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Travel & Adventure Guides

Past stories ------ Summer 2006 ------ Table of Contents Canadian Winery Destinations Otters of Kyuquot Sound Fishing in the Prairies Moncton - 3 Great Day Trips Sylvia Forest - Mountain Guide Yukon River Quest Path to Paradise A Century of Summits Mina Hubbard's Journey Tent Buyer's Guide Climbing Della Falls ------ Winter 2005 ------ Table of Contents 10 Best Mountain Destinations Affordable Adventures Spa Holidays Snow Shelters David Marra - The Ice Man Adventure Travel Insurance Tempest in Tofino ------ Summer 2005 ------ Table of Contents Dealing With Mosquitos Search for the Freshwater Sea Girls On Top Journal Astronomy Ottawa - 3 Great Day Trips Seabound Grasslands National Park Sugar Bush Country Hallowed Home of the Haida ------ Winter 2004 ------ Table of Contents Cross Country Skiing Snowshoeing Dogsledding in the Yukon Snowmobiling Winter Photography Mountains as Water Towers Knapsacks Explained Contributors ------ Summer 2004 ------ Table of Contents Thor Peak Rocky Mountain Teahouses Canoeing in Northern Sask. Fantastic Fundy Destinations Summer Stargazing Kayaking the Great Lakes Adele Frizzell - Adventure Racer BC Mountaineering Hiking Shoes Explained Exploring Nootka Sound

Best of all, if the logistics of most winter sports — organizing gear and loading the car for an early departure — have previously stopped you in your tracks, then you are a snowshoe candidate. A snow-top hike costs nothing, and it doesn't require a designer ski suit or elaborate technical gear. Snowshoeing can easily be a group activity, in which participants are free to move at their own speed. It is a pure winter sport that leaves lots of room to appreciate your surroundings and generate your own excitement. Little wonder it's becoming one of the nation's preferred family wintertime activities.

Like any winter sport, it's wisest to master your confidence in well-travelled areas and then, once comfortable, head out for the wild. Stomp around a golf course or public park before embarking on a bigger adventure.

First Steps
The first step calls for finding a pair of snowshoes that work for you. While the old-fashioned, teardrop-shaped, bent-wood frames still exist at some hardware and department stores, most specialty sports boutiques will steer you toward the modern, lightweight aluminum-alloy frames.The differences are many. Aluminum alloys are lighter to start with, and they stay that way. The synthetic decking materials won't become waterlogged in wet conditions, as does rawhide webbing. State-of-the-art shoes also have superior torsional rigidity, which performs better than shoes of yore in a greater variety of terrains and temperatures.

They also come with a variety of bells and whistles. You can add stainless-steel crampons that fit underneath the binding to grip the snow when climbing, pop-up heel fasteners that are easy on your calves during long ascents, detachable tails for variable snow conditions and faster, stronger and easy-fastening snowboard-style ratchet bindings. Cost: $50 to $100 for kids; $100 to $400 for adults

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Staying Afloat
Most manufacturers suggest that for every pound of body weight, you need a square inch of float. (If you're metric-centric, you're on your own.) To find the correct size snowshoe, multiply the shoe's width by its length (in inches) to determine the "float rating." The total float must exceed your body weight. Be sure to factor in the weight of your loaded backpack. (The chart at the top will serve as a guide.)

Boots
Technically speaking, you need nothing more than a comfortable pair of waterproof boots, some warm clothes, a day pack and a little bit of energy for your snowshoe adventure. Lots of recreational snowshoers go for knee-high, insulated Sorel boots because they are strong and do a good job of keeping the snow out.

Poles
Trekking poles will help you keep your balance and propel yourself forward. Although they aren't absolutely necessary, they can be extremely handy. While a strong pair of old bamboo ski poles will do, most advanced snowshoers prefer telescopic trekking poles made from aluminum, which offer the luxury of adjusting the length as you traverse a hillside. If you're going this route, consider the three-section variety. Although more costly ($110), they can be stowed in a pack when they aren't in use.

Gaiters
Warm, dry feet increase the pleasure of every winter adventure. Gaiters are knee-high, outer-layer protective leg coverings that will keep the snow out of your boots. Cost from $20 to $140.

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