessnowshoe
race,oneintheirnationalseriesofoveradozensuchevents.Write:JohnBrowning,WildernessConnection,6077W.MequonRd,Mequon,WI53092orphone
4142424332.

Page78

TheEast
TheAdirondacksandotherpubliclandsthroughouttheEastarereadilyaccessibletomostoftheNortheastandMidAtlanticstates.Herethecombinationofthick
deciduousforests,clearbackcountryair,andabundantfreshsnowfallthroughouttheseasoncanbejustthesalvefortheurbansoul.
Althoughitcontainsonly5miles(8km)ofitsowntrails,PowderRidgeliesadjacenttosomeofConnecticut'smostpopularhikingtrails.Theseadditional30miles
(48km)ofuntrackedtrailsaresharedbyskiersandsnowshoerstogether.It'seasytofindjusttakeExit17onRoute91,andyouarethere.Write:PowderRidge
SkiArea,99PowderHillRd.,Middlefield,CT06455orphone2033493454.
SundayRiverSkiTouringCenterisoneofMaine's(andallofNewEngland's)bestsnowshoeingdestinations.SundayRiverislargeandseemstooffereverything,
includingbothmarkedandunmarkedtrails.Accommodationsareforthebudgetminded,andyoucanalsobringasleepingbagandshareadorm.Partofthecharm
ofthisfamilyorientedcenteristheCoveredBridgeTrail,whichincludesatourthroughthehistoricbridge.Write:SundayRiverSkiTouringCenter,SundayRiverInn,
RSD2,Box1688,Bethel,ME04217orphone2078242410.
DelawareWaterGapNationalRecreationAreaisalongandnarrowvalleythatdividestheKittatinnyRangeinNewJerseyfromthePoconosinPennsylvania.
ThePoconoEnvironmentalEducationCenter,7miles(11km)northofBushkill,Pennsylvania,isopentoallandhasanaturetrailfortheblind.Werecommend
snowshoeingwheretheAppalachianTrailcrossestheriveratWaterGapyoucanheadoutineitherdirection,andit'sdefinitelyworthittoreachthetopofthevistas.
Bewarned:AttheGap'slowelevations,theseasonisshort,runningonlyfromJanuary1toMarch1.Write:DelawareWaterGapNationalRecreationArea,Bushkill,
PA18324orphone7175886637.
TheenormityofNewYork'sAdirondackStateParkisirresistiblewith6millionacres(2,428,200ha),Adirondackisthelargeststateparkinthecontinental
UnitedStates.And,withfewroadsthroughthepark,accessibilityisperfectforsnowshoeing,asbackcountrytravelcanbeaccomplishedonlyonfootorinacanoe.
Wecan'tlisthereallyourchoicesforgreatsnowshoeoutingsinthisarea,butafewofourfavoritesarethePaulSmithCollegetrailneartheintersectionofSR192
andSR30ProspectMountainnearLakeGeorgeVillageandtheAdirondackParkVisitor'sInterpretiveCenterinNewcomb,whichhostssnowshoeingactivities
throughoutthewinter.Write:DepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation,50WolfRd,Room412,Albany,NY122334255orphone5184577433.
FrenchCreekStateParksitsjustsoutheastofReadingandisoneofthe

Page79

TheapproachtothesummitofWhitefaceintheAdirondacks.
CarlHeilmanII

mostpopularparksinPennsylvania.Thepark'snaturecenterandinterpretiveprogramprovideyouwithlocalinformationonthewilddeer,turkeys,raccoons,
Canadiangeese,andheronsthatresidehereormigratethroughthearea.Therearetwolakestotour,aswellasnorthernandsouthernhardwoodtreeswithinthe
foresttoenhancethebeautifulsurroundings.Thetrailsaremarked,withchallengesformostskilllevels,butifyoucan,ventureofftrailandenjoythehabitatofthe
localwildlife.Write:FrenchCreekStatePark,843ParkRd.,Elverson,PA195209523orphone2155821514.

Page80

TheBlueRidgeParkwayencompassesthreelargenationalforestswithinits38,637acres(15,636ha)andaspectacular469mile(755km)scenichighwayto
delightyouthroughoutyourvisit.Enjoytheinterpretiveprogramsonthehumanhistoryoftheregionandexplorethenaturetrailsthattraversethepark.Write:Blue
RidgeParkway,200BB&TBuilding,Asheville,NC28801orphone7042980398.
AthirdoftheUnitedStates'populationliveswithin250miles(402km)ofMonongahelaNationalForest,oneoftheEast'smostscenicandwildareas,ranging
overboththeAppalachianandtheAlleghenyMountains.Uponarrivalyouaretreatedtocascades,falls,streams,deeppools,ponds,highlandbogs,forests,ledges,
canyons,boldrockoutcroppings,andtheheadwatersofthreemajorriversystems.Thereare676miles(1,088km)ofhikingandbackpackingtrails.Write:
MonongahelaNationalForest,USDABuilding,200SycamoreStreet,Elkins,WV26241orphone3046361800.
SUBARCTICSHOEING
HeldeachFebruarystartinginBigLake,Alaska(anhournorthof
Anchorage),theIditashoesnowshoeracestartsatalocallodgeand
extendsnorthfor100miles(161km),withnotowns,homes,orcars
tobeseen.Thereisnothing,infact,butsnowmobiletrails,skijorers
(crosscountryskierspulledbydogs),dogmushingteamsinpractice
fortheupcomingIditarod,andlotsofmoose.
In1993,theracebegancalmlyenoughat10inthemorning.The
Iditashoecourseisarelativelyflatcombinationoffrozenswamps
coveredwithsnow(andthewintermeadowsthattheycreate),
combinedwithforestsofsmalltreesthatseparatethem.
Atabout6:00P.M.itturnedfulldark,andwithnomoon,my
headlampreflectedoffthesnowcrystalsinacontinuousshimmerof
dancingreflections.Itwasdarkforthenext16hours.
Around3:00A.M.,atRabbit'sLake,Iabandonedmysnowshoe
shuffleforanathleticwalk.Atthatpoint,IthoughtIcouldfinish
easilyinabout7hours,butIdidn'tknowwhatwasahead.Asthe
nightprogressedandthehoursofdarknessworeon,manyofus
startedtoseethingsthatsimplywerenotthere.Forme,itwas
usuallyaloghouseorabuildingthatwouldhavebeenthefinish
linebutwhichturnedouttobeonlyanillusion.Thesehallucinations
lengthenedthenighthoursconsiderably.
Finally,asafetymarshallrodebyjustafterdaylightandtoldme

(tablecontinuedonnextpage)

Page81

(tablecontinuedfrompreviouspage)
politelythatIlookedterribleandthatIhad5miles(8km)tothe
finish.AsIapproachedthefinish,IknewIhadmaderecordtime.
However,therewasnofinishbannerorclockthereattheend,
merelyfoodandthewarmthoffriends.Andthatwasenough.
SallyEdwards

CanadianTrails

Ifyouareasnowshoerhere,youareinluckCanadaisevensnowierthantheUnitedStates.Snowconditionsvaryfromwestcoasttoeastandfromthesouthern,
wellpopulatedbordertotheopenwildsofthefarnorth,sothereisatrailormountainforeveryone.
BritishColumbia
LocatedincentralB.C.,justoffthefamedAlaskaHighwayandjustnorthof100MileHouse,youwillfindthe26,000acres(10,522ha)of''108"Recreation
Ranchtoexplore.Therearedozensofkilometersofcrosscountryskitrailscombiningflatmeadowland,rollinghills,frozenlakes,andevergreenforestswithno
avalanchehazard.Warmingcabinsandhistoricbuildingsarescatteredthroughouttheareaandotheractivitiessuchasskating,tobogganing,curling,nightskiing,and
downhillskiingfacilitiesareavailablein100MileHouse.Write:"108"MileRanch,R.R.1,100MileHouse,BritishColumbia,V0K2E0,Canada.
Alberta
SnowsportsinwesternAlbertaarewellestablishedtherearemanylodgesandendlesskilometersofabandonedloggingroads,seismiclinecuts,muskegs(bogs),
andmeadowsinthefoothillstoexplore.Theseasonislong6months,fromendofNovemberthroughMayandsnowaccumulationsaresignificantfrom635to
1,016centimeters(250400in.).Alberta'sstarattractionsareBanffandLakeLouise,80miles(129km)northwestofCalgary.Aroundthesetworesorttowns
you'llfindmorethan80kilometers(50miles)ofmarkedtrails,with16routestochoosefrom.Write:Warden,BanffEastGate,Banff,Alberta,T0L0C0,Canadaor
phone4037623600.
Saskatchewan
LocatedincentralSaskatchewan,37kilometers(23miles)southfromSaskatoononHwy11,theBlackstrapProvincialParkhasa5kilometer

Page82

Canada
1"108"RecreationRanch,BC
2Banff&LakeLouise,AB
3BlackstrapProvincialPark,SK
4Toronto,ON
5St.Jean,PQ
6Qubec,PQ
7Montreal,PQ
8TheLaurentians,PQ
9FundyNationalPark,NB
10MactaquacProvincialPark,NB
11KouchibouguacNationalPark,NB

Page84

Alberta'sLakeLouisewithMountRundleinthedistance.
BillMarsh

(3mile)trailthatischallengingbutnotoverlydifficultandgracedbydeciduousshrubsandtrees.Theareasponsorsseveralskiracesandhasadaylodge,food,
tobogganslide,andsmallicerinkwithlightsfornightskating.Write:TravelInformation,DepartmentofTourismandRenewableResources,Box7105,Regina,
Saskatchewan,S4P3N2,Canada.
Ontario
Toronto'sparks,includingHighPark,theTorontoIslands,TommyThompsonPark,andthelakefront,providemanygoodsnowshoeingopportunities,butthemost
novelplacetosnowshoemaybetheMetroTorontoZoo.Hereyoucantakethefamilyshoeingorcrosscountryskiingpastcreaturesgreatandsmallforasmallfee.
Qubec
St.Jeanistheperennialsiteofthe"ClassiquedeNordAmricaindelaRacquette"event.HostedbyJimTuckerofPaulSmith'sCollege,itincludessnowshoe
runningandwalkingeventsanddistancesfrom15K(9.3miles)to100meters(328ft).Recordsarekeptandavailableifyouareinterestedinchallengingthem.Write:
GastonLaBerge,352FrancheC.P.71,St.Luc,Qubec,J2W2A3,Canadaorphone5143485455.

Page85

ThecityofQubecitselfofferssnowshoers10trailnetworks,including200kilometers(124miles)ofcrisscrossedpathsandcityparktrails.Oneofthebesttimesto
enjoyavisitisduringWinterCarnival,a10dayperiodduringLentthatisbilledasthe"World'sBiggestWinterCelebration."Theotheradvantagetothecityisthat
twomajorcrosscountryskiareas(LacBeaufortandParcduMontSainteAnne)areonlyahalfhourdrivefromdowntown.
NotonlyisthecityofMontrealagoodsnowshoeingchoicewithitsnumerousparktrails,butoncethereyouarealsolessthananhour'sdrivefromtheLaurentians.
ThismountainrangeisoneofNorthAmerica'stopdownhillandcrosscountryskiareas,withabout1,000kilometers(625miles)oftrailstoexploreandthefullrange
ofservicesfoundonlyatsuchworldclassresortdestinations.
NewBrunswick
Therearegroomedandungroomedpublicandprivatetrailsthroughoutthisscenicprovince.YouarealmostsuretofindgoodsnowconditionsfromDecember
throughApril,soheadingouttoexploreonyourowncouldn'tbesimpler.DependablechoicesincludeFundyNationalPark(inAlma),MactaquacProvincial
Park(nearFredericton),andKouchibouguacNationalPark.
SnowshoeingintheUnitedKingdom

MostresidentsoftheUnitedKingdomwilltellyoutogotoScotlandifyou'relookingforsnow.TheScotsaredevelopingtheirskiindustrytotakeadvantageoftheir
dependableyearlysnowfall(fromasearlyasNovembertoaslateasAprilorMay),butthewintersportmindsetisnotyetpervasiveanywhereintheUnited
Kingdom.Thereareafewskiresortareasofnote,however,andmanyinterestingsubarcticplantsandtypesofwildlifetoobserveonyouroutings.
Scotland'sforemostskiresortisintheCairngorms,atAviemore.TheentireCairngormdistrict,especiallyGlenmoreForestPark,offersawidechoiceofwinter
walks.IntheGrampianmountains,Lecht(centralScotland,nearAviemore),Glenshee(totheeast,nearBraemar),andGlencoe(west,nearBenNevis,theUnited
Kingdom'shighestmountain)arealsohighlyregarded.Formoreinformation,writetheScottishTouristBoardfortheirbrochure"SkiScotland":23RavelstonTerrace,
Edinburgh,ScotlandEH43EU.
InEngland,thePenninesrangeinthefarnorthandLakeDistrict

Page86

UnitedKingdomandIreland
1Aviemore,Scotland
2GlenmoreForestPark,Scotland
3Lecht,Scotland
4Glenshee,Scotland
5Glencoe,Scotland
6Pennines,England
7LakeDistrictNationalPark,England
8DartmoorNationalPark,England
9SnowdoniaNationalPark,Wales

Page87

NationalParkinthenorthwestretaintheirsnowfallforatleastamonthortwoeachyearonaverage.Inthesouthwest,DartmoorNationalParkregularlygetsa
fewweeksofsnow,butyoumayberatherfarfromassistancehere,ifitisneeded.Youmaybehardpressedatanyoftheselocalestofindsnowshoeorskisupplies,
however,soyoushouldbeequippedbeforeyouheadout.
SnowdoniaNationalParkinWalesisalsoagoodplacetolookforsnow,althoughthereisnotanextensivesupportstructure(resorts,suppliers,etc.)here.

YoumayhavetosearchforsnowintheU.K.,butwhenyoufindit
you'llberewarded.
WindrushPhotos/FrankVBlackburn

Page88

WesternEuropebySnowshoe

TherearetwoprimarysnowareasinwesternEurope.Thefirstisthefarnorth:Iceland,Norway,Sweden,andFinlandallgetagooddealofsnow,toputitlightly.
TheotherareaistheAlps.StretchingfromFrancetoAustria,tosnowshoerstheAlpsareawintryhaveninotherwisetemperateclimes.
France
Longknownastheworldcapitalofalpinism,theBoisduBouchetforestpathsnearChamonixprovidesnowshoerstrailswithaparklikesetting.Thetrailsstartatthe
SportsCenterandextendthrough12kilometers(7.5miles)ofundulatinglandscape.Evenmorevigorousisthe25K(15.5mile)triptowardLeLavancherandLes
GrandsMontetstoArgentiereandbacktotheSportsCenter.Thetrailspassthroughsmallvillasandhamlets,withtheiraccompanyingsmallcafs,whereyoumay
findyourfillofsightsandrefreshments.Write:TouristOffice,74400Chamonix,Franceorphone50530214.

ValleBlancheintheChamonixregion.
Chamonix/MontBlanc,France

Page89

EuropeanDestinations
1Chamonix,France
2Davos,Switzerland
3Kitzbhel,Austria
4CortinaD'Ampezzo,Italy
5BlackForest,Germany

Page90

Switzerland
DavosisoneofSwitzerland'spremiersnowplayareas.Thetrailsystemhasabout80kilometers(50miles)ofpreparedtrailsthroughthetown,aroundthelakein
DavosDorf,andcirclingupthebeautifullywoodedsidevalleys.Theuphillclimbsguaranteefrequentstopsforfluidreplacement,butifyoufindyourselftoosappedto
goon,busesreturnregularlyfromallthevalleystoDavos.Ifthisisn'tenough,nightsnowshoeingisyoursonanearbyfloodlittrack.Write:DavosTouristOffice,CH
7270DavosPlatz,SwitzerlandorphoneLanglaufZentrum(CrossCountryCenter)at4108354455.
Austria
ThemedievalwalledcityofKitzbhelisdistinguishedbylongandforestedvalleysidealforsnowshoers.Theareamaintainsapermanenttrailsystemwithdistances
between3and13kilometers(28miles)thatchallengealllevelsofsnowshoers.AmusttrytrailbeginsnearthebaseoftheHahnenkammatMaurachfeld.This14K
(9mile)trailonthePassThurnsideofKitzbhelfollowstheriverpastseveralroadsideinnstotheGasthausHechenmoos,apopularlocalgatheringplace.Write:The
TouristOffice,Hinterstadt18,A6370,Kitzbhel,Austriaorphone4353562155.
Italy
ConsideredItaly'smostglamorousresortarea,Cortinad'Ampezzobecamewellknownafterthe1956WinterOlympicGames,butitsshortseasonmid
DecemberthroughearlyAprillimitsitsattractionforsome.With52cablecarsandlifts,20mountainrestaurants,andaltitudesashighas2,800meters(9,184ft),
there'splentyofterraintoexplore.Acrosscountryskischool(ScuoladiSciperFondo)northoftownprovideswellplannedroutesforsnowshoersandNordic
aficionados.Thetrailsaremarkedandyoucangetinformationatthetouristofficeortheschoolabouttripsintothebackcountry.Ifyousnowshoeintothedeep
woods,theonlyvisiblesignsoflifemightbethetracksofmountaingoatandermine.Write:AziendaPromozioneTuristica,PiazettaS.Francesco,832043Cortina
d'Ampezzo,Italyorphone394363231.
Germany
With965kilometers(600miles)ofcrosscountrytrailstochoosefrom,theBlackForestregionofGermanyisidealforthesportsnowshoer.Someofthebestareas
arearoundTitiseeanduptheslopestotheFeldberg,thetallestmountainintheregion.Manyofthetrailstakeyouthroughcharmingcountrysidewithguesthousesand
hotelsalongtheway.ThisisGermany'sbestknowncrosscountryskiarea,andthepeopleextendawarminvitationtosnowshoerstojointhem.Write:German
NationalTouristOffices,122E.42ndSt.,52ndFloor,NewYork,NY10168orphone2126617200.

Page91

ScenicAustraliaandNewZealand

Withnearlyhalfthecontinentinthetropics,snowshoeinginAustraliaissomewhathamperedbylackofsnow.TherearesomeAustralianareasthatreceivesnowfall,
however,andmanythinktheabundantwintersnowofNewZealandmorethancompensatesforthemeageroutputofitsneighbor.
Australia
AlthoughsnowshoeingisnotyetwidelypopularinAustralia,theincreasingvarietyofsnowsportsofferedhereseemstoindicatethatitwon'tbelongbefore
snowshoeingcatcheson.
SnowshoersinAustraliawoulddowelltoconsiderafewdetails:ThefirstisthatthesnowseasoninAustraliaisshort,runningonlyfromJulythroughearlySeptember.
Thesecondisthatusingskiresortscanbeexpensiveliftticketsaverage$45ormore,andaccommodationsarelikewisepriceyintheresortareas.Thethirdisthat
youneedtocallaheadtomakesuresnowshoeingisallowedonaparticularresort'strails.
AlsoknowthatthereisonlyonemainAustralianregionwithsignificantsnowfall:theSnowyMountains.ThisrangestraddlestheborderbetweenVictoriaandNew
SouthWalesandcontainsthecontinent'shighestpeaks.TheSnowyMountainsarepartofAustralia'sGreatDividingRangeandliewithinKosciuskoNationalPark.
ThredboVillageislocatedatthebottomofMt.Crackenback,oneofthelongestdownhillsinthecountry.Thredbo'sskirunsaremoreheavilyforestedthanthoseof
itscompetitors,whichmakesthisresortoneofthemostpopularinAustralia.ThoughAustraliansnowfallcanbequiteunpredictable(manycomparetheAustralian
snowseasontothatofthenortheasternUnitedStates),atThredbotheupperhalfofthemountainusuallyhasgreatsnowandhugesnowfieldsthatstretchformiles,
makingtheirrunsbiggerthanmanyinSwitzerland.Inall,thereare64kilometers(40miles)oftrailsatThredbo.PhonetheThredboResortCentreat064576360or
ThredboSnowReportsat064574011.
Whentheweatherishospitableandthesnowplentiful,werecommendasnowshoeadventuretothetopofMt.Kosciusko.At2,228meters(7,310ft)it'sthehighest
peakinAustralia.Ifyou'refeelingparticularlyenergeticyoucansnowshoeup,butmostpeopletaketheMt.Crackenbackchairlifttothetop.Fromthetopofthelift
youcansnowshoetothesummitoverafairlyeasy3K(1.8mile)trail.Theviewfromthetopofthispeakiswellworththeeffort.PhoneKosciuskoNationalPark
VisitorsCentreat064562102.
AlthoughSmigginsHoleandPerisherValleyaretwoseparateski

Page92

Australia
1ThredboVillage
2Mt.Kosciusko
3SmigginsHole&PerisherValley
NewZealand
1Waiorau
2Arthur'sPassNationalPark
3Mt.Dobson
4Mt.Lyford
5Whakapapa

Page93

resorts,mostpeoplespeakoftheminterchangeably,asyoucanbuyoneliftticketandskiboth.Withover30skiliftsbetweenthem,theytogethercomprisethelargest
skiareainAustralia.InPerisherValley,werecommendtryingtheCharlottePassarea,recentlypopularinAustraliaforitsskitouringcountry.Thisisthehighestand
oneoftheoldestandmostremoteofAustralia'sskiresorts.Ifyouareadventurousandreadyforachallenge,snowshoesareidealinthisenvironment.Onechallenge
istosnowshoethetrailfromCharlottePasstoThredbo.
NewZealand
ManyAustraliansnowcometoNewZealandtoengageinwintersports.ThankstoNewZealand'smoretemperatelatitudesandhighermountains,theseasonhereis
longer(fromJunethroughaslateasmidNovember,dependingonthearea)andmorepredictable,thecostsarelower,andtherearemorechoicesofplacestogo.
TheonlycommercialNordicareainNewZealand,Waioraustandsoutasasnowshoeingdestination.Hereare25kilometers(15.5miles)ofgroomedtrailsand,
moreimportantforthesnowshoer,avastrolling,snowcoveredcountryside.Located26kilometers(16miles)fromWanakaonthePisaRange,highaboveLake
Wanaka,thisareaoffersincredibleviewsofthesurroundinglands.TheseasonrunsfromlateJunethroughlateSeptember.Phone034437542or034437544.

NewZealand'shighmountainsextendthesnowshoeingseason.
KawaruRafts,NewZealand

Page94

Justafewhours'drivefromChristchurch,Arthur'sPassNationalParkservesasthegatewaytotheWestCoastofNewZealand.Theparkhasahostel,service
station,hutsforseveralmountainclubs,andservesasthestartingpointforclimbingandsnowshoeingintotheSouthernAlps.Thisisagentlemountainousareawith
longvalleys,wellmaintainedhuts,andclearlymarkedtrails.Hoppingbetweenpassesfromonevalleytoanotherispossible,butrigorous,assnowliesdeepenough
onalltheMainDividepassestomakecrossingthemexhausting.Adaytripfromtheroadwillprovideawiderangeofalternativesleavingatdawnfromabaseat
Arthur'sPassvillageshouldallowyouenoughtimetosnowshoeuptoTempleBasin.
Ifyou'relookingforincrediblescenery,tryMt.Dobson,26kilometers(16miles)fromFairlie.SnowshoeingtothesummitofMt.Dobsonwillexhilarateyou,andthe
viewsfromthetoparebreathtaking.OnacleardayyoucanseeMt.Cook,thePacificOcean,andtheSouthernAlps.Phone036858039.
ThenewestcommercialskiareainNewZealandisMt.LyfordinNorthCanterbury,75kilometers(47miles)fromHanmerSprings.Builtinconjunctionwitha
wildernessretreat,Lyfordoffersanidylliccombinationofwintersports,includingcrosscountryskiing,iceskating,andhotsprings.Its15kilometers(9miles)of
groomedcrosscountrytrailsarenotextensive,butasnowshoerisnotlimitedtothose.Phone033430248.
LocatedontheNorthIslandandofferingthelargestareaofgroomedtrailsinNewZealandisWhakapapaintheTongariroNationalPark.Snowisgoodherefrom
JunethroughmidNovember.Phone078923738.
LimitlessAdventure

Don'tthinkyourtravelsarelimitedtotheplaceswehavelisted.Seekoutyourownidealsnowshoeingdestinations,orjustfindthemalongtheway.Ifyoutakeyour
snowshoeswithyouwhenyoutravel,you'llalwaysbepreparedtotakeadvantageofyoursurroundingsandexplorethelandaroundyou,whatevertheweather.
Remember,somewherearoundtheworldit'ssnowing,sotheonlylimitstoyoursnowshoeingtravelsarethoseofyourimagination.

Page95

6
PursuingSnowShoeingFurther
Areyouequipped?Areyouphysicallyfit?Areyoufamiliarwiththebasicsnowshoeingmovesandthehealthandsafetyissuesthatgoalongwithsnowshoeing?Ifyou
cananswer''yes"tothesequestions,youarereadytopursuesnowshoeingfurther.
Ifyouareathletic,oraspiretobeathletic,youmaywanttotakeupsnowshoerunningit'seasyonthebodyandcanbeawelcomealternativetoother,more
traditionalworkouts.Thosewhowantamorerelaxingoptionfortheirweekendoutingsmaywanttotakeuptheartoftrackingobservingthesignsofwildlifeiseasier
inthewinter,andsnowshoesaretheidealwaytopositionyourselfforsomegreatviewing.

Page96

Thelistofoptionsfortheexperiencedsnowshoerisopenended.Fromthetraditionalwinterbackpacking,camping,andmountainclimbingtothemodernorjust
plainsillysnowshoeultimateFrisbeeandsnowshoepokerwe'vedonejustabouteverythingonsnowshoesthatwecouldhavedoneonwarm,dryground.
Running

Peoplehavebeenrunningandracingonsnowshoesforalongtime,butrecentlysnowshoerunninghasgrownrapidlyinpopularity.Today,snowshoesaredesigned
specificallyforracing,andmoreandmoreshoerswantthespecialpleasuresandaerobicbenefitsthatrunninghastooffer.
Runningonsnowshoestakesonlyslightlymorethoughtthanrunningontheroadsortrails.Formostrunners,snowshoerunningwillbeanabsolutejoyandwonder.
Youhavefreedomtogowhereveryouwant,upanddownanyslope,atwhateverpaceyouchoose,andthevarietysnowrunningoffersmightmakeyoulookatyour
currentrunningregimentinawholenewlight.

Snowshoesgiveyouthefreedomtorunontopofthesnow.
JohnKelly

Page97
SAFETYTIP
Don'tconsiderstartingsnowshoerunningunlessyouarecomfortablebothwithrunningondrylandandhandlingthebasicsnowshoemoves.

Asfortechnique,itisimportanttotrytorunsmoothlyanddeveloparhythminyourstrideataconstantintensitylevel.Youalsoneedtoconcentrateonyourfooting,
becausetheamountoftractionyouhavecanvaryquicklyanddramatically.Lightlypackedsnowisthebestsurfaceforsnowshoerunning,asbreakingtrailincreases
theworkloadandenergycostsbyabout50%.
Economyofmovementwillloweryourworkloadandenhanceyourperformance.Tobecomeefficient,usetheleastamountoflegliftrequired

Efficientsnowrunningtechniquecanloweryourtimesanddecreasewastedenergy.
TeriHenderson

Page98

toraisetheshoeoutofthesnowandkeepyourfeetasclosetogetherasyoucan.Ifyouhaveeverruninhardpackedsandandlookedbackatyourpath,youwill
seethatyourfootprintsformastraightline.That'sbecausewhenyouarerunningyourfootplantisdirectlyunderyourbody'scenter.Trythesamewhen
snowshoeingyouwantaslittleoutswingandwaddlingaspossible.Asymmetricallyshapedsnowshoeswillhelpinthisregard.
Regularrunnerswillnoticeadifferenceinstresspointswhilesnowshoeing.Whenrunninguphill,thecalfmuscleisshortenedwhenyouwearsnowshoesbecausethe
heeldoesn'tland.Also,mostrunnersrequiretremendoushamstringstrength,asthisisthemusclegroupthatdrivesthelegforward.Incontrast,snowshoerunners
recruittheirquadsandhamstrings,thequadsbeingkeyinliftingtheextraweightofthesnowshoeoutofthesnow.
Foryourfirstsnowshoerun,startonaflattrailandgoslowlyasyouadjusttothebalanceandcoordinationskillsrequired.Mostfindthatonpackedsurfaces,
snowshoerunningrequiresabout2extraminutespermiletobeaddedtoyour10K(6.2mile)runningtimeifyouareasub40minuteracer,or3minutesaddedifyou
areabove40minutesfora10K.Thismeansthatsnowshoerunninghasroughlya25%to35%increaseinenergycostcomparedtorunningwithoutsnowshoes.For
anexperiment,compareyourtimesononeofyourusualrunningcoursesinnormalconditionswearingrunningshoeswithyourtimesinthewinterwearingsnowshoes.
TRAILTIP
Weallshoers,skiers,andsnowmobilersneedtosharetrailswithmutualrespect.WhensnowshoeingonNordicskitrails,takecaretostayoutofthediagonaltracksgroomed
ontheskatingtrailarea.

Dedicatingapairofrunningflatstoyourracingsnowshoesisoptimalandwillenhanceyourperformanceandcomfort.Formostmodelsandmanufacturers,youmust
jerryrigawaytoattachtheracingflatspermanentlytoyoursnowshoepivotsystem.Somemanufacturershavemodelsthatallowdirectmountingofyourrunning
shoes.Othersrequireyoutodisassembleandremovethebinding.Withadrill,makeholesthroughthemidsolesandoutersolesattheexactlocationwheretheexisting
fasteningscrewsareplaced,thenfastenyourshoesrighttheretothepivotsystem.Placeaplasticorthickinnersoleovertheflatheadscrewssoyoudon'tfeelthem.
(Note.Thisdirectattachmentsystemdoesnotworkonallsnowshoemodels.)
Dressappropriatelyforyourworkouts.Usuallythismeansdressingexactlyasyouwouldgoingforarun.Afannypackcanbehandytocarry

Page99

windpantsandajacketincasethetemperaturechanges.Twolayersareusuallyadequate:aventilationlayeroftightsandlongsleeve,pullpushfabrictopanda
thermallayerofpile.You'llusuallyremovethethermallayerafteryouhavewarmedup.
Carryyourhydrationpackorwaterbottles.Onanoutandbackcourse,youmightstashawaterbottleortwoforlaterretrieval.Youwilldefinitelyneedtopace
yourselfbecauseoftheincreasedworkloadit'seasytoreachyouranaerobicheartratethresholdquicklyifyoudon't.Ifnecessary,wearyourheartratemonitorto
holdyoubackfromtrainingintheupperzones.Snowshoerunningcanreallymakeyouwork.
COMMONSNOWSHOERUNNINGERRORS
Youcanavoidsomecommonproblemsearlyinyoursnowshoe
runningcareerbyfollowingtheguidelinesgiventosolvethese
problems:
Kneestoohigh:Formaximumeconomyofmovement,keeptoa
shufflinggaitwithkneeslow.
Stridetoowide:Again,forefficiencyandcomfort,trytokeep
yourfeetasclosetogetherasyoucan.
Toefirstfootplant:Bylandingonyourforefootratherthanthe
heel,youstrainyourcalfmuscles.Keepyourheelsdownjustas
whenrunningontheroads.
Footpain:Beginnersoftentightenthebindingsomuchthatthey
bruisethetopoftheirforefootthat'sjustnotnecessary.
Nickedankles:Becauseofthewidthofsnowshoes,itiscommon
forsnowshoerunnerstonicktheinsidesoftheirankles,whichin
shoers'lingoiscalled"drawingblood."Thebestpreventionisto
lightlyoutkickasyourfootswingsforwardortouseasymmetrical
snowshoes.Usually,theforwardmedialportionofthetoeiswhat
strikestheankle,especiallyiftheshoedoesnottrackstraight.

Racing

Snowshoeracingatthispointhasregionalcharacteristics.Multisportracessuchaswinterduathlons,triathlons,andquadrathlonsarepopularinthewesternUnited
States.Hillclimbsanduntracked,trailbreakingandbush

Page100

whackingcoursesareprevalentintheRockies.Preparedcourses,oftensnowcoveredrunningtracks,arepopularintheeasternUnitedStatesandCanada.
Duathlonsandtriathlonsareincreasinginpopularity,withotherwintersportssuchasNordicskiing,iceskating,ormountainbikingbeingcombinedwithsnowshoeing.
Fortheseevents,quickreleasebindingsinthesnowshoeshavebeendesignedusingbungeecordtypeheelstraps.

Snowshoeracingallowsyoutoexperiencethethrillofcompetition.
CarlHeilmanII

Thesnowshoeracingcommunityiscurrentlystrugglingwithregulationsforthesport.Issuessuchastheminimumsizeofthesnowshoeandthetypeofracecourse
venuearehotdiscussiontopics.However,itisimportanttorememberthatasnowshoe'sbasicpurposeistoprovideflotationoversnow.Ifaracecourseisdesignedin
suchawayastoencouragethosecompetitorswhosesnowshoesprovidegoodflotation,thentheissueofsnowshoesizeiseliminated.Ifaracedirectorplotsa
racecoursethatissohardpackedthatonemightaseasilyraceinapairofrunningshoesalone,thenthecourseistheproblem.
Assnowshoerunningandracinghavegrown,governingbodiessuchastheCanadianSnowshoeUnionhavetriedtoorganizeandstandardizethe

Page101

sport.Amongthegoalsofthesegroupsistopreservethetraditionofwoodensnowshoesbyrecommendingseparatedivisionsfortraditionalandsportsnowshoes.
Theyarealsotryingtosetrulesstandardizingsnowshoeframegeometry.
Somesnowshoerunnersbelievethatthesportshouldremainasitis.withoutstandardization.Thosewhodisagreebelievethatstandardizationofequipment,distances,
andrulesisamustforfaircompetition.Eitherway,theseissuesarefarfromsettled,andindividualinputcanreallymakeadifferenceatthisformativestageinthe
evolutionofsnowshoerunningandracing.
CampingandMountaineering

Ifyouaretheruggedtypewhowantstogetawayfromitall,wintercampingandmountaineeringareforyou.Thereisnotimelikethewintertoexplorethewildand
scenicoutdoors,andsometimesjustgoingoutfordayhikescangetprettylimiting.
However,thereareserioustradeoffsfortheluxuryofgoingwhereothersaren'tandstayingoutlongerthisisnotapastimetobetakenlightly.Ifyouthinkyouarea
competentcamperandoutdoorspersoninthesummer,that'sagoodstart,butit'sonlypartofwhatyouneedtoheadoutintothesnowforextendedperiodsoftime.
Safetybecomesparamount.Atleastoneandpreferablytwomembersofyourpartyshouldknowfirstaid,includingavalancherescuetechniques.Settingoutona
whimwithjustafriendortwohasbecomeathingofthepast.Beingasuccessfulwintercamperandmountaineeralsomeansbeingathoroughplanner,andthemore
knowledgeablecompanionsyouhavegoingouttherewithyou,thebetter.
Thelistofgearyouwillneedtotakeexpandsseeminglygeometrically,becauseunlikethedayshoer,youneedtoprovideforwarmth,food,andshelter.Youshould
refertotechnicalbooksonyourtopic(backcountrycamping,iceclimbing,etc.)forcompletedescriptionsofyourgearneeds,becausetheyareextensiveandvery
specific.
Forstarters,you'llwantalonghandlediceax,notskiorsnowshoepoles.Youwillalsoneedashorttechnicalaxforiceclimbingandalonghandledaxfor
snowshoeing.Youcanretrofitoneendofalonghandledaxwithaskipolebaskettomakeitmoreuseful,butmakesureyoucaneasilytakethebasketonandoff.
Regardingclothing,onceyoustartwintercampingandmountaineering,youenterthetruethreelayergrouplayersforventilation,insulation,andwater/windresistance
areimperative.Andtherearetradeoffsinhowyou

Page102

Snowshoesmakewintercampingandexploringeasierandmoreenjoyable.
DugaldBremner

gearup.Thetradeoffhereiscostinweightversuscostincash.Themoreapparelandgearandthemorebeefyyourfootwear,themorethecostinworkload.Of
course,cuttingedgeequipmentandclothinggetlighterandlightereachyear,butthereistheothercostfinancial.Itisbesttoexperimentuntilyoufindacombination
thatworksindifferentweatherconditionsanddoesn'trequireyoutocarrytoomuchweightorspendtoomuchmoney.

Page103

Tracking

Ifyouliketakingyouroutingsataslowerpace,trackingisforyou.Thisisanactivitythatrewardsthepatientandthecarefulbutstillcanbeanexcitingwaytospenda
dayinthewinteroutdoors.
Basically,trackingisaboutseeingopeningupyoursensestothebroaderenvironmentyouenterinthesnowcoveredwilds.Ifyou'vewatchedadeerorarabbitin
thewild,youcansensehowattunedtheyaretotheirenvironment.Theyareconstantlyputtingtheirnosestothewind,flickingtheirearsinalldirectionstopickup
sounds,anddartingtheireyestopickupmovement.Theseanimalsarecompletelyinvolvedintheconstantcheckingofalltheirsenses.Andwehumans?Weareso
involvedinoururbanexperiencesandremovedfromissuesofdaytodaysurvivalthatwe'veforgottenhowtowatchandlisten.
Wesuggestthatyoumakethemostofthetimeyouspendinthewildbymakinguseofallyoursenses.Seeingthewildworldattentivelymaytakealittleknowledge,
practice,andcare,butitcanbeveryrewarding.

Themoreyoulearnabouttracking,themorefunitbecomes.
CarlHeilmanII

Page104

Equippingyourselfwithsomeinformationbeforehand,suchaslearningthetracksofafewcommonanimals,isavaluablefirststep.Alightsnowacalm,sunnyday
andatrailareallyouneedtogetstarted.Tounderstandananimalanditslifeyoushouldnotmerelyidentifyitstracksbutalsofollowtheprintsforadistance.Asyou
do,younoticethechangesinthetracksthedistancebetweenleapsorsteps,thepausesforfood.Trytodeterminewhytheanimalmayhaveboltedoffquicklyor
paused.Arethereothertracksnearby?Wasthisanimalhunting,orbeinghunted?Whatstoriesmayhavebeenplayedouthere?Suchquestionsareofteneasier
answeredonasnowtrailinthewinterthanonadustypathinthesummer.
EarthWatch
Thereisabigdifferencebetweenrespectfullyobservingorphotographingananimalfromadistanceandcarelesslyintrudingintoitshomeanddisturbingitsbreeding,feeding,or
restingpatterns.Keepyourdistance!

Whentrackingthroughthewintersnowfields,youmaywanttobringasmallpairofbinoculars,aspiralnotebook,apen,andaruler.Ifyouwanttorecordthetrails
youfind,youmightalsobringacameraequippedwithagoodpolarizingfilter.Therulerandpadcomeinhandyifyou'renotsureaboutyouridentificationofthetracks
andneedtomakesomenotesonthesizeoftheprintorroughdrawingsformorethoroughinvestigationwhenyougetbackhome.
BeingaSnowshoer

WehavebeentoldthatoneoftheculturalandpoliticalimperativesinJapantodayiswatchdobe.Forexample,manyenjoywatchingsportingeventsbutstillknow
itisbettertodothem.Thefinalstage,tobe,isnotonlyaJapanesegoalbutcanbeoursaswell.
ThispastyearSallyracedinherfirstwintermultisportracetheMt.TaylorQuadrathlon.Thefoursporteventstartedat6,000feet(1,829m)andfinishedatthetop
ofNewMexico'sMt.Tayloratanelevationof11,000feet(3,353m).
Theracestartedatawarm36Fahrenheit(2.2C).Thefirstlegwasa13mile(21km)bikeride,ascending1,500feet(457m)andleadingintoa5mile(8km)
snowshoerun,withanother1,500foot(457m)gainin

Page105

elevation.Atthecompletionoftherun,snowbegantofallandthewindsstartedtogust.Donningcrosscountryskis,thecompetitorsclimbedanother1,500feet(457
m)in2.5miles(4km).Atthefinaltransitionitwasclearhowcolditwaswhenthecupsofwatervolunteerspassedouthadalreadyturnedtoice.
AtthetopofMt.Taylorflagswhippedwithloudcracksasthewindsgustedatover30miles(48km)perhour.Foodanddrinkswereoffered,buttheonlythought
onthecompetitors'mindswastogetoffthismountain.Thedescentwasthesameastheascent,withnorelieffromwindorsnowduringanyofthefourlegsoverthe
entire21mile(34km)return.
Onewonderswhy600athleteswouldforgethealtitude,thecold,thewind,thedistance,thehours,thehighheartrates,thefatigue,andthe

Watchinganddoingaregoodfirststeps,butbeingasnowshoer
istheultimate.
R.Bossi

Page106

hardshipwhentheycouldhavespenttheirSaturdaymorningwatchingtherace(orthetelevision)instead.Surelytheoccasionalshoers,cyclists,andrunners,whomay
enjoytheirhobbyonlywhenitiscomfortable,wouldneverhavesetfootuponthemountainthatday.
HowdidSallygettothefinishline?And,moreimportantly,whywasshethere?Wethinkit'sbecausewehavegonepastwatchinganddoingandhavecometobe.
Wearenowexplorersofthewinterlandscapewho,withphysicaltrainingandreliableequipment,knowonlytheboundsofourimaginations.Wehavecometobe
snowshoers.Wehopeyoubecomesnowshoers,too.

Page107

Appendix:
ForMoreInformation
Organizations
Thereiscurrentlyonlyoneactive,largescalesnowshoeingorganization.Youmaycontactthemfordetailsonmembership,races,etc.
InternationalAmateurSnowshoeRacingFederation
CanadianSnowshoeAssociation
9Beriault
Hull,Qubec,J8X1A1,Canada
OtherReading
CrossCountrySkiingandSnowshoeingbyErwinA.Bauer
WinchesterPress,NewYork,1975.
TheSnowshoeBookbyWilliamOsgoodandLeslieHurley
TheStephenGreenePress,Lexington,MA,1971.
SnowshoeingbyGenePrater
TheMountaineers,Seattle,1988.
WalkintoWinter:ACompleteSnowshoeingandWinterCampingGuidebyGerryWolfram
CharlesScribner'sSons,NewYork,1977.

Page108

SnowshoeManufacturers
Companiesthatdistributetheirsnowshoesonaregionalornationallevelthroughretailersordistributorsarelistedhere.Itisimpossibletogiveprices,models,orother
specificinformationbecauseproductlinesarealwayschanging.Pleasecontactthemanufacturerdirectlyforcurrentinformation.
SportSnowshoes
AtlasSnowshoeCompany
81LafayetteStreet
SanFrancisco,CA94103
4157030414
BelleChaseSnowshoes
IELLimited
P.O.Box340
StDamien,Quebec
CanadaG0R2Y0
4187892585
Note.Plasticsnowshoesonly.
GoodThunderSnowshoes
3945AldrichAvenueSouth
Minneapolis,MN55409
6128242385
NorthernLites
1300ClevelandAvenue
Wausau,WI54401
800360LITE
PraterSnowshoes
1201NorthAStreet
Ellensburg,WA98926
5099621864
RedfeatherSnowshoes
1280UteAvenue,#20
Aspen,CO81611
8005250081

Page109

YubaShoesSportSnowshoes
2412JStreet
Sacramento,CA95816
800598YUBAor9164416300
TraditionalSnowshoes
AttikamekSnowshoe
TheTrustforNativeAmericanCulturesandCrafts
Box142
Greenville,NH03048
6038782944
Note.ThisisanonprofitfoundationengagedinthedocumentationofthetraditionaltechnologiesandsurvivalskillsofthenorthernNativeAmericans.
AveryandSons
P.O.Box339,ParadiseRoad
Whitney,Ontario
CanadaK0J2M0
6136372825
ColeAlpineManufacturing
6114164thAvenueS.E.
Issaquah,WA98027
2067462230
FaberSafesportSnowshoeCompany
P.O.Box100
Loretteville,Quebec
CanadaG2B3W6
4188428476
Green'sCustomSnowShoes
R.D.1
Broadlibin,NY12025
5188833703

Page110

HavlickSnowshoeCompany
2513StateHighway30,DrawerQQ
Mayfield,NY12117
5186616447
IversonSnowshoeCompany
P.O.Box85
Shingleton,MI49884
9064526370
RaquettesAigleNoir,Inc.
251,BoulevardLaRiviere
CP250Loretteville,Quebec
CanadaG2A1H2
4188424045
SherpaOutdoorProducts
444S.PineStreet
Burlington,WI53105
8006212277
StoweSnowshoeCompany(Tubbs)
P.O.Box207
Stowe,VT05672
8022537398
MountaineerSnowshoes
RamerProducts,Ltd.
1803SouthFoothillsHighway
Boulder,CO803037466
3034994466
SnowshoeKits
WilcoxandWilliamsKits
6105HalifaxAvenue
Edina,MN55424
6129294935

Page111

SnowshoeingLingo
agehardeningSnowthathasbeenonthegroundlongenoughwillcondenseandpack.InareaslikeBritishColumbia,thisprocessmayoccurafteronly20to30
minutesontheground.Agehardenedsnowisalsocalled''consolidatedsnow."
AlaskanAnelongated,teardropshapedsnowshoeframe.Alsocalledthe"Yukon,""Pickerel,""crosscountry,"or"trail"snowshoe.
AlgonquinAwide,teardropshapedsnowshoeframe.Alsoknownasthe"Maine,""Michigan,"or"beavertail."
anorakAnouterlayerjacketforcoldweather,usuallyapulloverstylewindbreaker.
balljointfatigueWalkingorrunningwithawaddleorstraddlestance(suchasthatcausedbyespeciallywidesnowshoes)placesthelegatanunnaturalangle.This
stressesthehipjointandtendonsrapidly,especiallywhentheextraweightofsnowshoesandgeararefactoredin.
barebootWhenthesnowishardandcrusty,youcanmakebetterprogress,especiallybykickstepping,withoutsnowshoeson,insteadofwearingjustyour"bare
boots."
bearpawTheoriginalroundandwidesnowshoeframegeometry.
beavertailAwide,teardropshapedsnowshoeframe.Alsoknownasthe"Maine,""Michigan,"or"Algonquin."

Page112

bindingThepartofasnowshoethatattachestothefootwear.Intraditionalsnowshoes,bindingsareoftencalled"riggings."Bindingscomeinsuchdesignsasthe
"H"andthe''A,"socalledbecauseoftheirshape.
bootiesUsuallymadefromneopreneorlightweightnylon,theseareusedtocovernonboottypeshoestokeepthemwarmanddry.
breakingtrailThetaskoftheleadsnowshoer,whostepsorstompsthroughthesnowtomakeasolidpathforotherstofollow.
bushwhackcourseThisisatypeofsnowshoecoursedesignedtobeoffstrailandtocutthroughuntrackedsnowandbushes.Suchacourseisinsharpcontrastto
thegroomedandpackedsnowshoetrailsusuallyfoundatNordicresorts.
carryingsurfaceThesurfaceareaofasnowshoethelargerthesurfacearea,themoreflotationandsupportforthesnowshoer.
clawLikeacramponbutwithcomparativelyshortserrations.Clawsareanangletractiondeviceattachedtosportsnowshoes.Theygivea"grip"comparabletothat
providedbythewebbingoftraditionalsnowshoesandareusedinconditionswhereiceorsteepsurfacesarenotencountered.
cramponGenerallymadefromheattreatedaluminumortemperedcarbonsteel,thistractiondevicemaybeattachedtoasnowshoe'spivotrodtopreventslippage.
Cramponsor"cramps"areparticularlynecessaryinconditionswhereiceorsteepterrainiscommon.
deckingThesolidpieceofrubberlikematerialattachedtothebottomofasnowshoeframethatprovidesflotationforthesnowshoer.Mostsportsnowshoedecks
aremadeofHypalonandattachedwithaluminumrivets.Intraditionalsnowshoes,deckingisknownas"webbing"andisattachedwithsyntheticorrawhidelacing.
doublestepAsnowshoetechniqueinwhichyoustampdownwithabout50%ofyourweightontheforwardsnowshoeandhesitateforasecond.Duringthissplit
second,thesnowconsolidatesor"agehardens,"firmingupforaddedflotation.
drawingbloodNickingtheinsidesofyourankleswithyoursnowshoes.Thisisamorecommonproblemwithsymmetricalorespeciallywideshoes.
duathlonAcompetitivesportincludingtwoactivities.Forexample,awinterduathlonmightconsistofasnowshoeing/crosscountryskiingorice
skating/snowshoeingcombination.

Page113

falllineTheshortestdistancedownaslope.Thedirectionperpendiculartotheground,whichanobject(you,arock,snow)wouldfall.
flotationTheamountofloftprovidedbysnowshoes.Themoretheflotationthebetterbecauseyouwillsinklessintothesnow.
framegeometryThesizeandshapeofasnowshoeframe.
glissadeAcontrolledglide.
heelstrapsThepartofthesnowshoebindingthatsecurestheheel.Itisastrapthatwrapsaroundthebackoftheshoer'sfootwear.
hoarfrostThewhite,icelikefrostthatcollectsontheoutsideofyourgarmentsasreleasedperspirationfreezestotheexteriorofyourclothing."Depthhoar"is
crystalline,nonpackingfrostthatformsbeneaththesnow'ssurfaceduringlongperiodsofextremesubzerotemperaturesitcanbehighlyunstable.
HypalonArubberizedsyntheticdeckingmaterialmadebyDuPontthatwhitewaterrafts,snowshoedecks,partsofathleticshoes,andotheritemsaremadefrom.It
doesn'tstain,itisresistanttoultravioletraysthatcancausefadingorfabricdecay,andwhenpuncturedorcutitresistsfurthertearing.
kicksteppingAsnowshoetechniqueusedforclimbingstraightuphill.Youstamptheshoeandcramponhardintothesnowperpendiculartothefallline,creatinga
"step"forthenextshoer.
lacingSameaswebbing.
LeathermanAbackpacker'stoolthatincludesascrewdriver,saw,awl,pliers,knives,andmoreitisveryusefulifyouneedtorepairyourgearinanemergency.
LoftInsulatedpaddingforwarmth,asinasleepingbag.
MaineAwide,teardropshapedsnowshoeframe.Alsoknownasthe"Michigan,""Algonquin,"or"beavertail."
mastercordFoundintraditionalsnowshoes,itistheheavycordingintherearofthetoeholethatsupportsthebindings.
MichiganAwide,teardropshapedsnowshoeframe.Alsoknownasthe"Maine,""Algonquin,"or"beavertail."
OjibwaAsnowshoeframewithpointedtoeandtail.
PickereAnelongated,teardropshapedsnowshoeframe.Alsocalledthe"Yukon,""Alaskan,""crosscountry,"or''trail"snowshoe.

Page114

pivotrod/barUsuallymadeofasolidmaterialsuchasaluminum,thisrodattachestotheframeandallowsthefootandbindingtorotateasthesnowshoermoves
forward.Somepivotsystemsaremadefromrubberizedmaterialwithelasticproperties.Intraditionalsnowshoeing,thisisknownasthe"crossmemberforward."
pointsThesharpandsturdyspikesorteethonacramponorclawusedfortraction,especiallywhenclimbing.Alsocalledspikes.
postholingSinkingintothesnowwhentakingsteps.Theoppositeofflotation.
pulkAsmallsnowsledpulledbysnowshoers,skiers,mushers(dogsledders),reindeer(mostlyinScandinavia),andrunners.Pulksaremadefromwoodor
fiberglassandcomeinseveralshapesandsizes.
shoeingTheactofsnowshoeing.
shoerAnyonewhosnowshoes.
shufflestepSnowshoerunningstyleinwhichyoutaketheweightoffthesnowshoeandshuffleitahead.Usedonlyonwellpackedtrailsovermoderatelysloping
terrain,thisstrideisbestusedforlongdistancesnowshoerunsortramps.
snowpolesDistinguishedfromskipolesbytheiroversizedbaskets,snowpolesareusedforstability,provideanupperbodyworkout,andcanbeconvertedintoan
avalancheprobeforsafety.
snowshoeslidingAdownhilltechniquesimilartoaglissade,withthesnowshoesactingasmodifiedskis.Thefeetmaytakeeitheraparallelordiagonalstance.
tailTherearareaofasnowshoe.Therearecurved,pointed,short,andlongtailshapes.Inthepast,thetailservedasasortofrudderdragginginhelpedkeepthe
shoepointedstraightahead.
toeholeTheopeninginthefrontdeckingthatallowstheforefoottopivotthroughacompleterangeofmotion.
trailtreaderInasinglelineofsnowshoersthisistherearor"whipperin"position.
trampArecreationalsnowshoeeventbeguninthemid1800sasawinteroutingorcrosscountryworkout.
traversingAsnowshoetechniqueinwhichtheshoerkicksthesnowshoesidewaysintoaslope,movingdiagonallyacrosstheslope'sface.Also,steppingsideways
intotheslopeandstampingdown,therebyforcingthe

Page115

edgeofthesnowshoeintotheslope.Thistechniqueisnotrecommendedbecauseofthesnowshoes'lackoflateraltraction.
tuqueAknittedhatadornedwithatasselonthetop,thetraditionalheadgearforsnowshoers.
webbedfeetAnicknameforsnowshoers.Awebisanothertermforatraditionalsnowshoe.
webbingTheinterwovendeckingthatservesasthecarryingsurfacefortraditionalsnowshoes,usuallymadeofrawhideorneoprene.
WesternsTheoriginalsmall,lightweight,modernsnowshoesfirstdevelopedintheearly1950s.Madefromaircraftqualityaluminumwithasolidneoprene/nylon
deckinglacedtotheframe.
WestoverAsnowshoeframewithastubby,squaredofftail,namedforitsdesigner,FloydWestoverofMeco,Vermont,whopioneerednotonlyitsframe
geometrybutalsotheuseofnylonreinforcedneoprenewebbing.
YukonAnelongated,teardropshapedsnowshoeframe.Alsocalledthe"Pickerel,""Alaskan,""crosscountry,"or"trail"snowshoe.

Page117

Index
A
Accessories,2628,3031
AdirondackStatePark,NewYork,78
Aerobicexercise,52,5658
Alaska,71,8081
Allen,Benjamin,23
Alpineresorts,70
Alps,88,90
Altitudesickness,62
Animals.SeeWildlife
AppalachianTrail,78
Arthur'sPassNationalPark,NewZealand,94
Ashcroft,Colorado,75
Aspen,Colorado,75
Athleticshoes,17,21,23,98
Australia,9193
Avalanches,4647,60,64,101
Aviemore,Scotland,85
B
Backpacking,7,2021
Balaclava,26,30
Banff,Alberta,81
Basket,snowpole,28,101
Bindings,1315,39,43,48,98
quickrelease,15,100
Binoculars,104
BlackForest,Germany,90
BlackstrapProvincialPark,Saskatchewan,81,84
BlueRidgeParkway,NorthCarolina,80
Booties,21,2324,30
Boots,21,2324
Breakingtrail,37,42,45,97,99100
Breathing,hard,62
Breckenridge,Colorado,75
Browning,John,77
Bushwhacking,38,45,60,99100
C
Cairngorms,Scotland,85
Camping,67,1920,23,101102
Canada,8185
CanadianSnowshoeUnion,100,107
Cardiorespiratoryfitness,52,55
CascadeMountains,71
Chamonix,France,88
CharlottePass,Australia,93
Chills,61
Claws,1314,18,21,34,3940
Clothing,2127,2930,99
Clubs,4,100,107
Compasses,30,64
Conditioning.SeeFitness
Coordination,53
Cord,31,64
Cortinad'Ampezzo,Italy,90
Crampons,1314,18,21,34,3940
Crosscountryresorts.SeeNordicresorts
Crosstraining,6,8,1922
D
DartmoorNationalPark,England,87
Davos,Switzerland,90
Decking,1314,1819
Dehydration,25,29,62
DelawareWaterGapNationalRecreationArea,78
Dillon,Colorado,75

Page118

Disorientation,61
Downhilling,35,4345
Drawingblood,99
E
EagleMountain,California,7475
Earbands,30
Elevationsickness.SeeAltitudesickness
Endurancesnowshoeing,58
Equipment,2731,64,99,101102.
SeealsoSnowshoesClothingAccessories
checklist,3031
renting,29,70
Erosion,69,71
Etiquette.SeeTrailetiquette
Europe,western,8890
Exercise.SeeFitness
F
Fallline,39,42
Fatigue,6162
Felkley,David,75
Fireroads,68
Firstaidkit,30
Fitness,5159
Fitnessclasses,57
Flagging,30,64
Flares,30
Flashlights,30
Flexibility,53
Flotation,1213,1820
Foodandbeverages,29,31,68,99
Footwear,17,21,2325,30,98
Frames,1315,21,36,9899,101
FrenchCreekStatePark,Pennsylvania,7879
Frostbite,61,63
Fullmoonsnowshoewalk,3,8
FundyNationalPark,NewBrunswick,85
G
Gaiters,2325,30
Gear.SeeEquipment
Gettinglost.SeeStayingfound
Glencoe,Scotland,85
GlenmoreForestPark,Scotland,85
Glenshee,Scotland,85
Gloves,27,30
Golfcourses,snowshoeing,70
GrampianMountains,Scotland,85
GrandCanyon,Arizona,71
H
Hand/pocketwarmers,30
Headache,62
Headgear,26,30
Headlamps,30
Heartratemonitors,52,99
Heatexhaustion,62
Heilman,Carl,II,4849
Herringbonestepping,43,45
Hiking.SeeBackpacking
Hillclimbs,5859
Hypothermia,25,61
I
Ice,4748,60,64
Iceax,28,30,101
Iceclimbing,20,101
Iditashoerace,23,8081
Injuries,7,18,6061.
SeealsoSafety
InternationalAmateurSnowshoeRacingFederation,100,107
Intervalsnowshoeing,5859
Itineraries,64
J
Jumping,19,4445
K
Keystone,Colorado,75
Kickstepping,4142,45
Kickturns.SeeStepturns
Kitzbhel,Austria,90
Knives,64
KosciuskoNationalPark,Australia,91
KouchibouguacNationalPark,NewBrunswick,85
L
LacBeaufort,Qubec,85
LakeDistrictNationalPark,England,85,87
LakeEldora,Colorado,75
LakeLouise,Alberta,81
Lateralstepping.SeeTraversing
Laurentians,Qubec,85
Layeringclothing,21,25,30,99,101

Page119

Leatherman,31
Lecht,Scotland,85
Lessons,7
Lindsey,Herb,6,5960
Lutsen,Minnesota,77
Lyons,Shawn,23
M
Machines,workout,5759
MactaquacProvincialPark,NewBrunswick,85
Mailorder,29,108110
Maintenance,snowshoe,13
MammothLakes,California,75
Manufacturers,snowshoe,29,108110
Maps,30,64,69,75
Maskall,Marty,89
Matches,30
Mequon,Wisconsin,77
Mittens,27,30
Moccasins,23
MonongahelaNationalForest,WestVirginia,80
Montreal,Qubec,85
Mountaineering,6,1921,101102
Mt.Bachelor,Oregon,7576
Mt.Crackenback,Australia,91
Mt.Dobson,NewZealand,94
Mt.Hood,Oregon,76
Mt.HoodSnowshoeRace,6
Mt.Kosciusko,Australia,91
Mt.Lyford,newZealand,94
Mt.TaylorQuadrathlon,104105
Mukluks,23
Musclestrength,52
N
NativeAmericansnowshoeing,4,23,109
Nausea,62
Neckgaiters,30
Nederland,Colorado,75
Nelson,Lyle,6
NewZealand,9294
Nordicresorts,70,98
O
"108"MileRanch,BritishColumbia,81
Organizations.SeeInternationalAmateurSnowshoeRacingFederation
P
Packs,30,98
ParcduMontSainteAnne,Qubec,85
ParkCity,Utah,7677
Parksystems,68,69,71
PaulSmithCollege,78,84
Pennines,England,85,87
PerisherValley,Australia,91,93
Pivotsystems,1315,18,21,39,98
Points.SeeCrampons
Postholing,37,46,49
PowderRidge,Connecticut,78
Progressiontraining,55
Publiclands.SeeParksystems
Pulse,rapid,62
Q
Qubec,cityof,Qubec,85
R
Races,6,74,77,99101,104105
Racing.SeeRunning
Reading,additional,107
Rentingequipment,29,70
Repair,snowshoe,31,64
Reststepping,39,45
Returnsystems,1819,44
RockyMountains,71
Rope,31,48
Running,6,2022,95101
S
Safety,7,5155,6064,68,101
Scrambling,3940,45
Sidekicking,4041,45.
SeealsoTraversing
Sidestepping,42,45
Size/weightcharts,19
Skiresorts,snowshoeing,70,91,98
Skillschecklist,45
SmigginsHole,Australia,91,93
Snoparks,68
SnoqualmiePass,Washington,77
Snow,20,36,4547
bridges,48
conditionsandsnowshoemodels,1213
Snowblindness,63
Snowboarding,20
SnowdoniaNationalPark,Wales,87

Page120

Snowmobiling,20
Snowpoles,2728,30,3639,41,44,52
Snowshoeing
historyof,4
techniques,3545
typesof,6,1920
versusskiing,7
Snowshoes.
SeealsoSportsnowshoesTraditionalsnowshoes
kindsof,1221
Snowshoewaddle,13,36,98
transporting,7
Snowsliding,18,35,4344,70
SnowyMountains,Australia,91
Socks,30
Specificitytraining,55
Sportsnowshoes,1618,2021
backcountry,16
crosstraining,17
directmount,17,98
racing,1718,2021
walking,16
Western,4
St.Jean,Qubec,84
Stamping,36,45
Stayingfound,64
Stepturns,3637
Stretching,53,5658,60
Striding,36,45
SummitCounty,Colorado,75
Sunburn,63
SundayRiver,Maine,78
Sunglasses,27,30,63
Sunscreen,30,63
Switchbacking,39,45
T
Tape,31,64
ThredboVillage,Australia,91
Toein.SeeKickstepping
TongariroNationalPark,NewZealand,94
Tools,31,64
Toronto,Ontario,84
Tracking,95,103104
Traditionalsnowshoes
bearpaws,4,15
lacing,18
typesof,15
Trailetiquette,71,98
Trailpasses,70
Trails,64,6869,70,98
Trainingplans,5559
Tramps,snowshoe,4
Traversing,18,35,3941.
SeealsoSidekicking
Tubb's10KSeriesraces,77
Turning,3637,45
25degreerule,22
U
UnitedKingdom,8587
UnitedStates,7180
Usecharts,19,20
V
Vail,Colorado,75
W
Waiorau,NewZealand,93
Walking,6,1920
Wands,64.
SeealsoFlagging
Warminghuts,70,75
Water,31,63,68,99
Weather,4548,61,68
Weighttraining,5659
Whakapapa,NewZealand,94
Whistle,30
Wildlife,68,71,103104
Windchill,61
Y
YellowstoneNationalPark,Wyoming,77
YosemiteNationalPark,California,71,74
YubaShoeMarathon,74

Page121

AbouttheAuthors

MelissaMcKenzieandSallyEdwards

SallyEdwardsandMelissaMcKenzie,bothavidsnowshoers,arethecofoundersofYubaShoesSportSnowshoes,amanufacturingcompanyofhighperformance
snowshoes.
Edwardshasbeencommittedtofitnessallherlife.Oneofthefoundersoftriathloncompetition,shehascompleted13Ironmantriathlons,finishinginthetopfiveinthe
master'soropendivisionineach.Shecompetedinthe1984OlympicMarathonTrialsandsetthewomen'srecordatthe1993Iditashoe100MileSnowshoeRacein
Alaskawithatimeof24hours,1minute.Shehaswondozensofotherenduranceevents,includingthemaster'sdivisionofthe1994Mt.TaylorQuadrathlon,a
combinationofsnowshoeing,crosscountryskiing,running,andcycling.

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InadditiontoSnowshoeing,Edwardshaswritten7booksonsports,fitness,anddietandmorethan300magazineandnewspaperarticles.Sheisawellknown
professionalspeakerandthenationalspokespersonfortheDanskinWomen'sTriathlonSeriessince1990.OneofthefoundersofTriathlonFederation/USA,she
servedasitsvicepresidentforsevenyears.
Edwardsearnedhermaster'sdegreeinexercisephysiologyfromtheUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeley,in1970andherMBAfromNationalUniversityin1986.
MelissaMcKenzieleftherjobasamarketingexecutiveforacellulartelephonecompanytolaunchYubaShoeswithSallyEdwards.HavingearnedherMBAfrom
BostonUniversityin1986,McKenziewasnostrangertothecorporateenvironment.YubaShoesbecameherfirstentrepreneurialventure,allowinghertocombine
vocationandavocation.
McKenzie'slifelonginterestintheoutdoorsandherbachelor'sdegreeinbiology,withanemphasisonbotanyandecology,allowedhertomakemajorcontributionsto
thechaptersinthisbookthatfocusonnature.AmemberoftheSierraClubandtheNationalAudubonSociety,McKenziehopestoinspireotherstobecomemore
familiarwiththegreatoutdoors.
Acknowledgments
ToDonnaLee,forherartistryandcraftsmanship.Withouther,thisbookwouldbealesserthing.
Wealsoowethankstooursidebarcontributors:
MartyMaskallistheeditorofTheAttitudeTreasury:101InspiringQuotationsandTheAthenaTreasury:101InspiringQuotationsbyWomen.Contactherat
P.O.Box1765,FairOaks,CA95628.
JohnBrowningownsWildernessConnection,anoutdoorspecialtystoreinMequon,Wisconsinandisanexpertontraditionalsnowshoes.Hecanbereachedat
6077W.MequonRd.,Mequon,WI53092.We'regratefulforhisassistanceinourdiscussionofthevarioustraditionalsnowshoemodels.
CarlHeilmanII,knownforhishandcraftedmountaineeringandrecreationalsnowshoes,hasbeenanavidsnowshoersincemakinghisfirstpairin1974.AsNew
YorkStatelicensedguides,heandhiswifehavebeenleadingsnowshoeingworkshopssince1985.ContacthimatRoute8,RR1,Box213A,BrantLake,NY
12815.
HerbLindsey,formerAmerican10,000meterrecordholder,challengedthebesttowintheoverallmen'sdivisionatthe1993Mt.HoodSnowshoeRace.Writehim
atP.O.Box767,Washburn,WI54891.

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