Fortunately, there are many different ways to do so up north while enjoying the outdoors.
My fresh new fit this new year was snowshoeing. "Santa" brought me a pair under the tree, and I was anxious to try them out. Unfortunately, there hasn't been any snow in our city yet, but we were lucky with abundant snow up North at our cabin, and my husband also got snowshoes for Christmas, giving me a partner in my new fit.
It's amazing how much snowshoes have improved- here's a pair that decorate the walls at the cabin. I am guessing these date back to the 1920's.
"Snowshoeing has been around for thousands of years. And, obviously, the art of snowshoeing has become more sophisticated over time – now it’s considered a winter sport. From the early wood-frame to the aluminum-frame models, snowshoeing has garnered quite a following throughout the world. Modern day snowshoeing is made up of casual snowshoers who hike trails for pleasure, the snowshoeing enthusiasts who trek through the backcountry, and the competitors who race."
The snowshoes of today are much easier to get on and off, and quite easy to use.
What's so great about snowshoeing?
The sport is easy to learn, virtually inexpensive (compared to other winter sports), poses little risk of injury and is a great way to exert energy during the cold winter months. Known to help maintain or improve cardiovascular fitness, the sport helps burn more than 600 calories per hour. Snowshoers can burn more than 45 percent more calories than walking or running at the same speed.
