PITTSBURGH (AP) - When “Snowmageddon” hit Western Pennsylvania five years ago, Lora Woodward found her own method of travel around downtown Pittsburgh.
Woodward, the program director for Venture Outdoors, strapped on a pair of snowshoes to traverse the more than 20 inches of snow dumped in the area.
“That was the most amazing experience,” said Woodward, who began snowshoeing when she joined Venture Outdoors about seven years ago.
With winter in full swing, snowshoeing is an outdoor activity that can be done in virtually all types of weather. Snowshoes distribute a person’s weight over a wider area, making for easier travel over ice and snow.
“The worse the weather, the more you would need snowshoes,” said Keith Jackson, a snowshoeing instructor for L.L. Bean Pittsburgh in Ross Park Mall. “You can go out on icy conditions and get traction. You can go out on crusted snow and be stable. The deeper the snow, it’s more apparent how useful the snowshoe is because you don’t sink down so far.”
In recent years, snowshoeing has become a popular recreational sport. An Outdoor Industry Association report released in January 2014 estimated snowshoeing participation grew more than 40 percent in the previous five years.
“I think once somebody’s introduced to it, they get the bug and want to come back and do it again,” said Anna Weltz, spokeswoman for Seven Springs, which offers snowshoe tours daily. “It is a great way to get out and try something new and to be active in winter.”
Snowsports Industries America estimates people can burn as many as 600 calories per hour by snowshoeing - more than walking or running at the same pace.
“As soon as you start adding a little bit of vertical to it, then you get a lot of workout,” Jackson said. “You can go out in an hour and a half to two hours and get more exercise than just walking. It’s a little harder with the surface, so you get a little better workout.”
Traditional snowshoes were made of wood or rawhide, while modern ones are made of lightweight metal or other synthetic materials. The snowshoe is bound to a person’s boots or other shoes. Snowshoes have a spiked bottom as part of the binding, Jackson said, allowing for greater grip on the snow or ice. A raised toe helps with maneuverability.
L.L. Bean customers can get a quick tutorial on how to use snowshoes, Jackson said, while Venture Outdoors and Seven Springs offer classes to beginners as well as experienced snowshoers.
But Woodward said it’s not difficult to learn the activity.
“If you can walk, you can snowshoe,” she said. It really doesn’t take too much time. You do walk at a little bit of a wider stance because snowshoes are wider than what you’re used to wearing. But you quickly pick it up.”
Jackson recommends people use poles while snowshoeing for greater balance. He said after the initial purchase of snowshoes, the sport is low-cost.
Although Pittsburgh sometimes doesn’t get enough snow to use snowshoes, Jackson said options still abound in the region. L.L. Bean Pittsburgh offers outings multiple times a week to North Park, and Venture Outdoors holds weekly outings at locations such as Laurel Summit, Roaring Run Natural Area in Forbes State Forest and Raccoon Creek State Park.
“People just shouldn’t be inside,” Jackson said. “They should get out and see what it’s like. When you go out and do some exercise, you’re generating some heat. You can get yourself pretty darn comfortable with the right clothing and have a great experience in the wintertime.”
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Information from: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, https://pghtrib.com
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