Because of the invention of snowshoes that allow for greater ease of movement, snowshoeing has become increasingly popular among people of all ages and fitness levels. Now, you can join the growing number of people who are discovering the fun and fitness benefits of snowshoeingthis complete guide shows you how.
Whether you're a beginner who wants to learn the fundamentals or an experienced snowshoer who lacks formal instruction, Snowshoeing provides everything you need so you can enjoy this great winter fitness activity for many years to come.
Sally Edwards, the woman responsible for popularizing triathlons in the 1980s, and Melissa McKenzie are avid snowshoers who developed a new user-friendly snowshoe design. Combining an engaging writing style with dozens of colorful photos, they explain what you need to know before you even set foot in the snow. You'll learn how to
determine which type of snowshoe works best for you,
choose the proper size of snowshoe for your needs, and
select comfortable and safe clothing and accessories.
Next, the authors present the skills you need to learn so you can snowshoe correctly and safely. You'll find
illustrated instructions for 16 snowshoeing techniques, such as stamping, turning, kick-stepping, and breaking trail;
tips for identifying snow that is perfect for snowshoeing;
advice on how to avoid getting lost outdoors in the winter;
a three-phase training plan to help you get your body ready for more than a leisurely walk on the snow; and
information on how to recognize symptoms of frostbite, hypothermia, altitude sickness, dehydration, and heat exhaustion, as well as how to treat these conditions.
But you won't put Snowshoeing aside once you've mastered the basics. The book is loaded with valuable information for snowshoers of all skill levels. You'll read about creative ideas for finding great local snowshoeing sites and descriptions of 45 of the world's best snowshoeing destinations. And for those who want to pursue snowshoeing further, there's information on additional activities that complement snowshoeing, such as tracking animal prints and mountaineering.
The book also provides a glossary of snowshoeing terms as well as an appendix describing snowshoeing organizations, reading materials, and snowshoe manufacturers.
Like all the books in the Outdoor Pursuits Series, Snowshoeing emphasizes safety, environmental responsibility, andmost of allthe fun of outdoor activity!
AUDIENCE
How-to reference for beginning and experienced snowshoers.
CONTENTS
Chapter 1. Going Snowshoeing
Getting Started on the Right Foot
A Type of Snowshoeing for You
Chapter 2. Snowshoeing Equipment
What Kind of Snowshoes Do You Need?
Traditional Versus Sport Snowshoes
Anatomy of a Snowshoe
Frames
Binding Systems
Pivot Systems
Crampons and Claws
Decking
Deciding What to Buy
Dressing for Success
Footwear
Booties
Gaiters
Tops and Bottoms
Accessories
Headgear
Gloves
Sunglasses
The Well-Equipped Snowshoer
Snowpoles
Food and Drink
Where to Find It All
Chapter 3. Snowshoeing Correctly
Stepping Out
Striding
Stamping
Turning
Breaking Trail
Bushwhacking
Using Poles
Stepping Up
Rest Stepping
Switchbacking
Scrambling
Side-Kicking
Kick-Stepping
Side-Stepping
Herringbone Stepping
Downhilling
Jumping
Getting to Know the Great Outdoors
Snow
Avalanches
Ice
Chapter 4. Snowshoeing Fitness and Safety
How Ready Is Your Body?
Improving Your Snowshoeing Fitness
Snowshoeing Safely
Beating the Elements
Frostbite
Hypothermia
Altitude Sickness
Dehydration and Heat Exhaustion
Sunburn
Snow Blindness
Staying Found
Chapter 5. The Best Places to Snowshoe
Finding the Best Local Trails
Snowshoeing Ski Resorts and Golf Courses
Trail Etiquette
United States Getaways
The West
The Midwest
The East
United States Snowshoe Races and Events
Canadian Trails
British Columbia
Alberta
Saskatechwan
Snowshoeing in the United Kingdom
Western Europe by Snowshoe
France
Switzerland
Austria
Italy
Germany
Scenic Australia and New Zealand
Australia
New Zealand
South Island
North Island
Limitless Adventure
Chapter 6. Pursuing Snowshoeing Further
Running
Racing
Tracking
Camping and Mountaineering
Being a Snowshoer
Appendix
Organizations
Other Reading
Snowshoe Manufacturers
Sport Snowshoes
Moutaineer Snowshoes
Snowshoe Kits
Snowshoeing Lingo
Index
About the Authors
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sally Edwards and Melissa McKenzie, both avid snowshoers, are the cofounders of YubaShoes Sport Snowshoes, a manufacturing company of high-performance snowshoes.
Edwards has been committed to fitness all her life. One of the founders of triathlon competition, she has completed 13 Ironman triathlons, finishing in the top five in the master's or open division in each. She competed in the 1984 Olympic Marathon Trials and set the women's record at the 1993 Iditashoe 100-Mile Snowshoe Race in Alaska with a time of 24 hours, 1 minute. She has won dozens of other endurance events, including the master's division of the 1994 Mt. Taylor Quadrathlon, a combination of snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, running, and cycling.
In addition to Snowshoeing, Edwards has written 7 books on sports, fitness, and diet and more than 300 magazine and newspaper articles. She is a well-known professional speaker and the national spokesperson for the Danskin Women's Triathlon Series since 1990. One of the founders of Triathlon Federation/USA, she served as its vice president for seven years.
Edwards earned her master's degree in exercise physiology from the University of California at Berkeley, in 1970 and her MBA from National University in 1986.
Melissa McKenzie left her job as a marketing executive for a cellular telephone company to launch YubaShoes with Sally Edwards. Having earned her MBA from Boston University in 1986, McKenzie was no stranger to the corporate environment. YubaShoes became her first entrepreneurial venture, allowing her to combine vocation and avocation.
McKenzie's lifelong interest in the outdoors and her bachelor's degree in biology, with an emphasis on botany and ecology, allowed her to make major contributions to the chapters in this book that focus on nature. A member of the Sierra Club and the National Audubon Society, McKenzie hopes to inspire others to become more familiar with the great outdoors.
WORDS OF PRAISE
"At last, a book that brings snowshoeing into the present. From solid basics to enjoyable anecdotes, this book reveals snowshoeing not as a relic from our distant past but as a lively, modern recreation and sport, full of variety."
Bob Woodward
Contributing Editor, Snow Country magazine
"This book provides all the information one needs to get started."
Deborah Waldear
Director, Kirkwood Cross-Country Ski Area
"A must for all snowshoers. Sally and Melissa are taking the sport to places nobody has ever gone."
Gene West
Proprietor, Eagle Mountain Cross-Country Ski Area