An Ancient Cure for Cabin Fever

Wander off the beaten path and follow in the footsteps of our snowbound ancestors

Story and photos by Nick Chowske

It’s been winter for months, and there’s no end in sight. You chisel the frost from your window pane and stare out into the barren, white wasteland. The sky is gray, the ground is white, the trees are brown, and the walls are closing in on you. You’ve been stricken with cabin fever, but don’t worry, there is a cure.

Snowshoes first appeared in Central Asia around 6,000 years ago, and until the last century, they were a vital part of survival for anyone living where there was frequent snowfall. While many people, like forest rangers and loggers, still use snowshoes for their livelihood, today they are primarily used for recreation, particularly here in the North Country.

"Once you get them, you’re all set to go"

Athletes have been using snowshoes for decades to cross-train in the winter months, and some even compete in snowshoe races, but you don’t have to be a marathon runner to get out and enjoy the sport. “Snowshoeing is a great, inexpensive sport,” says Chris Yager, president of the Green Mountain Adventure Racing Association, who has been snowshoeing for more than 10 years. “They are a fraction of the cost of skis, either to rent or to buy, and once you get them, you’re all set to go.”

Snowshoes are designed to distribute the weight of your body on the snow so that your foot doesn’t sink straight down; this is called flotation. All snowshoes are composed of two basic parts - the frame and decking, which allows floatation, and the binding, which keeps your boot in the shoe. “To me, the binding system is more important than what the shoe is made of,” Yager says, “Different people have vastly different opinions of what binding systems work for them and what ones don’t.” Each brand has its own design and its own binding, so it’s crucial to find the shoe that is right for you.

"Snowshoeing is a great, inexpensive sport."

“I had a pair that I was extremely unhappy with,” Yager says, “They would come off my boot, even though they were on correctly, and after being on for a while, they would ice up and then I couldn’t get them undone.”

Snowshoes are available in many styles and sizes, so knowing which one to buy can be a daunting task. They are sold in men’s, women’s and children’s sizes and are gauged by the user’s weight range. A typical weight range is 150 to 250 pounds for men and 120 to 200 pounds for women. Every snowshoe is also designed for a different purpose, such as racing or backpacking, for example. They work differently depending on their size and shape, so it’s important to choose the right one. Wider and longer snowshoes work best on deep powder, and shorter more narrow ones are better suited for packed trails. “Find a place that rents snowshoes and just get a pair,” Yager says, “Try them on and get out in the snow and see what you think. Most people will know by the second kind they try if snowshoeing is right for them.”

"Find a place that rents snowshoes and just get a pair."

Snowshoes allow you to wander off the trail and into the woods. In the winter months, when there are no leaves on the trees and the undergrowth is often snowed over, you can explore places and see things that are difficult to reach any other time of year. They also leave a clear trail behind you, so getting lost isn’t always a worry.

“Snowshoeing is fantastic for fitness, especially in the winter when a lot of people feel confined to the gym. A treadmill may get your heart rate up, but you’re not reacting or thinking or engaging your environment. Snowshoeing exposes you to gains and drops in elevation, lateral movement and a chance to see wildlife,” Yager says.

The full body workout that snowshoeing provides can drive your body heat up, even just walking, so it’s extremely important to dress properly. “Nothing spoils an outing faster than getting all wet, clammy, cold and chilled,” says Mark Elmore, sports director for the United States Snowshoeing Association. It’s best to dress in layers that can be added or shed because you need to be able to vent your body heat. Fleece and breathable underwear will allow sweat to be wicked away from the body, but because snow sticks to fleece, a synthetic material that will shed snow, such as Gortex, makes a better outer layer.

"Nothing spoils an outing faster than getting all wet, clammy, cold and chilled."

Although it will give you quite a workout, learning to snowshoe is no sweat, “You just put one foot in front of the other,” says Jim Tucker, recreation director at Paul Smith’s College and head of the Paul Smith’s Striders snowshoe club. Tucker has been snowshoeing and cross-country skiing for nearly 40 years and enjoys the peace and tranquility it offers. “I’ve cross-country skied for years, but as you get better on skis, you’re more likely to be where other people have already been.”

Whether you rent or buy, walk or run, snowshoeing is the perfect way to enjoy the winter. “The key thing is just to get out the door,” Tucker says. “It doesn’t matter if you got your snowshoes at Walmart or Target or at a sporting-goods store like EMS, just get out on them and tromp around in the backyard or a spruce swamp or whatever. It’s a lot better than looking at a computer screen all winter.”

Will I see you out in the snow this winter?