Snowshoeing:

Outdoor Fun, Friendly Activity

BY EMA DANTAS

It has been said that snowshoeing is one of the most beginner friendly outdoor activities.

I thought that too, after wearing mine once in my backyard before packing them on my trip to climb Denali in 2019. They weren’t hard to use but wow, I found out quick that I needed to practice how to walk on them to make it enjoyable.

You see, when I was on our descent on Denali, from 11,000 ft to Camp 1, enroute back to basecamp, I fell down so many times, forward, face planted on the snow, it became comical. I got the hang of it, but it did take a few bumps to do it!!

Snowshoeing started thousands of years ago as an essential mode of winter transportation. According to Ontario Heritage Trust, “… snowshoes arrived in Canada during ancient migrations at least 10,000 years ago from eastern Siberia over the Bering Strait. In 1608, Samuel de Champlain provided the first written account of the First Nations using snowshoes to walk across the deep winter snow. Recognizing their value, Europeans used snowshoes for hunting and trapping, and for exploring the rugged landscape.”

 But today it’s a fun winter activity. Here’s why:

• It’s a great way to stay in shape because snowshoeing is an excellent low-impact aerobic exercise.
• It lets us extend our hiking and running season and lets us enjoy solitude in areas that might be crowded during the summer.
• All ages and ability levels can enjoy the sport together.
• Affordable when compared to lift-ticket prices for skiing and snowboarding. All that is needed are snowshoes and warm clothes. Trekking poles are also recommended, but not required.

“In the mid-1800s, snowshoeing became a popular recreational activity, with clubs meeting for hikes and competitive races. The Canadian Snowshoe Union was formed in March 1907 to regulate the sport. In the 1970s, lightweight metal alloy snowshoes were introduced and enabled swifter movement. Snowshoe competitions have been popularized since the Yeti Mountain Snowshoe Series was founded in 2001. Ontario hosted a Yeti race in 2013 in Collingwood.”  As stated in the Ontario Heritage Trust website.

So, even though there is no Yeti Mountain Race planned as far as I know, I find snowshoeing a great way to hike in the winter and train now for Everest.

Decathlon has many other options, for everyone in the family.  If you are looking for snowshoes you may want to consider these.