A small band of trekkers chuff-chuff-chuffs across a snowy meadow at 9,000 feet on a crisp winter morning. A cloudless cobalt canopy stretches from mountain range to mountain range.
A plump brown mouse darts across the crusted drifts, seeking a seed or other tidbit. A snowshoe rabbit, startled by the hikers, darts for better cover.
When the ‘shoers stop, the only sound is their breathing.
This is winter’s quiet sport.
Downhill skiing can be frenetic, expensive and complicated, with all the gear and lift lines and such. But sitting in the lodge in front of the fire, while pleasant, isn’t really a winter sport.
So consider a compromise: snowshoeing.
Basically, if you can walk, you can snowshoe, says Phebe Novic, co-owner of The Warming House in Estes Park, which offers guided snowshoe tours of Rocky Mountain National Park.
She echoes the sentiments of other snowshoe aficionados when she says that “it’s the sleeper sport. People come to snowshoe for the first time, and when they get back, they say, ‘I had no idea!’ “
Snowshoes today are narrower, lighter and more comfy than ever — to the extent that they have revolutionized the sport. And it’s easy to put them on (with step-in bindings that adjust to fit any boot).
“It’s less hassle than downhill, and less noisy,” she says. “And it can be as easy or as challenging as you want.”
A little history
Snowshoeing has been around for about 6,000 years.
Snowshoes created for recreational use became widespread in the late 19th century, but the snowshoe that is used today wasn’t developed until the ’70s. In the late 1800s, an itinerant Methodist minister known as “Father” Dyer even made his way from mountain town to mountain town in the Colorado Rockies by snowshoe, ministering to his scattered flock. A church named for him still stands in Breckenridge.
Today, snowshoeing is one of the fastest-growing areas of winter sports. Sales took off after the Redfeather Snowshoe Co. near Leadville came up with the aluminum-frame, beaver-tail style in 1990. And a landmark million pairs of snowshoes (all brands) were purchased in 1996, according to the National Sporting Goods Association.
Snowshoeing participation jumped 21 percent from the 2006-2007 season to the 2007-2008 season, with 2.9 million participants, according to SnowSport Industries of America.
The Zen of it all
You can snowshoe for hours and hardly see another soul. Unlike ski and snowboard runs, snowshoe trails can go where you want. Make it as easy or as aerobic as you like. Some people even run in snowshoes.
But the idea is this: Take your time; do it at your own pace. There’s a freedom in it that you don’t find in any other winter sport. It’s the closest thing you’ll get to meditating during exercise.
Where to ‘shoe
If you own your own snowshoes, you can ‘shoe just about anywhere. If you want groomed trails (which are especially nice for beginners), need to rent shoes, or want to go with a guide, then start at a ski resort.
Just about every ski resort and Nordic center in Colorado offers the option to snowshoe. It’s a great diversion for those who can’t, or don’t want to, downhill or cross- country ski.
To find out if your favorite ski area offers snowshoe rentals, guided tours or groomed trails, go online to and click on the resort of your choice.
On your own
If you’re confident enough to strike out on your own, some of the top-rated public snowshoe trails near Denver include:
• Silver Dollar Lake, on Guanella Pass, near Georgetown.
• Brainard Lake, near Ward.
• Rainbow Lakes, Lost Lake and Arapahoe Glacier Trail, all near Nederland.
• The Jones Pass Trail, near the Henderson Mine and Red Mountain, before Berthoud Pass on the way to Winter Park.
• Chinns Lake, near Idaho Springs.
• St. Mary’s Glacier, James Peak, near Lawson.
• Rampart Reservoir, just outside Woodland Park, west of Colorado Springs.
• Allenspark Trail and Finch Lake, south of Estes Park.
For maps and directions, go to online.
What you’ll pay
Compared to skiing, snowshoeing is inexpensive.
Trail passes run about $14-$20 a day at resorts with groomed trails.
If you need to rent shoes, plan to spend about $12-$15 a day (adults), or $7-8 for a half day. Guided tours can cost as much as $30 per person for groups.
Once you get to know an area well and have your own snowshoes, you can do the sport pretty much for free.
Linda DuVal is a freelance travel writer in Colorado Springs.
SnowshoeSafety
Like any winter sport, snowshoeing requires a few words of caution, especially when you’re doing it at high altitude.
You’re exercising in thin, dry air. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
Even if the sun is shining, it can be cold. Wear layers, so you can peel or add clothing as needed. Remember, most of your body’s heat loss is from the head, so wear a hat. Gloves are important, too, as well as socks that will wick moisture away from your feet.
Wear sunscreen. This is as important in winter as summer, especially at 9,000 or 10,000 feet.
Know where you’re going. Ask for a trail map. If you want to follow the Nordic trails already cut for snowmobiles or cross-country skiers, do so. But to really experience the fun of snowshoeing, venture onto untouched powder at least once in a while. It’s more work, but more fun, too.
Avoid standing or running water.
Take it easy. This isn’t a race. Take time to pause occasionally and watch the snow plop off the branches, to listen to birds call, to watch a deer. That’s what snowshoeing is all about.
Linda DuVal
