Snowshoeing Is Affordable, Popular Exercise
Snowshoeing Has Become the Most Rapidly Growing Winter Sport
Sep 6, 2008
Millions of Americans have adopted this winter sport for the fact that it's relatively inexpensive, it can be done alone or with friends, and it's excellent aerobic exercise.
Popularity of Snowshoeing
According to winter sports suppliers, snowshoeing is the most rapidly growing winter activity, outdistancing the ever trendy snowboarding and Nordic skiing. Besides burning 600 to 800 calories an hour, more calories than running, cycling and cross-country skiing, it’s a very economical sport, which adds greatly to its popularity. Snowshoeing is low impact and works the cardiovascular system. Best of all, it’s available wherever there’s snow, which could be right outside your backdoor, and there are no fees or lift tickets to buy.
Snowshoes Have Changed
With the development of the light weight aluminum framed showshoe, it is touted that “If you can walk…you can showshoe.” More than 10,000,000 Americans went snowshoeing in 2007. Some estimate that the sport has seen annual increases in participation of 20 to 30 percent for a decade.
It’s believed that snowshoes were introduced in North America by migrants from central Asia where snowshoeing is thought to have originated centuries ago. Originally snowshoes were large, heavy wooden contraptions, sometimes made of animal hides also, held to one’s feet by leather straps.
It was not until the 1970’s that snowshoes became used for anything more than employment in the woods and wilderness survival. At this time, the shoes came in only three styles, each for a different use. The oval shaped was designed for use in forested conditions, the ultra long Yukon shoe was used for deep powder open areas, and the beavertail was a combination of the oval and Yukon’s best features and was used in all types of conditions. Nowadays snowshoes come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Snowshoe Tours
There are many tour providers for those who don’t want to snowshoe alone, or who feel uncertain about touring solo through the forest mid-winter. Often community colleges offer snowshoeing sessions as part of their adult education venue. Many Parks and Recreation Departments also offer snowshoe activities for both adults and children.
A Winter Wonderland Awaits
Snowshoeing, while one of the more strenuous winter activities, truly can be a sport for everyone who walks. It does not require grace, agility, untoward amounts of strength, speed, or nerves of steel. It only requires a desire to go out and enjoy what winter has to offer: Beautiful blankets of dazzling snow, trees laden with white frosting, crisp energizing air, and only the sounds of silence and whispering footsteps.
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