Liberty Mt. (PA) Winter Trails Draws Scouts, Special Olympics

Church groups, scout troops and special Olympians were among the crowd at Liberty Mountain resort in Pennsylvania who turned out for the 15th annual Winter Trails day there. Children and adults Participants came from the Keystone state, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia for a free day of snowshoeing and to take the President's Challenge Clinic on outdoor winter activities. In addition to the actual snowshoe demo, clinics covered nutrition and hydration for winter activity, basic conditioning exercises, how to dress and winter hiking. Even Snowball the Tiger, a Snow Monsters character and a mascot at Liberty, came out to enjoy the day and mingle with the crowd.

The Liberty venue was one of 90 Winter Trails sites scheduled for 2010. Most took place January 9. Most included snowshoeing and cross country skiing. The Estes Park, Colorado Winter Trails is set for January 16. It is snowshoe-only. Since it began 15 years ago, Winter Trails has introduced more than 125,000 children and adults to snow sports. January is Learn a Snow Sport Month.

Winter Trails is this Satruday

Winter Trails is this Saturday, just 2 days away. Here in the office we are still getting last minute site updates and just listed a new site in Buffalo, NY. We are at 90 sites now, very cool.

We also have great snowshoeing and cross country skiing conditions in every area of the country. I have spoken to most of the event sites and manufactures reps in the last few days and they are all ready for a great event.

If you are still looking for a location near you, please visit our website at www.wintertrails.org for a listing of event sites and more. As many of you are new to snowsports, there is some great information on nutrition and proper dressing.

Hope to see you out there and Happy Trails!!

Several New Affliate Sites Just Added to Winter Trails

Several new Winter Trails Affiliate sites just listed on the Winter Trails website. Check it out and check back often as many more are coming soon.

Snow coming for Colorado this weekend, get out there.

http://www.wintertrails.org/wintertrails.php?section=event

What is Winter Trails?

Winter Trails is an event where children and adults can try snowshoeing and/or cross country skiing FREE at more than 100 locations in the U.S. and Canada.

Winter Trails 2010 is set for January 9, 2010. Venues will be posted later in the year so check back for updates. The 2009 Winter Trails took place January 10, 2009, and the Estes Park, Colorado on February 14, 2009.

Winter Trails is an initiative of SnowSports Industries America.

Each Winter Trails event is run by a local organization or business. If you have questions about the location nearest you or if you have a group you wish to bring, please contact the venue directly for details.

Winter Trails, now in its 14th year, offers entire families or groups of friends, regardless of age, an opportunity to get outside in the winter and enjoy a day on snow. Both snowshoeing and cross country skiing provide exercise, a chance to enjoy nature and they involve a minimal to modest learning curve.

The size and scope of Winter Trails events vary from location to location. All provide the necessary equipment and assistance and many include short nature hikes and other activities. Most offer both snowshoeing and cross country skiing but a few offer one or the other. The Event Sites section on this site lists details about all Winter Trails locations and is updated weekly up until the January events. However, locations will be added until the date of the event so check back weekly for additions.The site also includes practical information about getting started and how to dress.

Backpacker Magazine Joins Winter Trails

Backpacker Magazine has joined Winter Trails as its newest sponsor. Please join us in welcoming them.

15 Years of Winter Trails

You might know that in 2010, Winter Trails will be celebrating it's fifteenth annual Winter Trails Day!  We can't wait, and our fifteenth year will bring some exciting giveaways, online registration to make things more convenient, and of course, free snowshoeing and cross country skiing! 

These are some of our favorite pictures from past events:

Estes Park, CO

Liberty Mountain, PA

Liberty Mountain, PA

Estes Park, CO

Here's this years press release for more info!  Mark your calendars for January 9, 2010-- and sometime in February for the Estes Park event-- dates coming soon.  

Also..we polled our Facebook fans and want to know what you think: which is harder, snowshoeing or cross country skiing? 

What to Wear!

Perhaps the main factor that prevents people from enjoying the outdoors in the wintertime is the cold. Feeling cold is extremely uncomfortable- but just throwing on a coat doesn't make you dressed for the weather! If you dress correctly, you might not even notice the chilly temps, and remember that snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are great aerobic activities that will warm you up..and have you breaking a sweat in no time.

Here's a quick guide of how to layer up for the weather:

Wicking layer: This is the layer worn next to the skin. Look for thermal underwear made of a synthetic fiber that has "wicking" power. As participants perspire, the fibers will wick (move) moisture away from the skin and pass it through the fabric so it can evaporate.
Even though it's cold, snow sports will make participants sweat — especially if they are cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. This is why the wicking layer is very important.

Insulating layer: This middle layer includes sweaters, sweatshirts, vests and pullovers. The purpose of this layer is to keep heat in and cold out, which is accomplished by trapping air between the fibers. Popular insulation materials include fleece and wool.

Protection layer: The exterior layer serves as the guard against the elements of winter. It should repel moisture from snow, sleet or rain; block the wind, and let perspiration escape to the outside to evaporate. Some jackets and pants are shells (no insulation), some include built-in insulation, and others have zip-in insulation layers. Choose your protection layer based on temperatures and snow conditions in your area or where you like to vacation.

Headwear: Up to 60 percent of the body's heat can escape from an uncovered head-- so don't forget your hat!

Sunglasses and goggles: Snow, because it is a reflective surface, makes ultraviolet (UV) rays stronger. On sunny days, sunglasses are essential to protect the eyes. On flat-light days or when it's snowing, goggles are vital.

Gloves and mittens: Look for gloves and mittens that use waterproof/breathable fabrics. Mittens, in general, are warmer than gloves, but offer less dexterity. Consider the type of activity when choosing between gloves and mittens. Gloves for cross-country skiing tend to be lighter-weight to allow for extra movement and a higher degree of perspiration.

Socks: One pair of lightweight or medium weight socks works best. Socks are made from a variety of materials, including polyester, silk and wool. Socks designed specifically for snow sports have wicking properties similar to thermal underwear, meaning your feet will stay drier and more comfortable.

For more information, check out our website here.