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Snowshoeing: The Other Winter Sport
We all know that snowboarding
and skiing have been the spotlight sports of the winter,
but have you ever been snowshoeing?
If not, then it's time you hit the mountain
trails with snowshoes on your feet.
Here are a few tips to make your first
experience go smoothly...
1. Pick snowshoes that are lightweight.
This is probably the most important factor in selecting
snowshoes. These bad boys can range from super light,
not more than a pound a piece, to weighing several pounds
for each shoe. Imagine lugging around a brick on the
bottom of you foot for a couple of miles - NOT FUN!
Always pick the lightest snowshoe that seems to fit
comfortably.
2. Get snowshoes that are rated for
your weight. There is nothing worse than trekking out
into the fresh, white powder and sinking up to your
thigh, because you didn't get snowshoes that fit you
properly. They have shoes that go from weight ratings
of as little as 30 pounds, up to over 300 pounds. With
all that variation, you are sure to find the right size
and fit for you.
3. While this is a sport your whole
family can do (even a three year old can throw on a
small pair of snowshoes and head out for a hike), you
definitely don't want to be snowshoeing difficult hills
with your child. So, start off with appropriate rated
trails and hikes. Work your way up to more advanced
trails as your skills and comfort level improve.
4. Make sure you bring plenty of water
and snack food while you snowshoe. Pine needles, while
providing excellent protein and other natural goodness,
probably won't taste very good to you or your kids as
a snack. Some granola bars, a healthy trail mix, and
a large bottle of water should suffice for a short trip.
Remember to stay hydrated, especially if conditions
are nice and sunny.
5. Don't underestimate the power of
your body to stay warm, while you are snowshoeing. When
you are exercising in the snow, if it isn't raining
or actually snowing, your body temperature is going
to be skyrocketing.
The most important point is to wear
LAYERS of clothing that you can take off and put back
on as you need them. A lightweight, waterproof shell
is very important. DO NOT wear only a heavy, cold weather
coat, unless you know it is absolutely freezing. Why?
You will sweat buckets and you will experience mild
heat exhaustion symptoms quickly. In mildly cold snow
conditions, your body will stay hot while you exercise.
Waterproof boots should be your next
clothing priority. Your feet will get wet with all of
the snow bouncing around during snowshoeing. If you
can, wear waterproof boots.
6. Finally, rest if you need to. Stop
as frequently as necessary to make sure your body has
time to regenerate. Don't go so far that you can't turn
around and make it back to your starting point. Always
be aware of matching your energy and skills to the weather
conditions and terrain, so you keep yourself and your
family safe.
Be sure to start your snowshoeing adventures
on the right track and enjoy the experience.
1howto.com
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