Three Things Thursday: The Snowshoe Edition

1.  I have discovered a new love this winter:  SNOWSHOEING!  Though I bought my trail pass for the cross-country trail network near town, I have not used it once because I've been too busy using my snowshoes.

2.  A bit of careful planning and creativity in meeting design allowed for a work day spent snowshoeing on Tuesday.  We headed towards Wells and then started going up, up and up.

There was a LOT of snow!

The trail markers were hard to find.

But we made it (almost) to the top!  My iPhone camera does not do the view justice, but we had a view of a snow covered lake and snow capped mountains under a brilliant blue sky.

I wish I had a photo of us actually climbing up - it was ridiculously steep, and I had at least one moment of fear that I was going to cause an avalanche (I think there were too many trees, but I want to learn more about this before I climb another mountain in the snow). 

3.  Did you know that you can burn 420 - 1000 calories in an hour of snowshoeing?  The extra effort of the snow, doubles the calories burned for walking the same distance.  It is great cross-training because you are using all of your muscle groups in your legs, plus your core for balance.  There are more good facts at http://tubbssnowshoes.com.

Have you tried snowshoeing?  Did you wear the big, old style rackets, or the new streamlined ones?  Did you love it or hate it?