Snowshoeing has come a long way from its origins as a necessary mode of transportation during winter to a popular and enjoyable recreational activity today. For those seeking to explore snow-covered landscapes, it offers a relatively easy way to venture out without needing extensive skills or equipment.
This beginner’s guide will introduce you to the world of snowshoeing, discussing essential gear, basic techniques, and the benefits of experiencing nature in a whole new light.
So, whether you’re an avid hiker looking to extend your outdoor adventures into colder months or simply seeking a new way to embrace the joys of a snowy landscape, snowshoeing could be the perfect choice for you.
Why Try Snowshoeing?
Snowshoeing is a popular winter activity for several reasons. It offers an opportunity for fun and exercise while enjoying the beauty of the great outdoors.
Low-Impact Exercise
A highly appealing feature of snowshoeing is its accessibility—it’s an excellent low-impact aerobic exercise that doesn’t require a high level of skill or experience, making it suitable for beginners and seasoned outdoor lovers alike.
Cold-Weather Fitness
One of the key benefits of snowshoeing is the ability to extend your hiking and running season even when the snow falls. It enables you to maintain your fitness levels and enjoy nature during winter months when other outdoor activities might be limited due to weather conditions.
Snowshoeing provides a fantastic workout, helping to improve strength, endurance, and cardiovascular health.
Peace and Quiet
Another reason people are drawn to snowshoeing is the solitude it offers. In areas where trails are often crowded during summer months, snowshoeing allows for a peaceful, quiet experience away from the hustle and bustle.
With snowshoes, you can explore less trafficked routes, providing a sense of adventure as you venture into stunning winter landscapes.
Environmentally Friendly
Furthermore, snowshoeing is an environmentally friendly recreational activity that leaves minimal impact on nature when compared to other winter sports.
How to Start Snowshoeing
Choose a Pair of Snowshoes
When starting with snowshoeing, the first step is to choose the right pair of snowshoes. Consider factors such as the type of terrain you’ll be exploring, your weight, and the snow conditions.
There are three main categories of snowshoes: recreational, backcountry, and running. For beginners, recreational snowshoes are often the best choice, as they are designed for easy to moderate terrains and provide excellent stability.
Wear Appropriate Winter Clothing
Once you have the appropriate snowshoes, it’s essential to dress appropriately for the weather and activity. Layering is key when snowshoeing, as it allows you to easily adjust your body temperature and stay comfortable.
Start with moisture-wicking base layers, add an insulating layer for warmth, and finish with a waterproof and breathable outer layer to protect against wind and snow.
Don’t forget about proper footwear, such as waterproof hiking boots or insulated winter boots. Additionally, wearing gaiters will help keep snow out of your boots and add extra warmth.
Learn Snowshoeing Techniques
Before venturing out, acquaint yourself with basic snowshoeing techniques. It’s crucial to practice maintaining your balance, making wide turns, stepping over obstacles, and walking up and down slopes.
Find a Beginner-Friendly Location
Once you’re comfortable with the equipment and techniques, choose a suitable location for your snowshoe adventure.
Beginners should start on well-groomed trails with moderate terrain to build confidence and skill. As your experience grows, you can gradually progress to more challenging routes or even explore backcountry areas.
Understanding Snowshoes
There are two main types of snowshoes: traditional and modern. Traditional snowshoes are made from a wooden frame with rawhide lacing, while modern snowshoes typically feature lightweight materials such as aluminum, plastic, and synthetic fabrics.
Both types generally consist of three primary components: the frame, the decking, and the bindings.
The Frame
Frames create the structure and shape of the snowshoe. Traditional frames are typically made from wood, whereas modern snowshoes utilize more durable and lightweight materials such as aluminum or composite materials.
The shape and size of the frame will have a significant impact on the snowshoe’s flotation and maneuverability.
The Decking
The decking provides a supportive surface area for the user’s weight. In traditional snowshoes, this is accomplished with rawhide or synthetic lacing woven across the frame. In modern snowshoes, decking is usually made from a lightweight and durable fabric or plastic material.
A larger surface area will offer better flotation in deeper or softer snow, while a smaller surface area will improve the snowshoe’s agility on packed or firm snow.
Load refers to the weight of the individual using the snowshoes, including their body weight, clothing, and gear. Since a larger surface area is required to support a greater load, it is essential to choose snowshoes that can accommodate the user’s needs properly.
The Bindings
Bindings secure the user’s feet to the snowshoe. This system—how your boot attaches to the snowshoe—will vary widely across brands and styles. It is essential to select bindings that are easy to put on, take off, and adjust, especially while wearing gloves or mittens.
Bindings also play a crucial role in the overall performance of the snowshoe since they transfer the user’s movement and energy to the snowshoe itself.
Essential Gear
Snowshoes
Your most important piece of equipment is, of course, the snowshoes themselves. Make sure to choose a pair that corresponds to your weight, the terrain you will be exploring, and your experience level. It’s essential to find a comfortable fit for your boots as well, which should be waterproof and insulated for warmth.
Trekking Poles
Trekking poles with snow baskets are a valuable addition to your gear list, improving stability and making it easier to navigate uneven terrain.
Additionally, they can help you maintain balance and keep your body properly aligned while snowshoeing.
Warm Clothing
When it comes to clothing, layering is key. Begin with a moisture-wicking base layer to help regulate your body temperature and draw sweat away from your skin.
A mid-layer, such as a fleece or lightweight down jacket, adds insulation for warmth. Lastly, a waterproof and breathable outer layer shields you from snow and wind.
Don’t forget to protect your extremities. Wear gaiters to keep snow out of your boots, and make sure they’re tall and waterproof. Opt for wool or synthetic ski socks instead of cotton, as they will wick moisture better and provide more warmth.
Bring spare socks in case they become damp. Your hands will appreciate waterproof and insulated ski gloves or mittens, and a warm hat that adequately covers your ears is a must.
Choosing the Right Terrain
When starting out with snowshoeing, it’s essential to choose the appropriate terrain to ensure an enjoyable and safe experience. Generally, snowshoes are designed for three types of terrain: flat, rolling, and mountainous.
Flat Terrain
Flat terrain is ideal for beginners and families alike, as it offers the gentlest slopes and easiest walking experience. Flat terrain snowshoes are entry-level models that offer good value and are specifically designed for this purpose.
Many parks and trail systems maintain flat trails, providing an excellent opportunity for new snowshoers to practice their skills.
Rolling Terrain
Rolling terrain, characterized by moderate uphill and downhill slopes, is suitable for those who are more experienced in snowshoeing and ready to tackle more challenging trails.
These terrains often involve uneven surfaces, varying snow conditions, and occasional obstacles. Snowshoers embarking on rolling terrain should ensure they have suitable footwear and snowshoes that can handle the increased demands.
Mountain Terrain
Mountain terrain is reserved for experienced and adventurous snowshoers, as it features steep slopes, deep snow, and complex route-finding. These conditions require specialized backcountry snowshoes with enhanced traction, durability, and adjustable bindings.
It’s crucial to be adequately prepared with appropriate equipment, knowledge of avalanche safety, and navigation skills when venturing into mountainous terrain.
Techniques for Snowshoeing
Stride
One of the first techniques to master is your stride. While snowshoeing is similar to walking, the extra surface area and snow depth require you to adjust your stride slightly.
Lift your knees a little higher than usual, and keep your feet wider apart to prevent stepping on the edges of your snowshoes, which could cause you to trip. Use a heel-to-toe motion while planting each foot, ensuring the snowshoe’s claws get good traction with the snow.
Kick-Step Technique
You will also need to learn how to ascend and descend slopes, as well as traverse them. For ascending hills, employ the kick-step technique by kicking the front of your snowshoe into the snow to create a solid step.
This allows the crampons at the bottom of your snowshoes to dig into the snow, giving you the necessary grip to climb. Lean forward slightly and utilize the support of your poles.
Balance
When traversing slopes, be sure to maintain your balance. Angle your snowshoes slightly uphill to keep a stable footing.
Engage the side crampons by shifting your weight onto the uphill edges of the snowshoes for better traction. Make sure to keep your poles on the downhill side for added support.
Controlled Descent
For descending slopes, leaning back slightly can help you maintain control of your descent. Keep your knees slightly bent to act as shock absorbers and facilitate balance.
Dig the crampons into the snow as you step down to ensure a secure foothold.
Getting Up
While snowshoeing, it is important to know how to get up after falling in deep snow. Turning to face downhill can help with leverage, as well as using your poles for support.
Finally, always be informed about avalanche risks in the area, and prepare accordingly for a safe snowshoeing experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does snowshoeing compare to hiking?
Snowshoeing is similar to hiking in that it involves walking through nature, taking in the beauty of the outdoors. The main difference is that snowshoeing occurs in snowy conditions, making the use of snowshoes essential.
Snowshoes help distribute your weight over a larger surface area, allowing you to walk on snow without sinking too deeply. In comparison to hiking, snowshoeing requires a slightly different walking technique, but the overall experience is quite similar.
How difficult is it to learn snowshoeing?
Snowshoeing is considered one of the more accessible winter sports, as the learning curve is not steep. It involves essentially the same motion as walking, making it easy for beginners to pick up with minimal instruction.
If you are already comfortable with hiking, you should be able to transition to snowshoeing quite smoothly.
Why is snowshoeing a fun outdoor activity?
Snowshoeing is an enjoyable outdoor activity for several reasons. It offers an opportunity to explore the winter landscape and experience the beauty of nature covered in snow.
Snowshoeing also provides a moderate form of exercise, which can help improve cardiovascular health, build muscle strength, and boost mood.
Additionally, it’s typically a more affordable outdoor activity, as it requires minimal gear and there are often no entrance fees for snowshoeing on public lands.
Are poles necessary for snowshoeing?
While poles are not strictly necessary for snowshoeing, they can provide extra support and balance, particularly when traversing uneven terrain or going uphill and downhill.
Using poles can also help reduce the strain on your knees and increase your overall stability. Ultimately, the choice to use poles will depend on your personal preference and the conditions of your snowshoeing adventure.
Wrapping up the Beginner’s Guide to Snowshoeing
The beauty of snowshoeing lies in its simplicity—it is, at its core, just an extension of walking or hiking, but with snowshoes to distribute your weight over a larger surface area, allowing you to traverse deep snow without sinking.
This accessibility makes it a fantastic outdoor winter activity for people of all ages and fitness levels. By mastering a few basic techniques, you’ll be able to confidently explore snow-covered trails and enjoy the serenity and unique beauty of the winter season.
Next, check out The 9 Best Snowshoes for Winter Hiking to find the best pair for you!
- About the Author
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Hey there, I’m Ryan, the face behind Beyond The Tent.
With decades of camping experiences, my journey into the wilderness began on the rustic trails of a farm in southern Minnesota, where my childhood was filled with explorations and camping by a picturesque river.
My family’s adventures across the United States, from the majestic Colorado mountains to the serene national parks and the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area of Northern Minnesota have given me a broad perspective. With each journey, whether in state parks or private encampments, and through the homely comfort of our camping trailers, we’ve amassed a trove of stories, experiences, and invaluable camping wisdom.