The Snowshoe Almanac – November 2005

Nov. 3: Time to start thinking snowshoeing. In that spirit, members of the Sierra Club’s Great Basin group in Reno, Nev. plan to meet and talk with experts on starting out in the sport, backcountry snowshoeing, and a little bit about snowshoe racing, according to the group’s Web site.

Nov. 4: Take heart early Colorado snowshoers – Four of Denver’s 12 biggest snowstorms in the past 60 years were in November. On Nov. 4, 1946 the city was cleaning up from, and reveling in a 30.4-inch dump the day before.

Nov. 7: Vermont snowshoers will wish this was 1968. On this date, the first of two 10 to 24-inch snowstorms in a week was underway

Nov. 10: Deer and other game hunting are in full swing in northern tier states coast to coast. If there’s snow and you’re out for an early season snowshoe, where bright clothes and stay away from popular hunting spots.

Nov. 12: Snowshoes aren’t just for snowshoeing anymore. Learn the ancient weaving pattern and knot used in traditional snowshoe making to create snowshoe-style furniture. From 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, at Treehaven College of Natural Resources, Tomahawk, Wis. Cost is $95 to $190 depending on your project.

Nov. 15: If there’s snow, today is the first opportunity of the winter for a full moon snowshoe.

Nov. 17: Still outside from the full moon trek? Leonid meteor shower starts tonight, but the experts say this year’s display will turn out a little blah.

Nov. 19: Another weekend of classes, if so inclined. Learn how to make your own traditional Ojibwe snowshoes at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais, Minn. The class runs the weekend of Nov. 18-20, and costs $180 plus $55 in materials. But think of those great new snowshoes…

Nov. 24: Thanksgiving. Give thanks that we have an entire winter to enjoy the snow.

Nov. 30: Want some cold weather cardio training in advance of the heart of the snowshoe season? Try the weekly Fahrenheit be damned winter training runs every Wednesday at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. The normal average temperature in Fairbanks today, a Wednesday, is minus 9.