Hoofing It With Snowshoes

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Jan 18, 2001

Grumpy and out of shape are how most people spend their winters in New England. It’s too cold, too icy, too gray and depressing to get motivated to do much of anything. This year I was determined not to stop this winter just because of a little snow.

Snowshoeing was something I had never tried before, but always wondered about. Sidelined most winters by unfavorable weather and trails packed down with slippery ice, I usually found myself waiting for a thaw before embarking on a hiking trip. I received a pair of snowshoes as a gift from a group of friends last year. Without enough snow around to support a local hike, I didn’t dust them off until a recent ‘Noreaster tore into town and left us covered in powder. It was New Years Eve Day, I dug out of my driveway and drove to Arcadia, a Massachusetts Audubon Society Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton, Massachusetts. I’m a nature guide at the wildlife center, and I’m pretty familiar with the small network of trails that cover the 700 acres of protected land. The trails are gentle and wide; perfect for nature walks. Coyotes, bear, deer, river otter, muskrat, beaver, wood ducks all make their home there.

The shoes were simple to strap on, and remarkably easy to walk in. I stepped higher then normal, but didn’t sink down into the fluff more then a few inches before stepping again. The sensation of stepping into fresh crisp snow was exhilarating. I had been down this trail many times before, but the snow coated branches like frosting and every tree looked brand new and different. Everything was quiet, untouched and beautiful. Perfect. The snow cover extended like a carpet blanketing the ground in every direction. Before long, I was so consumed with the beauty of the landscape and the activity of it’s wild residents, I had all but forgotten I was doing it on snowshoes. These clown feet were hardly clumsy. Hours passed before I even considered returning to the warmth of my car. It was only the setting winter sun that forced me home. After spending that great day playing in the snow, I’ve compiled some information with all the tricks to a successful snowshoeing adventure. The brave may read on.

Equipment & Clothing Necessary

Snowshoes: Not those wooden bottle shaped contraptions you see mounted on the wall of a rustic log cabin, today’s snowshoes have gone high tech. Leather straps have been replaced by maintenance free synthetic decking. Wooden frames replaced by lightweight and tough aircraft grade aluminum. Bindings are simple yet secure, allowing for superior control. Traction is provided by aluminum heel and toe crampons, biting into hard packed snow and preventing slipping. All of this may sound complicated, but I’ve never been less intimidated by a piece of sporting equipment in all my life. For a quality product, I highly recommend Tubbs http://www.tubbssnowshoes.com. The company is based in Vermont and has been in business nearly a century. Their snowshoes carry a lifetime warranty against defects in workmanship and materials.

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The copyright of the article Hoofing It With Snowshoes in Hiking in New England is owned by Karen E. Lynn. Permission to republish Hoofing It With Snowshoes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.