Snow Shoeing

Wow, thats a challenge all in itself. If you want a serious work out, by all means you need to take up the sport of snow shoeing. How can you not get a work out when you are doing something like this?

This weekend, I did about a 5 mile round trip hike. In the middle of the summer, that would be no problem, however strap some snow shoes on, drop the temperature to about 35 degrees and everything changes.

The scenery was absolutely breathtaking. It was rustic and peaceful. How can you not enjoy the bright blue skies, listening to the wind in the trees, and being at one with mother nature? It was the optimal situation for finding total peace. The world moves to fast, and to often people miss out on the chance to enjoy views like this one.


During some point in the hike, I admit I was starting to get a little over the scenery. My rib was killing me, I was having difficulty catching my breath, and I was ready to take off the snow shoes. I decided that I needed a break, so I sent the rest of them on while I snow shoed to the make shift bench.


To be honest, I was so exhausted I could have probably slept on that bench. As I said goodbye to the others, Dempsey called my name. He was probably 15 feet from where I was standing, I turned to look at him, only to find a metal flask coming towards me. I had little time to react, but of course when you see something flying at you, your first response is to get out of the way. That is no easy task when you have 2 or 3 feet long snow shoes attached to the bottom of you feet. I ended up on my butt. Snow shoes up in the air, poles next to me as I sit in about 2 feet of powder. To make things better, I had taken off my gloves, because I was so hot...not any more. My hands were immediately ICE COLD!


So there I lay. Instead of helping me up, Dempsey takes pictures, and informs me that if I hadn't moved the flask would have landed about a foot or two behind me so I wouldn't have gotten hit. Why is it, that instead of helping me up, he had to take pictures and then inform me that I was basically an idiot? I eventually figured out how to get up by myself, and warmed up my hands. I started on my merry way, back to my bench to rest. Twenty minutes later, I reached my destination, and I tell you that ice cold whiskey never tasted so good.

I did enjoy snow shoeing. The next time I go, I will be much more prepared for the exhaustion and hopefully, my ribs will be all healed. Embrace the adventure of life, after all you are the one writing the story of your life. Might as well make it something worth re-telling.