About Snowshoeing

Nomadic tribes in Central Asian invented the snowshoe just over 6,000 years ago. The footgear they hand-made then, made it easier for them to walk westwards in the winter toward a warmer Europe.

Trappers and traders in the American Northeast and French Canada had practical reasons to float over the snow and it wasn't always feasible to do it by mushing. In 1840, with the founding of the Montreal Snowshoe Club, they made a game out of it. The Canadian Snowshoe Union and the American Fraternal Union of Snowshoe Clubs were staging cross-border snowshoe tramps in the 1930s, with 10-mile marathons, 400-yard sprints and even 100-yard hurdles. These clubs boasted more than 200 members at one event in their hey day.

The postwar ski boom killed snowshoeing, but then along came the fitness boom. The materials haven't changed much until recently - wood and rawhide - and now the aluminum framed snowshoe.

Millions have recently learned that snowshoeing for leisure is recession-proof. All it requires is some snow! No expensive day passes, no lift tickets, and no lessons. Its basically tie and go! Plus, it’s a high-energy workout, and fun for the entire family. Snowshoeing is one of America’s fastest-growing winter sports, and definitely one of the most aerobic, burning 40 percent more calories than walking.

Come join our us for trekking, tramping and organized snow shoe events and maybe even the great Snow Shoe Race in January.

Check the calendar for events and races.