Home for the Holidays; Let’s Go Snowshoeing

let’s get outside and go snowshoeing

So everyone’s home for the holidays.  Food has been consumed, the tryptophan is running thin, board games are abandoned and cabin fever has set in. These people need to go outside and burn off a few calories, get some fresh air, and maybe see the sun. It’s been three days. And some of them are beginning to smell like fish. But what can a family, including mom and dad, college kids and kindergartners, along with ancient aunts and distant cousins all do together Snowshoeing! The universal, non-discriminant, no qualifications required, outdoor activity that anyone can do. Together. I believe the instigator of the group must say something like “hey, why don’t we go snowshoeing”. Very often and shortly after that rhetorical question is uttered, you’ll find an enthusiastic rejoinder by the entire clan repeating that very same phrase……”yeah, why DON’T we go snowshoeing!?” (perhaps the tryptophan is still working, after all).

But I’ve Never Been Snowshoeing

snowshoeing at night

It’s time, and time is relative, according to some special theory, and since all the relatives are there, this might be the perfect time to try something relatively different with the entire family. If you’ve ever walked around the block, or hiked in the woods, or moved from point A to point B using your feet and legs in a forward moving way, you are officially qualified to be able to go snowshoeing. Because snowshoes, particularly modern snowshoes are exceptionally easy to use. Why, with the right equipment, you might find a whole new way to blow off some steam or free those endorphins trapped in your mind, or just take a walk in the snow with people you love. Time to give it a try. And it doesn’t matter if its day or night, if there’s a moon of any consequence, the light from La Luna can be just right for navigation through the neighborhood. Snowshoeing has become one of the fastest growing outdoor winter activities in the snowy areas of North America in the last 20 years. If there’s snow on the ground, you don’t have to drive anywhere, you won’t need a lift ticket or a reservation,  and without any other barriers to open the door, you just amble your way across the urban tundra and lead (by example) your family of adventurers into new found territory. Beyond the sprawl, past the mall, over the wall and into pall mall euphoria that comes with the exercise associated with snowshoeing.

What Do You Need To Go Snowshoeing?

dress in layers to go snowshoeing

Snow. And Snowshoes, which can be rented for the day, if you don’t have them, or you can purchase them on line, or your local specialty retailer. But beyond that, nothing particularly special. In general, you’ll want to dress the part but if you’ve never been before, think about clothing that keeps you warm and dry and expect to sweat if you’re out for hours at a time, so like Shrek, in layers. If enough snow has fallen, a foot or more, you’ll need snowshoes, maybe to get to the mailbox, depending on how far away it is. And if you’re like most people who try snowshoeing for the first time, you’ll find ‘need’ turns into ‘want’ in just a few short steps. Past the mailbox, through the trees and out into the great beyond. Once you’ve taken that first step you might want to take your friends out to Colorado and spend the winter touring all the incredible places there are to play. If you want some more specific recommendations, call us at 303-859-5216.  We may not know your specific neck of the woods, but then again, we might because we go snowshoeing in a lot of places.

Originally posted at http://www.crescentmoonsnowshoes.com/lets-go-snowshoeing/.