It’s that time of year.
Leaves on the trees are changing from green to golden yellow and red and we know that it’s just a matter of weeks before snow starts to fly. Soon, we’ll be replacing mountain bikes with snowshoes and heading into our favorite season, winter.
There’s something about winter adventures that require a little bit more strength and stamina.
Maybe it’s because we’ll be carrying more weight from our layered clothing, food and gear, or just the fact that boots, gaiters and snowshoes can make even the easiest of adventures just a little bit more challenging. Maybe it’s just preparing our bodies for cold temperatures.
Regardless, it’s time to get in shape for snowshoe season!
These tips will help.
- Hike. A lot!
Hiking is similar to snowshoeing in a lot of ways, plus it’s fun to get outdoors. If you can’t hike then try replacing your hikes with a trail run, bike ride, or a quality cardio session at the gym. You’ll need endurance when the snow flies and you strap on your snowshoes. Hike some of your favorite trails now and then come back in a few months when they are covered with snow to see the difference that a deep layer of snow makes.
- Build some core strength.
Hikers and snowshoers tend to forget the core. But if you do a lot of backcountry snowshoeing with a heavy pack, or if you carry a toddler on your back you’ll need a strong abdomen and a strong back. A strong core will make it easy to do simple tasks like bending over to put on your snowshoes or more difficult tasks like balancing on one foot or trekking over bumpy and challenging terrain. I like a good plank and bridges to build core strength.
- Don’t forget about the legs.
If you’ve ever snowshoed through deep, wet snow you know that when you’re snowshoeing those leg muscles definitely get a good workout. Incorporate a few squats and squat variations and lunges into your strength training workouts to build the thighs and glutes.
Adding a few simple exercise into your daily workout can ease the transition from dry trails to snowy trails and help you be ready for snowshoeing this winter.