Winter Wonders: Snowshoeing

Varied styles meet everyone's needs

By Pete Colaizzo
Poughkeepsie Journal

Nalywayko, the coordinator of aquatics and outdoor recreation at the Culinary Institute of America, has taken advantage of the abundant winter snowfall and has used his snowshoes almost daily in the trails around the Hyde Park school.

''For me, it's a great alternative to skiing and snowboarding,'' Nalywayko said. ''For people that don't want to do that, it's much easier on the body.''

Indeed, snowshoes do not come with the inherent risk involved in hurtling one's body down the side of a mountain. Another plus: There's no real expertise needed with snowshoeing. It's just a matter of strapping them on and walking in the snow.

Last weekend, Nalywayko passed along the ease and beauty of his favorite winter pastime to nearly 30 CIA students. With the help of the Hopewell Junction-based Hudson Valley Pack and Paddle, Nalywayko introduced snowshoeing to students starved for outdoor activity during this cold and snowy winter.

''We did a mile walk back in our woods,'' Nalywayko said. ''We had nothing but excellent, positive comments.''

Easy to learn

Culinary students experienced the beauty and solitude of a winter walk in the woods. Snowshoes make that walk easier to handle. But make no mistake: Snowshoeing can be a serious, sweat-soaked workout -- even in sub-zero temperatures.

Onteora Runners Club president Debbie Briggs is an avid snowshoer. She has participated in snowshoe races and has even hosted informal snowshoe races from her home in rural Rhinebeck.

With ample snow this winter, Briggs has done more snowshoeing than running. She feels the workout is equal to or better than what she would get if she went running on the roads.

''You think, 'Well, it's just walking,' but you'd be surprised at all the huffing and puffing,'' she said. ''It's a great strength workout, and an amazingly hard workout.''

Lee Ferris/Poughkeepsie Journal Ian Powell of Round Top (Greene County) jumps from atop a boulder while snowshoeing on South Mountain in the Catskills.

And after this week's major snowstorm, conditions are ideal for snowshoeing. ''Right now, it's absolutely perfect,'' said John Stowell, program coordinator at Fahnestock Winter Park in Putnam County.

Fahnestock rents snowshoes and offers groomed trails. After this week's storm, Stowell said the trails have a base of 25-30 inches. ''On a groomed, track trail,'' he said, ''the conditions can stay optimal for most of the winter.''

That's great news for someone like Wayne Gilchrest, a teacher of environmental science at the academy of environmental studies at Norrie State Park in Staatsburg. For Gilchrest, snowshoeing is not only a winter fitness activity -- it's also an outdoor classroom.

Gilchrest uses snowshoes as a combination of gym class and science project for his students. With more than 1,000 acres of woods and trails available at Norrie, Gilchrest has no need for a chalkboard and desks. His teaching can be done right in the fresh air.

''The kids think it's great,'' Gilchrest said. ''They're used to playing regular gym games like basketball or football -- or worse, inside playing shuffleboard or something. With this, they get to go outside.''

And once they are outside, it's a combination of snowshoeing and learning. ''We'll snowshoe around and see who can find six different types of trees,'' Gilchrest said. ''It's a race, and a science lesson. It works really well.''

The best way to get started in snowshoeing is to rent a pair from a park like Fahnestock or a store like Hudson Valley Pack and Paddle. Much like hiking boots and running sneakers, snowshoes come in all shapes and sizes -- depending on terrain, speed and foot type.

Inexpensive to start

The basics -- snowshoes and poles -- cost anywhere between $120 and $280. Most beginners can get by with an initial investment of about $150.

Briggs has an impressive collection of snowshoes. Since she has been snowshoeing for more than 10 years, she has tried out different models as the technology has improved.

Snowshoes used to resemble oversized tennis racquets attached to your feet. Now, with the use of lightweight aluminum and plastic, snowshoes can weigh just a little more than your average hiking boots.

''They are constantly coming out with new shoes,'' Briggs said. ''The technology has made it a lot easier.''

Added Gilchrest: ''Most of the snowshoes are roughly rectangular and a lot easier to use. They're not like those old tennis racquet ones.''

All of which makes snowshoeing the way to go when it snows.

''It's as simple as walking,'' Gilchrest said, ''only your foot is wider.''