Snowshoeing Basics: A Beginner’s Guide
January 18, 2009
Snowshoeing is starting to become more popular with people who are looking to elevate their outdoor activities into the winter season. Many of us find ourselves hiking trails throughout the Spring, Summer, and Fall, then we back off because of the snow. Snowshoeing will allow you to experience one of the most overlooked and under appreciated seasons of the outdoors with little investment. Those nice trails you experienced in the summer can now offer you something unique and even more challenging in the winter.
The Sectionhiker.com recently unveiled it’s Beginner’s Guide to Snowshoeing. The article is pretty impressive. They begin by giving you an overview of how snowshoes work and how best to approach this new activity. They talk about snowshoe training for health and recreation, then go on to list ways to progress once you have the basics down. Their easy-to- follow guide offers much information for the beginning showshoer(?) and really makes you want to get out there and give this a spin.
Price of jumping into a new activity will hold some of you back. Professional grade snowshoes can be quite expensive. Sectionhiker suggests your first pair should be rented from the likes of REI, or another company that rents similar gear. Once you have decided to get more serious about the snowshoeing, you can then progress to purchasing your own pair through one of many reputable dealers that Sectionhiker suggests.
Snowshoeing is one activity that sounds like a load of fun. You don’t see these things often enough in Indiana, where I reside. Of those you do see, most are hanging from the rafters of your local Cracker Barrel restraunt. (Yes, I have seen them there, and no, they are not for sale.) Snowshoeing in Indiana could be a fun experience. The past two winters have finally seen us getting a nice amount of snow. It should be plenty to start a new hobby for fun and fitness.
Anybody else recommend snowshoeing? How often do you go and what tips do you have for the beginning snowshoer? Give your answers in the comments below.
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Written by Jason A. Hendricks · Filed Under snowshoeing |
I can recommend snowshoeing for ice fishing this year. It’s one of the only ways to get around, with the snow too deep for four-wheelers (and without owning a snowmobile).
The most telling thing about our winter was the other day when I saw our meter reader out on snowshoes in town! I wish I had the camera at that moment.
I never thought about that for ice fishing. I don’t do it, myself, but I have plenty of friends who do. I might have to make the recommendation. Any particular brand you recommend?