| FESTIVAL of SNOWSHOEING
Hennepin Parks leads in the snowshoe revival
with a something-for-everyone day on the snow
By Nancy Lauseng
There's something about strapping on a pair of snowshoes that appeals to the explorer in all of us. Maybe it's the independence of walking atop a frozen field, off the beaten path and away from the complexities that lurk beyond the parking lot. Or maybe it's the energizing winter air that makes molehills out of mountains and wide–eyed children out of
worn–out grownups. Whatever it is, it is simple, it is sweet and it can only be found on a snowshoe trail.
Set against the cozy log cabin backdrop of the Baker Near–Wilderness Settlement in Medina, Minn., Hennepin Parks' eighth annual Snowshoe and Family Fun Festival is fast becoming a tradition for hundreds of folks eager to discover this simple magic of snowshoeing.
This year's festival runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, and
features a variety of activities for snowshoers of all abilities and interests. The event is free and parking fees will be waived. Participants will have a rare opportunity to try out more than 200 pairs of snowshoes from eight manufacturers including Glacier, Instep/Optima, Atlas, Red Feather, Sherpa, Little Bear, Crescent Moon and Tubbs. Participants also can learn how to build traditional snowshoes from a kit during demonstrations by kit manufacturer Wilcox and Williams.
Other activities include retailer displays of all the latest clothing and snowshoeing equipment available at Gear West, Hoigaard's, REI, Galyan's and Midwest Mountaineering. Retailers also will lead informational talks on everything snowshoeing, from how to get started to how to survive harsh winter weather. In addition to snowshoeing, families can enjoy snowshoe lacing, quinzhee snow fort building, winter games, kick sleds, snow snakes, snowflake making, ice candle making,
a skijoring demonstration, and winter tracking for the entire family. Hennepin Parks will give away more than $2,500 in door prizes during drawings throughout the day.
Highlighting this event–filled afternoon is the Snowshoe Festival's wildly–popular 5K snowshoe race at 12 p.m. Race entry is $8 for Hennepin Parks Patrons or $10 for nonpatrons. Families also can enjoy a free family fun run at 1 p.m.
Born out of necessity more than 6,000 years ago, the snowshoe is
regarded by some historians as one of the most important inventions in human history. It was the snowshoe that fueled the western expansion by making it possible for traders, hunters, explorers and surveyors to trudge onward regardless of the weather. And it was the snowshoe that likely made it possible for early Asian peoples to enter North America by crossing the Bering Land Bridge into what is now Alaska.
According to the "Snowshoeing History and Technique" Web page by
Riverbend Nature Center in Faribault, Minn., snowshoes and skis evolved from the "shoeski," large, flat wooden shoes that originated in Central Asia around 4000 B.C. Wearing shoeskis, early people were able to migrate to the far reaches of the Northern Hemisphere. The people who migrated to northern Europe and Asia evolved the shoeskis into skis, and the people who crossed the Bering Land Bridge into North America developed the snowshoe. Snowshoes were perfected by
the Athapascan Indians of the Northwest Coast and the Algonquin Indians of the St. Lawrence River Valley. Even today, they are made in the laced–frame form innovated by these peoples.
Snowshoeing was a popular social activity for 19th century Europeans, Americans and Canadians. Mimicking the splendid dress and revelry of military snowshoeing units, early snowshoer clubs marched to a drummer in packs that boasted as many as 100 members. In early New
England, groups of snowshoers would meet in town and hike to an undisclosed location, where treats usually awaited them. By tradition, the group would sing together until the "Whippers–in" finished rounding up stragglers. During the jovial return hike, the snowshoe leader traditionally found a steep hill for the group to slide or stumble down.
Snowshoe breakfast outings also were a popular tradition in New England. Families would hike out on moonlit nights and prepare a pot of
oatmeal over an open fire. Before the oatmeal finished cooking, they placed it into a fireless stove (a large insulated box) and allowed it to slowly finish cooking overnight as they slept. In the morning, the families returned with toboggans full of breakfast foods and enjoyed a great feast.
When cross country skiing became all the rage in the 1960s, snowshoeing fell by the wayside for nearly 20 years, until manufacturers
unveiled a new generation of metal–framed snowshoes and the public rediscovered the sport's unparalleled fitness benefits. Snowshoeing was reborn.
Today, snowshoes are manufactured primarily from lightweight yet durable metals and come in just about every color under the sun. Bindings are made out of long–lasting synthetic materials and are much easier to use. Purists can still buy a good old–fashioned pair of bearpaws with rawhide bindings but, for the most part, the modernized
shoes have stole the show.
"The technology is just incredible," says Jim Bradley, a Hennepin Parks recreation specialist. "They've really refined them in the last five years with better bindings so now you can strap on a pair of snowshoes and they don't fall off. They're also making dipped metal frames that the ice won't cake to."
Metal snowshoes also feature toe and heel crampons that grip packed or slippery surfaces, Bradley spoints out. Some newer models even
offer pivoting bindings for greater flexibility.
While Bradley is a convert to modern snowshoes, he noted that there is something to be said for traditional snowshoes.
"They're quieter and they have a fine natural look, and if you lace them yourself, you're making a craft."
Tim Anderson, Hennepin Parks recreation supervisor, urged families and individuals to take advantage of the Snowshoe Festival to give the sport of snowshoeing a test drive.
"This is your chance to try every style, size and shape of snowshoe on the market before you buy," Anderson says. "Snowshoeing is one of the fastest growing sports because it has low startup costs, is easy on the knees and anyone can do it with no training. All you do is walk."
Snowshoeing provides an excellent low–impact workout and can burn as many as 400–1,000 calories per hour, depending on snow conditions, Bradley says. It is also an excellent way to spend time
outdoors with family and to access areas that would otherwise be inaccessible.
"If you have deep snow it's really a workout," he says. "You huff and you puff. You can really condition yourself. You can actually burn more calories than running."
Bradley particularly encourages novices to try out the snowshoes at the festival.
"If you want to buy, you really ought to try them out because there are so many kinds. There's a variety of traditional or metal frames and you
might find one that feels good or is the right price."
Bradley cautioned new snowshoers not to overbuy.
"Rarely do we get 18–inch snowfalls, but when we do, people go out and buy snowshoes that are 36 inches long and they overbuy. Those big ones are just too awkward."
According to Bradley, snowshoes should be sized for snow condition and snowshoer weight. Longer snowshoes are better for powdery snow and shorter snowshoes are better for packed trails. Snowshoe buyers
should consult manufacturer weight charts to determine what length is best for them; in general, the heavier the snowshoer, the longer the snowshoe.
The Snowshoe Festival is at the Baker Near–Wilderness Settlement, located in Baker Park Reserve in Medina. From I–494, take Highway 55 west about 2.5 miles, turn left on County Road 24 and proceed about eight miles to the entrance. Free parking and shuttle service will be provided from Baker Park Reserve's main recreation area. The main
recreation area is located less than one mile west of the Near–Wilderness Settlement, just south of the intersection of County Road 24 and County Road 19.
For more information about the Snowshoe and Family Fun Festival, visit www.hennepinparks.org or call 763/559–9000.
Nancy Lauseng is a public relations specialist for Hennepin Parks.
SNOWSHOEING IN HENNEPIN PARKS
Located in the suburban Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area of Minnesota, Hennepin Parks is a natural–resources based Park District that manages more than 26,000 acres of park reserves, regional parks, regional trails
and special–use facilities. The Park District provides numerous snowshoeing trails and areas in its regional parks and park reserves. Rental snowhoes are available at some locations.
Snowshoe Trail/Area Locations in Hennepin Parks:
Baker Park Reserve: Multi–use trail – 4 miles
Bryant Lake Regional Park: General recreation area – 1 mile
Carver Park Reserve: Nature Center Trails – 5.3 miles
Cleary Lake Regional Park: Ski Skate/Snowshoe Trail – 1.3 miles
Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park: Cottonwood Trail – 1.5 miles
Crow–Hassan Park Reserve: Winter horse and pet trail – 1.5 miles
Eagle Lake Regional Park: General recreation area – 1.5 miles
Elm Creek Park Reserve: Nature Center Trails – 2.5 miles
Eastman Bike Trail – 4.4 miles
French Regional Park General Picnic Area – 8 acres
Hyland Lake Park Reserve Nature Center Trails – 2 miles
Visitor Center – 2 miles
Murphy–Hanrehan Park Reserve: South Loop – 3 miles
Snowshoe Rentals:
Snowshoe rentals are available at the parks listed below. Patron rate is
$3/hour; regular rate is $4.50/hour, age 8 plus. Driver's license or photo ID required for rental. Rentals are for in–park use only. Wear warm boots. Call ahead for availability and snow conditions.
Lowry Nature Center 952/472–4911
Richardson Nature Center 952/941–7993
Eastman Nature Center 763/420–4300
Eagle Lake Visitor Center 763/268–3181
Baker Ski Chalet 763/473–4114
West Coon Rapids Dam 763/424–8172
| |
