Strap on the snowshoes for fun and exercise
With plenty of late-winter snow in the high country, now’s a great time to get out in the woods on a pair of snowshoes.
“It is so invigorating, to be out here, where no one is, out in the snow, out in nature,” said Maureen Prokopiw, who was out snowshoeing recently with her one-year-old son on her back, on the East Ridge Nature trail on Silver Mountain Resort. Prokopiw is the resort’s group sales consultant and unofficial snowshoe tour guide.
“It is a great family or group activity,” she said. “If you can put on a snowshoe, you can snowshoe.”
What may be ho-hum views in the summer can easily be transformed to fantastic views in the winter. What can be an everyday workout during the summer, like mountain biking or running along abandoned logging roads or hiking trails, these same trails and roads can be a vigorous workout surrounded by indescribable beauty during the winter.
“You can train in the gym with a trainer for three hours or you can get fresh air and a good work out by cross-training with winter sports,” said Mike Gaertner, owner of Vertical Earth Performance Sports in Coeur d’Alene and an accomplished triathlete and bicycle racer and coach.
“Snowshoeing is fun for everybody,” Gaertner said. “You can get in remote areas that are tough for cross-country skiing or be with people who haven’t skied enough, they struggle with skills as you may wait on them, but snowshoeing everyone can do.”
Snowshoes come in a variety of styles and sizes. Gone are the days of big bulky tennis rackets strapped to your feet, walking along like you just got off a horse. New technology has led to great advances, making footwear light, flexible and easy to maneuver.
“When buying a pair of snowshoes,” explains Gaertner, “make sure the bindings have a secure fit and are easy to use. This will allow movement in deep brush.”
“While snowshoeing,” explains Prokopiw, “you can choose your level of exertion, from a casual walk to a high energy contest.” The additional workout is that the snow acts as a resistance. It is a lot like running on sand or gravel with weights on. Climbing uphill or walking in deep snow works the hip flexor and quad muscles which are crucial for riding and running.
When going up hill where it is groomed, explains Prokopiw, take smaller steps, dig with, the claw of the snowshoe into the snow and you will be using the calves and the alkalies muscles. Then get into a rhythm and you start going in sync.
“It is the oneness with yourself, with snow, you are one with nature,” that is what Prokopiw enjoys about snowshoeing.
When heading out in the frozen wasteland , Prokopiw suggests that you wear layers. Layers trap heat and allow you to peel them off as your body starts to workout. Don’t wear cotton as this can absorb the moisture and then chill you.
The beauty of snowshoeing is you can go anywhere there are a few inches of snow. But if you would like to go to some trails, Silver Mountain offers rentals and a 3-mile loop trail that is a nature trail in the summer. On most Saturdays, Silver offers a two-hour guided tour. They also offer full-moon hikes. Check with the mountain for times and opportunities.
Approaching the nature trail, the sights and sounds of the skiers and snowboarders disappear. The snow seems to create a burden to the trees as branches droop. Nature lovers can hike and workout in a fairytale scene as an ordinary area is transformed into a winter wonderland of frozen tundra, dangling icicles and gorgeous views.
The trail is shown in orange signs hanging high on the trees. The one rule on the mountain is that before snowshoeing you must check in with ski patrol and from there you are free to explore.
Gaertner also offers rentals and takes people out to Fourth of July pass where he says, “There are a couple of cool trails to be had. Some up and downs and fun boulder cliffs to jump off.”