Off the beaten path Washington County offers snowshoeing events
Daniel Royall, right, a county recreation program coordinator, leads novice snowshoers on a modern hike.
An example of snowshoes used when Washington County Department of Parks and Recreation held an introduction to snowshoeing class at Mingo Creek County Park.
Washington County Department of Parks and Recreation held an introduction to snowshoeing event at Mingo Creek County Park. Daniel Royall, right, recreation program coordinator, led the class on a modern hike on Jan. 29.
Participants hike on a trail during a Washington County Department of Parks and Recreation snowshoeing event at Mingo Creek County Park.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Snowshoeing
If history books are accurate, snowshoeing has been around for at least 6,000 years, when the ancestors of Inuits and American Indians migrated from Asia to North America with primitive slabs of wood fastened to their feet. While this mode of transportation was essential to certain nomads, snowshoeing has become a popular recreational activity for those eager to get outside, even when the landscape is buried.
“Just being out there and gliding over deep snow, it’s a good way to connect with nature in the winter,” said Pat Adams, environmental educator at Raccoon Creek State Park near Hookstown.
The state park system has offered snowshoe events for years, but it is a new venture for the Washington County Department of Parks and Recreation. Having just purchased 24 sets of snowshoes for adults and children, the department will host two snowshoe events in February at Mingo Creek Park in Nottingham Township.
“It’s just another way to encourage the public to get outdoors in the winter,” said Jeffrey J. Donahue, county superintendent of recreation.
And, unlike with skiing or snowboarding, athleticism and skill aren’t essential to participate.
“It’s like going for a winter walk with really big feet,” Donahue said.
Shoe shapes vary – from long, thin planks to futuristic-looking flip-flops to the wood and rawhide kind that resemble a tennis racket. Online, prices range from $30 per pair to hundreds of dollars. No matter the type – or cost – snowshoes allow the wearer to walk on top of the snow and not sink in.
Adams, who has been snowshoeing since he was a teenager, agreed that even novices find their footing quickly.
“Most people who come out have never snowshoed. After walking around for about an hour, they have it figured out,” he said. “On uneven terrain, there’s more of a learning curve.”
Sarah Sandin and Daniel Royall, recreation program coordinators for Washington County parks and rec, lead the new programs. While quick to point out they’re not experts, the guides had no trouble shepherding two novices during a Jan. 29 sunset trek.
“It’s more like a duck walk,” demonstrated Sandin. “And, when walking downhill, you get in a hunched position.”
The snowshoes on loan from the county are the lightweight plastic and metal variety. After a short introduction and help strapping them on, Sandin led the way around a quarter-mile trail in Mingo Creek park.
The woods were quiet except the trickle of a stream and the methodical crunch of the shoes atop the powder. Sandin and Royall passed deer tracks imprinted on the unblemished snow.
Adams said tracking animals is one of the aspects of snowshoeing he enjoys most. Deer and turkey are common, but he also has encountered those of more evasive critters, like mink, bobcat and coyote.
“I’m also a cross-country skier, but if I’m going to be off trail, I use snowshoes and head off into the woods,” he said.
Dressing appropriately is the key to the winter sport. Adams suggested layering to avoid overheating.
“Make sure you don’t sweat – things with zippers and buttons are better than a parka,” he said. “Depending on the temperature, you can get by with a typical hiking boot versus an insulated boot.”
Adams uses both the traditional snowshoes and the newer, lightweight models. He recommends waiting until there are at least four inches of snow on the ground.
“I’m a die-hard with the old wooden (shoes). I like looking down and seeing leather and wood,” he said. “But for people who don’t have a lot of experience, you have to spread your legs a little wider with the old ones. If you do that for a couple of miles, it’s going to be a little sore on your muscles. That’s one of the advantages of new (shoes). You just lift and glide.”
Adams has seen interest in the sport fluctuate over the years, with popularity growing lately.
“In our area, it can be kind of tough. You have snowfall one day and it can be gone the next,” he said. “But it is a good workout and good for those interested in doing something other than sitting inside.”