Consider, if you will, the snowshoe

I was talking with a Traverse City gentleman the other day and he was saying that his son wanted to go skiing with him, but the dad declined because he was too out of shape.

My instant recommendation was to get a pair of snowshoes and some poles. I'm a fan of snowshoes for people looking to get active in winter for a number of reasons.

1. Stability. With snowshoes and a set of poles even if you're not used to getting around in snow you are not likely to fall. And even if you do fall, you're not moving at any kind of rate that is likely to really cream you.

2. Nice dial-up, dial-down factor. With snowshoes you can pretty much go at a pace that works for you. If you are just getting started and want to take it slow, not a problem. Just find a nearby trail or head out into open space near your home and traipse around. If you want to ramp it up and really get your heart pumping, also not a problem. Just increase your pace and you'll return drenched in sweat and feeling exhilarated.

3. Affordability. You don't need the best snowshoes in the world to make it work. I have friends who have worn their $40 Sam's Club snowshoes on trips into the Canadian backcountry with me with perfect results. A friend of mine scored some good shoes at a garage sale recently for $25. I'm not saying there's not a reason to buy a good snowshoe at some point -- I mean I'm as much a gear weirdo as the next guy (confession: my family has 9 pairs of snowshoes) -- but there are inexpensive and good ways to get started.

4. Versatility. With snowshoes, the snow conditions don't really matter, unlike XC skiing. So just get out and go regardless of ice, slop, whatever. Snowshoes are also versatile regarding terrain. You can go anywhere. Again, unlike XC skis, where you need either a trail or relatively open forest or land. (Not dogging XC ski here, because I love XC ski, just saying, for getting started, snowshoes give you more easy options).

5. Dogability. Your dog will love you if you take him/her on a snowshoe walk. And who doesn't want their dog to love them?

And a couple of last important things to know...The thing about snowshoeing is all it is is taking a walk in the snow. I think a lot of people are somewhat disenchanted with snowshoeing when they try it because they've seen lots of advertisements showing people leaping off cliffs with snowshoes or somehow catching air. Sure, maybe somewhere thrill and adrenaline are part of the experience. But mostly you are just on a walk. That's all. But that's a great thing in the winter.

Also, I think a lot of people are surprised to see that unless there's a nice crust on the snow, you still sink a good bit with snowshoes, especially in new snow. But you sink way less than if you were wearing only boots. And really important: you don't get that annoying ankle bending thing when you walk in snow with snowshoes like you do when you walk in snow with just boots.

So, I'll leave you with just a quick little replay of your basic snowshoe experience. A couple of nights ago I went out at about 10 p.m. with my dog. She's half husky and half yellow lab, so she loves the snow. I put on some old snowshoes. There was a half moon and a clear sky. Starlight--so rare in a Michigan winter. The snow was really crusty but had a super thin layer of fresh snow on top--like one snowflake thick--and the new crystals caught the moonlight and sparkled like a million tiny lights on the ground as I walked. With the hard crust, I was walking pretty much on top of the snow, not sinking at all. I walked around for maybe 45 minutes. Just easy. At one point I kicked up four deer from a cornfield. You think of deer as so quiet, so it was surprising to hear how loud four of them could be crunching through the snow--like a frenzy of breaking Styrofoam--as they bounded across the field in the moonlight. So that was it. A nothing kind of experience; an everything kind of experience; easy on snowshoes.

Give it a try.

Jeff Smith is editor of Traverse, Northern Michigan's Magazine and MyNorth.com.

Tags: how to snowshoe, jeff smith, snowshoeing, traverse city, traverse, northern michigan...

8 Comments

Comment by Shelley Martinez / Elk Country Log Homes on January 7, 2009 at 9:53am: This was a lovely post! I love snow shoeing and a pair of snow shoes was the best gift that I gave to my hubby and stepson last year. Last week we were snow shoeing on a nature trail and I spotted a Pileated Woodpecker up in the trees.

Comment by Jeff Smith on January 7, 2009 at 10:12am: Thanks Shelley. I love those Pileated Woodpeckers and the way they fly with such sort of tilty, angular precision. But unfortunately I rarely see them. Guess I'd better get out more on my snowshoes.

Comment by Jodi Simpson on January 7, 2009 at 10:18am: Jeff, your post reminded me of something I've been meaning to share. In winter many of our area state parks host snowshoe making workshops. Many years ago my dad and I made a pair of snowshoes at Hartwick Pines State Park. Using an Iverson wooden frame and neoprene lacing our instructor walked us through the weaving and lacing pattern. A few pleasant hours later we left with a beautiful pair of Iverson Driftbusters. At that time the class and materials fee was about half the retail price of a pair of new shoes.

I recently heard a plug on the radio for Hartwick Pines' upcoming workshop. I called there this morning to inquire. Unfortunately the class is full (They always fill early.). However, Ludington State Park has several one-day and two-day workshops this month and next. The number to call for more information is 231-843-9261.

As for confessions, my family of two owns six pairs of snowshoes including several hand-me-downs and a garage sale find. They sure come in handy when we want to introduce visiting friends to one of our favorite winter activities.

Comment by Jeff Smith on January 7, 2009 at 10:28am: Jodi -- all great points. The idea of friends / guests is really important because I didn't mention that a beauty of snowshoes is that nobody needs "their sized boot," because the bindings just adjust to fit whatever you happen to have on.

Comment by Kate on January 7, 2009 at 3:24pm: oh Jeff, "a nothing kind of experience, an everything kind of experience." Sigh. Thanks for giving me an image of the outdoors, which we've seen so little of in the past few weeks! Snowshoeing is one of my favorite activities with the kids, because we can strap Lizzie into the backpack and both Max (4) and Noah (9) can do it with great ease. We often equip the boys with a camera-- their glove-stiff fingers find their way to great shots, and it makes for fantastic nature journaling. BTW, anyone in the Harbor/Petoskey area that wants to try before they buy can rent snowshoes for cheap at The Outfitter, and the folks there have great trail suggestions of varying length and great diversity:)

Comment by Rachel North on January 7, 2009 at 6:17pm: Dogability ... love it.

Comment by Kirt Manecke, LandChoices on January 8, 2009 at 2:10pm: Hi Jeff, Great post! I hope I can get up to snowshoe with you. What I love best about snowshoes is that they are so quiet. I want to take you to my favorite spot near Mesick in the Manistee National Forest where almost everytime I snowshoe come upon a herd of deer and watch them get up from their beds and quietly trot off. Beautiful and peaceful. The website really looks terrific!

Comment by Kristine Carpenter on January 10, 2009 at 8:53pm: We love snowshoeing too...another suggestion for trying before you buy into it: Sleeping Bear Dunes has free guide led snowshoe walks and they let you use their snowshoes free, too!