Snowshoe away
this winter
BY MIKE CALDWELL
THIS wInTer, IF you want to get out of the
house for some fun and fitness but don’t
have a lot of time or money, absolutely
nothing can compare to snowshoeing.
Snowshoeing is my favourite winter sport
for a number of reasons: there is only a
minimal upfront cash investment, there are
no ensuing expenses, no special trails or
permits are required, and no special skills are “Since there are
needed. It’s adventurous yet peaceful, and
no special skills or
it’s the warmest activity you can participate
in through the cold Canadian winter.
techniques required, it’s
In order to get started in snowshoeing one of the most social
you will need the following equipment:
C
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Z
ONE
of all winter sports.”
snowshoes and layers of standard outdoor

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winter clothing. That’s it! Snowshoes have
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come a long way from the wood and catgut
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models of our ancestors. They are now with snowshoes on, there are very few See you on and off the trails!
built from primarily aluminum frames and obstructions that you can’t go over, through Mike Caldwell is the Mad Trapper of Denholm,
synthetic decking. These technological or around. If you want to run however, you Quebec. You can find him at “the Ark,” his winter
improvements have allowed snowshoes are best to stick to packed, groomed or home in the Gatineau Hills’s forest with his wife
to decrease in size without losing their snowmobile trails. Just be respectful of the Monique, two dogs, two cats, three llamas and
floatation characteristics. Today’s narrower primary trail use. never walk on top of miniature horse. For more information on Mike
snowshoes mean you no longer have to walk groomed ski tracks or on snowmobile trails and the Mad Trapper, www.synergyark.com and
like you’re holding a beach ball between where pedestrians are banned. regardless of www.team-building-leadership.com.
your legs, and the new crampon and binding whether you walk or run, snowshoeing will
systems mean you can ascend and descend improve your overall fitness while increasing
hills with more confidence than you would your balance, and leg and core strength.
The Mad Trapper
through the summer months. Since there are no special skills or Snowshoe Schedule
If you can walk or run on a groomed forest techniques required, it’s also one of the most
trail, you can walk or run on snowshoes. social of all winter sports. Families, snowshoe
Dec. 13, 2008: “Flatter” course
Snowshoeing is the warmest of winter sports veterans and rookies can all snowshoe
Jan. 24, 2009: Hilly course
since you can control where you snowshoe... together without the frustration of the less
Feb. 21, 2009: Canadian national
unlike skiing, where I always find myself experienced trying to keep up or the
Snowshoe Championships
covered in sweat and exposed to a cold more experienced having to hold
Mar. 7, 2009: The mad Trapper
arctic wind, snowshoeing allows you to themselves back.
Series Finale
exercise protected from the wind amongst as the sport continues to grow, more and
the trees. Hills are a breeze on snowshoes. more snowshoe trails are being developed
This year, points will count from each
Snowshoeing allows you to take your time and more and more people are available to
racer’s top three races toward Series
Finale count. So, if you need to miss
and control your exertion on the ascent, and snowshoe with. For the competitive
a race, you’ll still be in the running for
then maintain your heart rate while jogging individual, snowshoe racing is experiencing
the Series Championship.
A
down the backside. For additional growing popularity. with an emphasis on
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cardiovascular benefits and a more full body participation over competition, racers can
we have the same sponsors on board
TIAN
workout, you could consider utilizing trekking compete in 5 km and 10 km distances in the
as last year presenting the atlas 10k
EBAS
or cross-country ski poles. mad Trapper Snowshoe Series (see sidebar).
Series and the Solefit orthotics 5 k
/ S
If you just want to get outside to explore For more information on racing, visit www.
Series. The courses will be similar to
.
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nature and get in a little exercise, you can themadtrapper.ca. For details on the latest
previous years as will the abundance
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literally snowshoe anywhere there is snow. models and updates in snowshoeing
of prizing and quality/quantity of the
you can snowshoe alongside the parkways technology, visit www.atlassnowshoe.com.
post-race meals. all races take place
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and bike baths, in parks, farmer’s fields, and To test out snowshoes, visit Bushtukah, on a Saturday and will begin at 10 a.m.

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everywhere and anywhere within a forest. mountain equipment Co-op and Trailhead.
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www.OttawaOutdoors.ca OTTAWA >> WINTER 2008/2009 5
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