Sierra Blogging Post Archives

There's no snow yet, even though Colorado is about to make some, but it won't be long now. If you don't ski or board, don't let that stop you from getting outdoors this winter. You should try snowshoeing!

One of the best things about snowshoeing is that anyone can do it--all you need are a good pair of snowshoes, waterproof boots, and poles. You can set your own pace and decide whether you want an invigorating aerobic workout or a leisurely stroll through freshly fallen snow.


Our friend Jarrid sent us these great pics and the story of his first snowshoeing experience. Sounds like he had an awesome time...


"As an Americorps volunteer, you don’t get too many chances to play around. It’s hard work helping people for an entire year. I taught seniors how to use computers in Anchorage Alaska for an entire year, it was an incredible experience. But every once in a while we had to get out there and have a good time.

In one of my little outings my friends and I decided to do some snowshoeing up in Hatchers Pass about 60 miles north of Anchorage. Now, I'm from Michigan, we have lots of blue stuff called water and occasionally some white stuff called snow, but one thing we don't have are mountains. I had seen snowshoes before in Michigan, looked like big tennis rackets to me.

Anyways, in preparation for this little outing I had found some old rental Tubbs snowshoes that someone was selling for $25. With my trusty $25 Tubbs we went out to do some snowshoeing, my very first ever. I was unprepared for the walk that was ahead of me. Mounds of snow covered little foothills. You could jump down from these little mounds and land in big piles of snow. You could run and jump and land anywhere without getting hurt (too much). It was like a vast playground of marshmallows. Finally, we got around to the trail that others were using to Telemark down the backside of the mountain. I had done hiking in the past but nothing had prepared me for the amount of white snow I was to see heading up the trail. I'll admit, the first time I did it, I was a little scared, but we had people who had done it before so I just followed them. Eventually, we made it to the top. I think the thing that amazed me the most was looking down and seeing nothing but white, the distance was hard to figure out, too, because everything else was also white. For this Michigan boy, it was a pretty awesome sight and something I will never forget."