Self-Guided Snowshoeing Trails at Aurora Cellars
New Popularity. Old Winter Pastime.
Snowshoeing Is All the Rage
The pandemic has made snowshoeing quite the popular sport again with many trails seeing record attendance and stores selling out of snowshoes nationwide. Now that Northern Michigan is finally covered in snow, visitors to the Leelanau Peninsula can get enjoy the old winter pastime while enjoying the great outdoors – avoiding the big crowds typically experienced in trails closer to larger cities.
Snowshoeing Fun Facts
Wow Your Snowshoeing Companions
Did you know snowshoeing may have been practiced as long as 6,000 years ago? Historians believe the ancestors to the Inuits and Native Americans migrated from present-day central Asia to North America, bringing snowshoes with them. The original snowshoes were modified slabs of wood, eventually evolving into the white ash framed snowshoes with rawhide lacing we are familiar with today.
Snowshoeing was not used for recreation until the 1970’s, rather it was primarily used for employment and survival in snowy climates best navigated by foot. The outdoor ‘slow’ sport boomed in popularity in the 1980s with the growth of running, cycling, triathlons and Nordic skiing, giving those in colder climates a fantastic option to exercise outdoors year round. As of 2017, almost 4 million people participated in snowshoeing in the United States alone.
10 Snowshoeing Tips
To ensure a successful excursion, we have a few tips to keep you safe and happy on the trails:
- Dress in warm layers (wool bases, wind or waterproof outer layers) and wear warm winter boots, gloves and hats.
- Wear waterproof boots.
- Buy or rent suitable snowshoes that are right for your weight, the terrain and the snow conditions.
- Bring adjustable poles with snow baskets (optional, but recommended).
- Carry a backpack for supplies.
- Use sun protection such as sunglasses and sunscreen as UV rays are more intense when reflected off of snow.
- Stay hydrated with water, hot tea or broth soup, ensuring your muscles function well and you stave off hypothermia. Save the wine for after the hike!
- Take turns breaking in fresh snow to let everyone share the extra work.
- Pack an extra pair of clothing to put on post-winter hike so you have something dry to wear in the tasting room.
- Warm up your muscles as you would preparing for any other exercise. A light stretch for your hamstrings and hip flexors will help your flexibility for snowshoeing.
We can’t wait to see you on the trail!
