Snowshoeing by Ryan Alford

It was a day that many snowshoers would never forget. On March 5, 2005, the United States partook in a series of snowshoe races, peacefully bringing together some of the most talented athletes in the world. It was a day that would be resurrected in the memories of many and one that would usher-in the next era for the sport an era that would further prove its potential.

On that Saturday morning, Beaver Creek, Colo., played host to the Jeremy Wright North American Snowshoe Championships. About 500 competitors stood in silence while remembering Wright a fellow snowshoer and United States soldier who was killed in Afghanistan. Curious skiers, race organizers, journalists, photographers, eager competitors, and many others were led in a moment of prayer and meditation. Minutes later, the race was underway.

A few thousand miles away that same day, an elite group of shoers toed the starting line of the United States National Snowshoe Championship Race in Anchorage, Alaska. The event’s organizer, Mark Elmore, was hoping the thrill of the race would spawn added fortune for the sport.

In the snow-frosted hills of New England, the Western Massachusetts Athletic Club (WMAC) prepared for its March 5 race. The Kenneth Dubuque Memorial State Forest suitably catered to the snowshoers ready to compete. The East Coast’s best-of-the-best were donning their snowshoes for a chase among the pine and maple trees.

Not only was March 5 significant for snowshoe racing but many days before that have proved the sport’s growing popularity. Snowshoeing is no longer an excuse for a recreational outing. It has become a competitive winter sport that has breathed newborn-like life into a 6,000 year-old concept.

Running With the Wind

The snowshoe runner has a special blend of staunch athleticism and a perfected awareness of fitness. And, Snowshoe Magazine talked to a handful of some of the nation’s top competitors.

Standing tall as a unique force of nature is Josiah Middaugh, 26, from Vail, Colo. As a triathlete by trade with a passion for snowshoe racing, Middaugh has fashioned a focused mind that allows him to go the distance.

At the most recent Beaver Creek Snowshoe Adventure Series, he took first place at all four events, including the championship race. Middaugh also placed first at the 2005 Mount Taylor Winter Quadrathlon an intense mix of biking, running, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.

Snowshoeing has a very fast learning curve; if you can walk or run, you can snowshoe race, said Middaugh. People from a wide variety of sports can do well at snowshoe racing: cyclists, triathletes, and runners have an advantage. It’s more about aerobic capacity, not about leg speed.

Combined with the aforementioned aerobic capacity, the key to Middaugh’s racing prowess is a combination of strength, agility and wit. As other racers are busy preparing for the day’s competition, he is studying the field.

My strategy is to race the course as fast as I can, said Middaugh. I don’t wait too long to make a move. And, I like to drive everybody in oxygen debt early in the race.

Irresistibly powerful on snowshoes is Danelle Ballengee, 33, from Dillon, Colo. Offering the sport an elegance that captures the awe of her competitors, Ballengee is one of the world’s top female snowshoe racers.

Lately, the snowshoe racing season has been my focus, Ballengee said. Instead of snowshoeing to get in shape for running, I’ve been running to get in shape for snowshoeing.

Ballengee is an intelligent snowshoer and a fierce competitor on the trails. She has accomplished the impossible by setting the Fourteeners Female Speed Record by climbing all 54 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks in about 15 days. Nevertheless, Ballengee’s snowshoe racing accolades are endless.

Representing the East Coast is Paul Low, 31, from Amherst, Mass. Low is rated No. 1 among the WMAC’s snowshoe runners for 2005. And, he’s one of the more experienced runners that compete in today’s national events.

I am inspired to snowshoe race by the natural beauty of the race courses and by all of the cool people that I have met while competing in the sport, said Low. While I perform better on shallow, hard and icy snow, I love the fact that sometimes a snowshoe race is going to be completely different than a trail race on the same course.

Among the female snowshoers that tend to stand out among the rest is Julie Udchachon, 34, from Eagle River, Alaska.

Udchachon (pronounced ooo-cha-chon) is an experimental snowshoer that tries to test her limits and extend the boundaries that many competitors ignore.

I snowshoed about 75 miles of the Susitna 100 in Alaska after running the first 25, Udchachon said. Somewhere around the 90-mile mark my body temperature dropped and I began to suffer from hypothermia. I ended up passing out at mile 98; the race was successful, but yet it was a disaster. It was a great learning experience and I plan on doing it again next year.

Fresh off her 10-kilometer win at the United States National Snowshoe Championships, Nikki Kimball (34, from Bozeman, Montana) soars in her snowshoeing eloquence. Yet, snowshoeing is a strengthening sport that prepares her for triathlons.

I love snowshoe running it’s become so popular, said Kimball. However, it’s an adjunct to my running career because I’m a triathlete and it makes sense for me. I don’t train for snowshoe racing, I use it for strengthening. And, it’s an affordable means of training .

A Future That Becomes Brighter by the Season

It’s no joke. Snowshoeing is the fastest growing sport in the United States. For snowshoeing the racing aspect is just a niche within the sport, but no less popular among enthusiasts and athletes.

Throughout the sport’s existence, the United States Snowshoe Association (USSSA) has orchestrated one of the more successful racing series for enthusiasts. Although the organization is based in Corinth, N.Y., it has spread the word effectively throughout the nation bringing together hundreds of racers for high-spirited competitions.

The Association handles as many as 15 races that span the snow-states, from Alaska to upstate New York. However, for the 2005/2006 racing season the USSSA will host as many as 25 events around the nation as well as its championship race in Bolton Valley, Vt.

When discussing the Association’s upcoming season and prominent future, Mark Elmore, sports director with the USSSA, said, We are still trying to educate the general public on the benefits of snowshoe racing. Here in the states, there are a lot of races. And, there are a lot of races that pull in hundreds of participants. Our National Championship program is going well and attracting more and more participants every year.

Lately, snowshoe racing is booming, which has allowed the Association to appreciate a lofty success rate. Other race organizers are experiencing success as well, including the Western Massachusetts Athletic Club, the Beaver Creek Snowshoe Adventure Series, and an assortment of snowshoe clubs spread throughout the states.

Snowshoe racing is an extension of trail running, said Ed Alibozek, snowshoe race director with the Western Massachusetts Athletic Club. We are starting to see a lot of tri-athletes, cyclists, trail runners, adventure racers, and many others that want to continue their athletic regiment during the winter. Snowshoe racing brings together a myriad of participants.

The world is participating as well. In fact, many European races have found great success by drawing thousands of participants.

The USSSA travels to Italy for the Ciaspolada snowshoe race, which has 6,000 to 7,000 participants, said Elmore. This is an event that has been going on for the past 30 years. In some of the major events in Europe, there are routinely many athletes from countries like Australia, New Zealand, England, Whales, Russia, Morocco, Poland, Czech Republic, Kenya, Spain, and many others.

Snowshoe racing’s worldwide attention has created an Olympic buzz. For the past couple years, associations and clubs have pooled their resources in an effort to intensify the sport’s authenticity and acceptance.

According to Elmore, in order for snowshoeing to become an Olympic sport, it must have 40 national governing bodies around the globe. Unfortunately, the winter Olympic program is basically full and for anything new to be added, an existing event needs to be dropped.

The international snowshoe racing industry is a long way from having 40 national governing bodies, Elmore said. So, it’s not quite there, but that doesn’t mean that demonstration and exhibitions can’t be held.

Since snowshoe racing wasn’t given consideration for a demonstration race at the upcoming 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy, the sport’s supporters have turned to the 2010 Games in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Snowshoe racing has the potential of becoming an Olympic sport, said Elmore. We are now focusing on the 2010 Olympics to provide a demonstration snowshoe race.

Over the years, I regularly receive an e-mail or a phone call from an eager snowshoer wanting advice on what kind of backpack to purchase. Of course, I’ve tried many and have my opinions. Where I find my opinion becomes rather fierce is the availability of a backpack engineered for snowshoers. This is a very difficult item to find in the world. Until now, conveniently! This is because you’re reading Snowshoe Magazine the only publication focusing entirely on the sport of snowshoeing. So, I introduce to you…GV Snowshoes’ Technical Backpack for snowshoers.

It’s rare that I get to review a product from an advertiser. Most of my advertisers are snowshoe manufacturers, which is fine. But, I have always stayed away from reviewing snowshoes (meaning the entire organization stays away from it as well). There’s a reason: If we review one, we review them all. I want to make it fair. And we surely don’t have the manpower to undertake a project of that magnitude. It’s information I would love to provide, but I feel that Snowshoemag would quickly become the wrong kind of resource for the snowshoe world. My suggestion is to rent a pair of snowshoes and then make your purchase decision real world experience means more, believe me.

If you have any ideas on how Snowshoe Magazine can provide snowshoe gear reviews, please let me know (ryan@snowshoemag.com).

We love reviewing clothing, jackets, shoes, backpacks and other accessories. That’s the icing on our Italian Cream Cake (my favorite). The recent gob of icing is GV Snowshoes’ Technical Backpack. When I first tested this pack, I was overwhelmed with how well it performed as a snowshoeing backpack. Finally! I found it!

Here’s the why this pack is made by a Canadian snowshoeing company, GV Snowshoes. Obviously, they know what snowshoers want. The Tech Pack (as I like to call it) is made for the backcountry snowshoer. It can carry snowshoes (or a snowboard), telescopic poles, a shovel and other equipment. It’s pretty sweet, for lack of a better slang term.

I always have my snowshoes strapped to the Tech Pack so I can easily plan a trip and leave the next day. This prevents me from having to organize and gather gear. It’s all right there and ready to go.

Additionally, it just makes me feel good to support a Canadian company like GV (read my blog and then you’ll know why: http://www.snowshoemag.com/editor.cfm).

Here are the way-cool features:

*It has a total of 45-liters of volume and includes a lateral expanded panel for more storage. This is huge space for a medium-sized backpack.

*It’s made of 600 Denier Rip Stop and is water resistant. If you need something made tough, this is what you need. I’ve scraped this up against trees and I use it as a “butt warmer” when I sit down.

*The internal frame structure is more ergonomic (compared to other packs) for comfort. This is supported by a free flow system that allows moisture to easily evaporate between the pack and your back. This is one of the best features, in my opinion.

*It has ergonomic waist and shoulder padded straps. It also includes side pockets for quick and easy storage.

*Lateral Velcro straps can help hold a shovel, telescopic poles or other equipment

*The front panel can be adapted to carry snowshoes when going down a hill and a snowboard when going up hill

*To protect you from extremely wet conditions, the Tech Pack has a water resistant rain cover that covers the entire pack. It can then be easily restored in a special pocket near the bottom of the pack (which surprisingly adds some padding). This is another feature I love.

That’s the gist of it. Snowshoers can sleep better at night knowing there is a backpack especially made for them. Now it’s time to have a jacket that’s more snowshoer-friendly. That’s the challenge I place in front of the snowshoe manufacturers. Because there are features in a jacket that make life more livable when snowshoeing. The only hint I can provide is simple: a GORE-TEX shell isn’t everything, but a soft shell that can protect in the bitter cold is what makes my hair stand on end with excitement. Sorry for the visual.

For more information about GV Snowshoes, visit http://www.gvsnowshoes.com.

As we comb the world for great snowshoeing destinations, we found two of the best here in our own backyard. Devil’s Thumb Ranch and C Lazy U Ranch - located in Grand County, Colorado - provide guests with the ultimate in winter fun and sport.

I had the unique opportunity to visit both locations as a guest and snowshoer. Although I’m easily impressed, I was placed in the comforts of good living and I was immediately put at ease by my surroundings. I was allowed to partake of the Ranches’ facilities and services, including some of the best food and some of the most beautiful land designated for snowshoeing.

I was more than spoiled. And, I was able to spend the time at the Ranches with my wife, Emily. As a couple, we were able to enjoy a romantic outing that was later coined, our “second honeymoon.”

Would I suggest visiting? Of course, but for now…I’m only providing a sample of my final write-ups. When we debut our print publication next season, Devil’s Thumb and C Lazy U Ranches will ultimately become feature articles. Complete with more photography and the details everybody will want to know, the finer points will be discussed at a later time.

For now, read and make your plans to visit…and snowshoe.

– The Devil’s Thumb Ranch Snowshoe Experience –

Mellowed posh surroundings, the “good life” placed within reach, and the tranquility of snowshoeing endless acres of Colorado land are some of the elements that compose the splendor of Devil’s Thumb Ranch (DTR).

The Ranch is unavoidably charming and irrepressibly enchanting. Its flawless attempts of providing the amenities to passers-by and nightly guests are the brilliant groundwork of stress-relief and rest. Perfected comfort is what DTR is known for and a dreamscaped backdrop sets-apart DTR from other snowshoeing destinations.

I visited DTR in the fresh of winter. I consider my experience an once-in-a-lifetime encounter that is available to anybody and everybody. Mountain-life luxuries are placed at the foot every bed waiting to embrace each guest.

From the warm solitude of the guest cabins to the elegant tastes of The Ranch House Restaurant and Saloon, DTR is more than just a nordic center, it’s the light at the end of a dark country road…inviting snowshoers to its hallowed grounds.

My wife and I found the Ranch to be enjoyably romantic. It was a snow-covered oasis left untouched by worldly exploits and masterfully preserved for many to appreciate.

Refined and delicately cared-for, DTR is located 67 miles from Denver and 10 minutes from Winter Park Ski Resort. The Ranch is 4,000 acres of open and well-preserved terrain in the Ranch Creek Valley, close to the Continental Divide.

Not only is snowshoeing a welcome activity at DTR, so are cross-country skiing, ice-skating, ski joring, horseback riding, sleigh rides, fly-fishing and much more.

Watch for our feature story on DTR in the upcoming print issue of Snowshoe Magazine. I will discuss the true essence and highlights of DTR: The intricate details that went into the construction of the facilities (including the impressive wine cellar), a full review of The Ranch House Restaurant, and an overall evaluation of DTR’s complete amenities. And, Snowshoemag might plan an event at DTR next season, but that’s to be determined. Wait and read.

For more information Devil’s Thumb Ranch, visit http://www.devilsthumbranch.com. Or, for current room rates and daily snowshoeing passes, call 800-933-4339.

– Home Away From Home: Snowshoeing C Lazy U Ranch –

It was as though I stepped back in time…as a timid kid growing up in Castle Rock, Colo.

I could smell the pine logs as they were placed at the edge of the fireplace by my father, who had just returned home from work. Somewhere in the distance, I could hear the wind flow through the trees, and I could smell dinner cooking. I was home…somewhat.

Instant comfort, instant warmth and instant family: The necessary ingredients served to guests at the C Lazy U Ranch near Granby, Colo. - about a 20-minute drive from DTR.

This is the first dude ranch I’ve visited; and at C Lazy U, I was considered royalty. My wife and I were made to feel completely comfortable, immediately accepted among the Ranch’s employees, escorted to our cabin personally, and thrown into a tensionless world. After our first 10 minutes at the Ranch, my wife and I thought the same thing: “We’re coming back.”

Dating back to 1919, C Lazy U absorbs its guests and treats them to an environment that will ultimately leave a lasting impression. The history of the Ranch is its most attractive characteristic, and its 8,000 acres invite snowshoers to revel and bask in its natural playground.

The Ranch has personality, and its employees highlight its character. From sledding down the C Lazy U driveway in the afternoon to enjoying a glass of wine before an enticing full-course meal, the world’s everyday irritants will be forgotten.

It’s wonderfully calm. And, C Lazy U will leave every guest with a sense of adventure and a healthy dose of well-needed reality.

Snowshoeing is a welcome activity at C Lazy U as well. And, watch for my article in our print issue of Snowshoe Magazine next season: There will be more details, and I hope to return to the Ranch to finish what I’ve started.

For more information on C Lazy U Ranch, visit http://www.clazyu.com.

First to fight - Marines have been in the forefront of every American war since the founding of the Corps. They have carried out over 300 landings on foreign shores. They have served everywhere, from the poles to the tropics. Their record of readiness reflects pride, responsibility and challenge. “Unknown

Faithful to God, country, family and the Corps. Semper fidelis. The Few, the Proud, the Snowshing Marines.

As dawn spreads throughout the plains, hills and mountains of the United States, another day of highway traffic, incessant phone conversations, PC worship, sales pitches, and the overall churning of progress continues. The next day, unless it’s a weekend, the inevitable happens…the process is repeated.

But, as minds are numbed from the rat race…the United States Marines are training and perfecting their skills to help install a sense of security and calm during a time of chaos and war. Out at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in California, Marines are instructed on how to contend with even the harshest of conditions and the more extreme elements that Earth has to offer.

No matter the season, the Marines are learning…sharpening their abilities…becoming more proficient. It’s not only about honor it’s about preparedness. And, as another Big Mac is consumed, another BMW is sold, another cell phone loses its signal…the Marines are utilizing snowshs to break trail and move closer to their desired destination.

In training, it was one week with poles, next week with snowshs, last few weeks it was with cross-country skis, said Marc Jones, former Sergeant, 3/7 Lima Company, U.S. Marines. They really focused on that training in case we had to fight an arctic battle. In reality, would the military use snowshs? Yes. Terrain would dictate the use of snowshs; cross-country skis are faster, but there is consistency with snowshs. During his time at the Training Center, Jones was issued a pair of military snowshs, which were reminiscent of older-model wood-frame snowshs. However, the snowshs utilized by the Marines during training were made of Magnesium and galvanized aircraft cable covered with nylon. The bindings were constructed with simple nylon straps that efficiently held a pair of military-issued boots.

According to the Marines, the advantages of using snowshs include the little training time required to gain proficiency, the small amount of maintenance required, the ease of carrying and pulling heavy loads, and the ease of movement in confined areas and around equipment (such as bivouac sites and supply dumps). Snowshs are also helpful to drivers, gun crews, cooks and other support personnel.

The disadvantages of using snowshs in military applications is the rate of movement: Difficulty of movement on moderate to steep slopes, movement through thick or cut-off brush is difficult and the impediments of quick movements that are needed during fires and more.

Marines have utilized three types of snowshs for training and combat, including magnesium, assault, and improvised. The magnesium snowsh is the lightest and most durable of the three styles (those used by Jones during his training). The nylon bindings used with magnesium snowshs are adaptable to all types of issued footwear. Plus, magnesium snowshs have teeth under the sides, which are intended to aid traction.

The assault snowsh, or known as a bear paw, is short, wide and oval in shape, with no tail. It is best utilized when working near equipment and heavy weapons (it offers little floatation).

Taught throughout warfare training, improvised snowshs may be constructed by forming a frame from green, flexible branches, then weaving string (550 cord) wire or branches to form a supporting surface. Or, a satisfactory pair of snowshs can be made by tying branches from thick fir, or spruce trees, to your foot. A very simple sasquatch binding can be made with a short length of cord or wire.

Sources in the snowsh industry said that members of the military were issued pairs of Atlas-made snowshs for combat in Afghanistan. According to the Christian Science Monitor, U.S. Army forces trained on specially designed snowmobiles, called MOSTs (mobile over the snow transport) as well as on snowshs and skis during their time in the once Taliban-ruled country.
Although the snowsh applications that the Marines utilize at the Training Center are somewhat outdated (in comparison to the snowshs manufactured for recreational use today), the durability issues are virtually nil. And, Jones continues to use his military-issued snowshs for recreation and leisure.

I preferred snowshing over cross-country skiing, said Jones. With snowshing, I loved it. It came so natural to me, but of course if you can walk, you can snowsh.

For more information on the Mountain Warfare Training Center, visit http://www.mwtc.usmc.mil.

Snowshing for many people represents that slice of get-away time…a moment of rest for the mind and a release of stress…a quiet hike through the backcountry; ah, snowshing can be so great.

However, snowshing can be done competitively and it’s not that difficult to get involved. If you are one of the curious spectators at a snowshing race or you’ve considered satisfying that need to compete, it’s time to plan for an upcoming winter of intense racing.

As Vince Lombardi once said: It is time for us all to stand and cheer for the dr, the achiever ” the one who recognizes the challenge and ds something about it.

Here’s how to do something about it and get involved:

Obviously, racing is going to require your body to be fit and ready to contend with endurance issues “ start conditioning now. It’s never to late to begin that fruit and granola diet everybody has been raving about (or not). Nevertheless, failing to be prepared physically could hinder you from competing at all, let alone trying to place high in the standings. Over the next several months, especially during the summer, it would be wise to start an active lifestyle as a trail runner.

During the summer, get off the road and get on the trails and really make that a significant component of your training, said Mark Elmore, sports director with the United States Snowsh Association (USSSA).

Snowshing competitively within any distance category will require endurance expertise; get ready for intense involvement in what will become a complete immersion in total body fitness.

Although it will become difficult to become successful at first “ if it was easy, everybody would be doing it “ the fruits of your labor will become apparent after trudging through preparing your body physically and mentally.

Once you have become prepared enough to compete in an event, it’s necessary to find snowshing competitions that meet your needs.

If you’ve made the decision to experience and explore competitive snowsh racing, it’s a good idea to learn as much as you can about racing: Talk with people, find out what products are popular among the racing groups, work through your local retailers, and interact with the snowsh manufacturers’ Web sites to find information, said Elmore.

The USSSA’s Web site holds a wealth of information on racing events throughout the nation, all organized by region via its event calendar. And, reiterating what Elmore suggested, the manufacturers have extensive event calendars that provide detailed information on races that all can enjoy “ no matter the skill level. And, as Snowsh Magazine evolves as a resource, the Web site will provide events through its calendar area as well.

At that point, it’s a matter of getting out on the snow, finding out what works best for you in terms of what clothing you wear and the diet (whether you eat before and after a race depending on the distance) “ all those things that most runners are somewhat aware of, their racing protocols and habits, said Elmore. Get out there and give it a go. Be realistic and conservative with your first few efforts, don’t expect to jump right in and win races and bring home medals and trophies. As with any athletic competition, there is a learning process; but, have fun with it and keep at it.

Races appear in all forms, shapes, sizes and locations. The idea is to start small. Research your region’s snowshing awareness, discover your state’s involvement in the industry, search for a snowshing club in your area and search for something that is within your limits. If you live in an area that is a great distance away from a major race, it may be worth your while to either spend some cash to travel or organize your own event (at that point, get in touch with the USSSA).

The Beaver Creek Snowsh Adventure Series is a huge racing event. It pulls in a lot of the top athletes in the Rocky Mountain area, but it also provides an opportunity for a lot of folks to try the sport, said Elmore. Another is the Midwestern Snowsh Series “ that’s pretty significant and been around for a long, long time. In the northeast, there’s the Western Massachusetts Athletic Club that puts on a series of snowsh races that average 80 to 100 participants per event. Along with the National Championships Regional Event Series (organized by the USSSA), those are probably the larger snowsh events in the United States. And, The Yeti snowshs series in Canada is growing as well.

Getting involved and increasing awareness of the sport of snowshing is key to its further success among those that have yet to try it. Organized events for shrs of all levels are essential to the growth of the sport.

In fact, becoming a competitive snowshr could be the start of an illustrious career representing the United States throughout international races and contests. What many might not know is that snowshing has yet to be recognized as an Olympic event. Getting involved now could mean your cornerstone involvement in helping make that a reality.

We’re hoping by 2010, perhaps we can get a snowsh event as an Olympic winter program as an exhibition or perhaps as a demonstration, if the growth of the sport continues on an international level, said Elmore. That’s six years away, but we’re already looking that far down the road. We’ll keep our fingers crossed.

However, the dream of being a snowshing Olympic athlete must follow the USSSA’s acceptance of you as a member of the national team. Of course the dream is the goal…the reality is the work.

The national team is determined by how athletes place at the national championships. The top three junior girls and junior boys are on spots on the national junior team, Elmore explained. The top five men in the 10K and the top five women in the 10K overall earn berths on the national snowsh team. Those athletes are eligible to represent the United States when we travel to international events. It’s the cream of the crop, the best of the best that basically attended the National Championships and performed well there.

In the future, Snowsh Magazine will offer competitors in the sport some great sponsorship opportunities and several avenues to pursue getting involved. Keep an eye out for some of our great initiatives to help grow the sport and the industry.

And, if you are pursuing the sport competitively…we bid you the best of luck. See you at the races!

A non-dr is very often a critic “ that is, someone who sits back and watches drs, and then waxes philosophically about how the drs are doing. It’s easy to be a critic, but being a dr requires effort, risk, and change. — Dr. Wayne W. Dyer