Snowshoes - as old as early transportation methods, as new as today’s fitness gear. Long appreciated by Michigan’s park rangers and other outdoor professionals, snowshoes are increasingly being "discovered" by winter sports enthusiasts.

In fact, snowshoeing is one of the fastest-growing winter sports in the country (participation more than doubled from 1998 to 2002), and some say winter jogging has "given winter sports nuts a whole new reason to stay out in the cold."

Snowshoeing’s popularity is growing because it is easy to learn, offers an excellent low-impact aerobic workout, enables young and old to explore a variety of terrain together and is available at relatively low cost.

But perhaps the best thing about snowshoeing is that you can go virtually anywhere. You can explore places you wouldn’t think of going in the warm months, such as swampy areas or where there is too much forest growth.

Fallen trees and thick underbrush will stop a snowmobile in its tracks, and cross-country skis perform best on groomed trails. Snowshoes, on the other hand, can go almost anywhere there is sufficient snow, just enough to get you above the growth.

As with any new activity, it’s recommended that you read up on the sport and, if possible, talk to some snowshoers before buying a pair of your own. There are many choices in snowshoes, from entry-level models fit for flat terrain to high-performance shoes capable of mastering a technical climb.

Most traditional wooden snowshoes are made of white ash, steam bent into their familiar round or elongated shaped and laced with rawhide. The newer lightweight models, made of aluminum, offer snap-on bindings and weigh less than two pounds. Another technological innovation has been the introduction of nylon/neoprene laces.

Once you purchase snowshoes and strap them on, the whole winter world becomes your playground. It is handy for a snowshoer to carry a ski pole
as an aid to forward progress, balance, going up and down
hills and regrouping from spills. The use of poles also gets the upper body moving in a manner similar to cross-country skiing, thus improving the quality of
the workout.

It is estimated that snowshoeing on level ground burns about 550 calories per hour, twice the amount consumed by brisk walking. On rolling terrain, however, a snowshoer might be burning up in excess of 800 calories per hour, about 15 percent more than running at a 6-mile-per-hour pace.

Dress in layers, including lightweight long underwear with an absorbent layer of insulation. Outerwear should include a hat, windproof parka and waterproof mittens with inner mitts of wool or synthetic material. Avoid clothing that restricts movement or which loses its insulating ability when wet. Most snowshoe bindings will accommodate a variety of footwear. To ensure an enjoyable snowshoeing experience it is important to have warm, comfortable and dry feet. For a long snowshoe hike wear a pair of stable, comfortable and waterproof hiking boots or winter trail runners.

"Mastering the walking technique takes just a bit of trial and error," said Bob Wild, park interpreter at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. "The first thing to learn is how to space the feet. Most modern snowshoes are narrow enough to accommodate a normal gait, but if you lift your foot too high, you’ll fall down. And if you’re not lifting high enough and the snow is crusty, your tip will hit the snow and you’ll fall forward. It’s kind of a logical process."

Once you have learned not to step on the other snowshoe, you are ready for any jaunt into the wilderness. But Wild said beginners should be conservative in estimating how far they plan to travel.

"The snowshoe walking pace is slower than regular hiking," Wild said. "If you normally take a four-mile hike, start with half that distance on snowshoes."

To help you get started, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is offering free snowshoe hikes at several state parks during February. Hartwick Pines State Park, north of Grayling, has guided snowshoe hikes scheduled for Feb. 4 and 18. Visitors also can try snowshoeing at Tahquamenon Falls State Park Feb. 4 during the park’s annual Winter Festival. Hoffmaster State Park, near Muskegon, is offering a moonlight snowshoe hike Feb. 11, but if you wish to plan your destination based on the largest amount of annual snowfall, head to Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, where guided snowshoe hikes are scheduled each Saturday afternoon.

Several more state parks, including Young, Traverse City and Ludington, are offering guided snowshoe hikes Feb. 18 as part of the DNR’s Project GO-Get Outdoors weekend. This year’s Winter GO coincides with Free Fishing Weekend, and Michigan residents and visitors will be able to sample a wide array of winter recreation activities across the state without a motor vehicle permit Feb.18-19.

For information, contact the individual park or go to the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr. Specific times and locations for all these activities and additional events are available on the DNR calendar, which can be found on the front page.

"Everyone is invited to come out and see for themselves why snowshoeing is one of the fastest-growing winter activities," said Alan Wernette, park interpreter at Ludington State Park. "It’s easy and fun, and the slower pace allows families to stay together."