Winter Walking
Hiking through a ski resort or up into the mountains without snowshoes but wearing boot traction devices may be the latest wintersports pastime.
What would you say if I told you we were going winter walking?
"Ah, snowshoeing," you'd probably reply.
But, no. Not snowshoeing. Winter walking.
"Right," you'd say. "Walking in winter with snowshoes."
Because that's how one walks in winter. With snowshoes.
But, no. This is winter walking without snowshoes. Just feet. And poles.
Once again, Vermont's Smugglers' Notch Resort has come up with something innovative. Indeed, there may not be a wintersports resort that's more creative in its program than Smuggs, which is renowned in the ski industry for its pioneering on-snow kids' and teaching programs.
Now, it's winter walking.
"It's a program in which guests simply go for a walk in the woods with a guide," Barb Thomke, Smuggs' public relations guru explained. "They don't use snowshoes, but we do provide Yaktrax to wear over their snow boots, trekking poles and a daypack."
Yaktrax are plastic devices that improve traction on slippery surfaces.
No snowshoes, but Yaktrax. Okay. But, what's the lure?
"It gives people who don't ski a chance to get out into the woods, off the Alpine ski trails, and explore," Barb said. "They learn about the environment and local history. Or, some people just do it as a break from a day of skiing."
Now, snowshoeing requires no skills and is generally easy enough to do. But, sometimes snowshoeing can be difficult-too much snow; or a bit senseless-on packed or groomed surfaces. So along comes this winter walking to bridge the gap. Like snowshoeing, it requires no proficiencies other than the ability to walk. But, it can be done on packed or even semi-icy surfaces where snowshoes make little sense.
Brilliant.
"No special skills are required for the walking program ... just the desire to experience nature and the outdoors," said Zeke Zucker, director of the resort's Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Adventure Center.
Smugglers', which refers to their more strenuous walking programs (both winter and summer) as "wikes" (a "walk" and "hike" hybrid), offers a variety of options for this newly minted wintersport. Outings range from the basic Winter Walking Intro Walk, an exploration on gentle cross country ski terrain, to what they call Nordic Walking, which appears to be something along the lines of speed walking or fast striding.
Along the way, in programs like "Winter Woods Wike" and "Explore the Notch Wike," participants learn about local natural history, farming, logging, ecology and geology.
For a bit of adventure, the Notch Wike seems particularly appealing. The road through Smugglers' Notch Pass-the natural mountain gap between Jeffersonville and Stowe-was the trail through which alcohol was smuggled from Canada during Prohibition It's closed in winter. It's too narrow, steep and winding to plow. Yet, in addition to some fascinating geology, it's history is the stuff of classic local lore.
It all makes sense, really. Easy exercise. No skills needed. Good company.
Why not get outdoors, go for an invigorating stroll and listen to stories? After all, these are the kind of stories that amuse city folks who've come to the country to ski.
Or, it now seems, to winter walk.
