NW Kids: Make Snowshoeing Magic
How to Get Your Kids Out on the Trail
By Amy Whitley
Photo at right by Amy Whitley
The first time we snowshoed as a family, the powder lay five feet deep. My then-five-year-old sank to his waist while navigating the fresh snow, rolling into tree wells deep as caverns and struggling to his feet just to flop backward again, snow-angel-style. This is a kid who complains on a flat trail in mid-summer, so I braced for the whining, but it didn’t come.
The same kids who may gripe about hiking a trail in summer will love trekking it in winter. I don’t know why…I don’t make the rules. There’s just something magical about a snow-blanketed wilderness. Even more magical for parents: snowshoeing is affordable and easy to try. Families can get out on the snow with minimal investment of time and money. (Hint: snowshoes make a great gift.)
Step 1: Get your gear. Unlike shoes or skis, most children’s snowshoes will grow with your kids, which means you won’t need to upgrade every year. If you want to try before you buy, check with your local ski shop or outdoor sport retailer to see if they rent snowshoes by the day or week. Don’t forget ski poles for older kids: it will help them keep their balance. Other than snowshoes, all your kids need is what they wear every time they head outside to make a snow fort: waterproof, insulated snow boots, snow pants, a jacket or parka, winter gloves, goggles or glasses, and a hat.
Step 2: Find the right terrain. For your first few treks out in the snow, you’ll want to find moderate, groomed trails. If you have a Nordic center or ski resort with a cross-country trail system near you, that’s great, but it isn’t necessary. Sno-Parks make for great snowshoeing locations, as do forest service roads. Winter recreation maps (found wherever you buy or rent gear) will list available trails using the same color-coded trail-rating system as ski resorts. (Learn from our mistakes: when they say black diamond, they mean it.)
Step 3: Don’t forget snow play. Snowshoeing may tire you out, but your kids will miraculously have more energy to burn. Bring an inflatable sled (or snow donut) in a backpack, and stop to use it when the kids spot good sledding hills. Bring snacks for a snow picnic. (Consider a snow-topped picnic table a challenge instead of a deterrent.) Pack a thermos of hot water to add to instant soups and instant noodle cups, or a bottle of maple syrup to make frozen maple candy. Hot cocoa packets are non-negotiable, of course.
Amy Whitley is a freelance travel writer, lover of the outdoors, and editor of family travel website Pit Stops for Kids. She makes her home with her husband and three kids in Southern Oregon.
If you go:
Don’t forget to pay any required winter pass fees (your DMV or highway patrol site will list them), and stock your car with necessary winter driving equipment, such as chains.
