How to Walk on Snowshoes

For thousands of years, snowshoes have been used for winter transportation. Today they're more popular than ever, thanks to improvements in their technology.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Gloves
• Hiking Boots
• Ski Hats
• Warm Clothes
• Snowshoes

1. Dress appropriately for winter recreation.
2. Stretch your muscles for 10 to 15 minutes. Be sure to stretch at least the thighs, groin and calves.
3. Attach the snowshoes to your footwear snugly so your foot and snow-shoe move as one.
4. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, as most snowshoes are wider than regular footwear.
5. Swing the striding foot sideways and forward, clearing your opposite ankle. Your foot will wing out in an arc pattern. Be sure to swing away from your body and far enough forward to clear the opposite snowshoe.
6. Land with the pressure focused on the ball of your foot.
7. Repeat with the opposite leg.

Tips & Warnings

• Packed trails and flat slopes are the best places to learn to snowshoe.
• Avoid stepping on your snowshoes by swinging your striding foot away from your body and far enough forward to clear the opposite snowshoe.
• Look back at your tracks - they should look like a zipper line.