Snowshoeing

On this next to last day of February and with all the snow we have in the Northeast, today we are thinking about snowshoeing.

Have any of you ever had the experience?  What did you think?  Was it easy or hard?  Did you have a lovely sunny day?  How long did you snowshoe?

Snowshoeing has been around for thousands of years.  

More recently, in the hundreds of years, we have the indigenous people of North America to thank for passing on the activity.

The Athaspascan from the Northwest Coast, the Algonquin and the Cree people from the Great Lakes and the Ojibwa from Canada all had a type of snow shoe.

Snow shoes had a purpose:  to allow people to travel long distances over difficult terrain.

Today snow shoeing is a fun and full body workout for those who try it.  With all the snow we have you can work a whole fitness routine into a snowshoeing session.

Mental Health

Being outdoors can lower stress and give you an overall sense of well-being.

Cardiovascular

Your heart rate elevates.

The lungs expand.

Circulation is improved

Your stamina is increased.

Muscles

Quadriceps, hamstrings and calves are engaged.

Using poles adds workouts to your arms, shoulders and back.

Cardio Workout

It’s a low-impact workout compared to a traditional cardio workout.

Calories

Each snowshoeing trip helps cut those calories.

It’s the same calorie burn as in skiing and snowboarding.

There are a wide variety of prices on snowshoes.  You can get a pair for as low as $49 or as high as $149.  Your boot should fit easily into any of them.

Private Home Health Care had a snowshoeing activity on a beautiful sunny day.  It was thirty minutes through woods, very quiet and pristine.  

It was a full-body workout for certain, but a fun activity.  Find a trail and try it!  It won’t disappoint.