When I was younger, my parents tried to introduce me to cross country skiing. The long, gangly skis did not complement my long, gangly body very well. I spent many years struggling to glide as effortlessly as they seemed to. Somehow I seemed to spend more time trying to disentangle myself from the mess of skis and poles that I often ended up in after sliding out of their tracks.
The day that I discovered snowshoes, a whole new world of possibilities erupted. All of a sudden, I was able to explore all of my favorite trails, even some that had never before been possible. Staging snowshoe races down hills was all at once fun because they weren’t nearly as awkward as skis when you fell. It has been about twelve years now that I have been snowshoeing and I have not looked back. Many people have tried to convince me that skiing is far superior to snowshoeing, but their claims fall upon deaf ears. My love for snowshoeing runs deeps and cannot be deterred.
I grew up in Vermont where it is not uncommon for temperatures to dip well below zero for weeks on end. During the winter the sun rarely peeks out behind the clouds and the humidity is generally higher on a daily basis than it is on the muggiest day in Colorado. This results in a nice layer of ice that rests on top of the snow throughout most of the season. While this can offer exciting snowshoeing, as you never know whether that layer of ice will hold or break, I would say the most enjoyable snowshoeing came on those rare days after a snow storm when fresh powder blanketed the landscape. Fortunately, in Colorado we do not need to hold our breath waiting for that one storm. The powder in Colorado is legendary and thus Colorado has some of the best snowshoeing and it is often right at our fingertips. When snow touches down and actually lasts along the Front Range, there are endless trails to explore. When it is necessary to travel a bit further in search of the snow, the journey is never far and remember to enjoy the views that become more spectacular as you head westwards.
Snowshoeing is the perfect activity for the entire family. When you weigh less than fifty pounds it is possible to experience the sensation of floating on snow. This is fun for five year olds and a bonus for you parents as it makes it quite difficult to lose your otherwise small and lightning fast child. I can already hear the familiar hiking complaints rising up - I hate walking; this is boring - and I will squash them immediately. On snowshoes it is possible to travel to places that have only been explored by the deer and mountain lions roaming the hillsides. Plus, who doesn’t love a good flotz (to throw oneself joyously into the snow) every once in a while? Snowshoeing offers a perfect opportunity for scouting out the premier flotzing locations. Once you have found the perfect spot, the whole family can enjoy a good flotz, though for safety’s sake, you may want to take off your snowshoes first.
Through a series of trials and errors I have learned several valuable lessons over my years as a snowshoer. Perhaps the most important lesson learned is not underestimating the amount of exertion snowshoeing demands. In other words, you will get hot, you will want to remove every single layer of winter clothing you have on and you will want to ditch it along the trail as you go. It can also be hard to remember that snow is simply an atmospheric water vapor that has frozen into ice crystals. It is not a solid and it is not impermeable to melting. When you fall into a nice, soft cushion of snow, the chances are very good that you will be wet and cold within three minutes time. I recommend dressing in layers that breath and dry quickly, which means no cotton. Snow pants and a water proof jacket are a must even on the warmest, sunniest days. Snow boots are essential as your comfort and happiness as a parent and a snowshoer depends upon dry, warm feet for all. Remember to bring plenty of water and snacks to keep everyone between the ages of five and fifty-five happy and energized. See what your kids remember from hiking day with their multi-sport day camp or from their Avid4 Adventure School Program. If their memories are sharp, they should be able to help you plan entirely for your family snowshoeing adventure. In fact, they may plan ahead a little too well, demanding a map, compass, matches and enough layers to live in the woods for a week on end. If your teenager is really taking a shine to the planning and leadership role on the family outings, maybe the new Teen Leader-in-Training Program would be the perfect challenge for next summer.
If you are not already outfitted with snowshoes and are feeling adventurous, try your hand at making your own pair of snowshoes out of various materials. If you would prefer to have someone do the work for you consider visiting,
• REI in either Boulder or Denver.
• Neptune Mountaineering in Boulder
Once outfitted, it is time to head to the hills. If any members of your party are under four feet tall you may consider starting out with short snowshoes through relatively easy terrain. While the trails in and around Boulder are wonderful, the chances of snow on the ground can be iffy. In Estes Park opportunities abound for everything from introductory trails to advanced terrain. For a nice, mellow introduction check out,
• Lily Lake
• Winter Trails Day
• Rocky Mountain National Park for Ranger-led snowshoe hikes and an opportunity to learn more about our local ecology. Call for reservations 970-586-1223
You can explore the area just west of Boulder at,
• Brainard Lake (http://boc123.com/snow/brainard.cfm)
• Eldora Nordic Center
As you and your family become more proficient with snowshoeing and navigating trails during the winter season, opportunities for exploration abound. Step up the technicality of your snowshoeing adventures by going for steeper ascents or longer sojourns. Lily Mountain in Estes Park is probably my favorite moderate snowshoe, though when there is enough snow, the Eldorado Canyon Trail takes the cake. The chances are endless. As you begin to wander through your favorite hikes from the summer or winter, don’t forget to reference your sons and daughters. They may have some favorite hikes in mind from their Avid4 Day Camp.
As you venture out onto the trails, I wish you good luck in your quest for the best flotzing spots and happy adventures!
Virginia Sanford is a veteran Avid4 staff and specializes in our camps for 5&6 year olds. When she is not snow-shoeing, she is likely rock climbing, hiking, camping, or reading.
