Snowshoes

I used to do a lot of x-country skiing.  Great way to see the winter outdoors.  But then I got dogs.  Dogs that I didn't want to let loose around the countryside and thus were on leash.  Hard to ski with a dog on leash.  So, I got snowshoes.  Here are some tips for beginning snowshoe walkers.

1)  rent before you buy.  Talk to snowshoeing friends before you buy.  Snowshoes come in different sizes and styles that are appropriate for different weights of people and steepness of terrain.  Bindings can vary as well and you want to get something that you are comfortable with.  If you are a traditionalist you may want some wooden ones.  The newer snowshoe models have steel crampons on the bottom that grip the hardest crust.

2)  If you a regular hiker and in good shape, then you won't need to have snowshoe lessons.  You basically strap the things to your boots and start walking.  That's it.  Hopefully the snow is dense enough so you don't have to plow through too deeply on your first go at it.  I recommend using at least one ski pole or even two to help keep you stable.  But you can snowshoe without any poles at all.