Time to SNOWSHOE!

By Laura Clark

While the rest of the Northeast is gearing up for a long winter’s nap, sports enthusiasts are anxiously scanning the sky for more significant snowfall. With so many cold weather sports options, the path of least resistance just might be snowshoeing. If you can walk, hike or run, there is a two-minute learning curve when transitioning to snowshoes. There is no need to feel self-conscious about hiking – unless you intend to be the winner, most folks transition to a run/hike combo, content to be outdoors in the woods.

Here in the Northeast the sport has evolved into a series-heavy calendar, which has the advantage of proven brand-name appeal. Moreover, the same folks tend to frequent the same events, so the takeaway from each event tends to be camaraderie and good-natured competition.

Four key events are the Dion WMAC Snowshoe Series (dionwmacsnowshoe.com), Gore Mountain Citizens’ Races (goremountain.com), Nor’east Trail Runs Series (netrailruns.com), and Adirondack Snowshoe Festival (adksnowshoefest.com). Cooperation is paramount between these three entities with the larger Dion Series showcasing some events from each series. Anyone selecting these events will be assured of a quality, professional experience where directors and seasoned veterans are eager to share pointers and outfitting suggestions. 

The Dion Snowshoes (dionsnowshoes.com) sponsored series offers rentals and advice for those new to the sport or seeking to upgrade equipment. If you are already a runner, you will happily discover that the sneakers and winter running gear you already own will mesh perfectly.  

A good place to start is at Gore’s Tuesday Evening Citizen Races at the Gore Nordic Center in North Creek from Jan. 14 to Feb 18, with the first and last events listed as Dion Series competitions as well. The atmosphere is low-key and down-home inviting. Pay $10 at the door and snowshoe or cross-country ski (classic and skate welcome) a loop course of up to 4.8K in length. Many families participate and most get-together afterwards around the fireplace for some great raffle prizes, ranging from local chocolate and restaurant certificates to homemade scarves, Adirondack calendars and fresh eggs! I have thoroughly enjoyed my winter Tuesday nights and the personal challenge of trying to better my time from week to week.

While Gore is, unsurprisingly, always at Gore Mountain, the Nor’east Trail Runs range throughout southern Vermont, with the snowshoe portion of this husband and wife operation concentrated at the Viking Nordic Center in Londonderry and the Merck Forest & Farmland Center in Rupert. Events in this series range from 5K and 10K, all the way up to half marathon, 25K and 50K, with the 10K and half on February 1 – as well as the March 7 evening event listed on the Dion schedule. If you have never snowshoed under the stars, it is truly a magical experience, especially with old-fashioned kerosene lanterns to light the way. Awards, again, are low-key with Vermont Maple Syrup occupying the place of honor, flanked by Nor’east knit caps and free race entries. For a true challenge, head out to Merck Forest for two (or more!) round trips up and down Antone Mountain. Last year we were treated to a scene out of Frozen, with the ridge trees encased in sparkling ice crystals.  

This year, the US Snowshoe Association Nationals (snowshoeracing.com) will be held at high-altitude Leadville, Colo. from Feb. 28-March 1. New this year, USSSA athletes must qualify at a designated event (many offer $5 off registration for USSA members) or by running one of the ATRA trail races (trailrunner.com).

Locally, the Dion Snowshoe Series boasts five National Qualifier events. Early birds can attend the Get Rec’d Snowshoe Race 8K on January 5 at the Stratton Recreation Area in South Londonderry, Vt., featuring a mix of groomed ski trails and technical singletrack, all with significant Vermont hill-style climbs and descents – good practice for Leadville! Bring the family as there will be a free kids’ dash afterwards (runreg.com). 

Next up on January 19 is the Cock-A-Doodle-Shoe 5K & 10K at the New Land Trust in the Town of Saranac (not Saranac Lake). Trails are a mix of breezy open fields and wooded wide and narrow trails with a few steep ups and downs. This event has a reputation for being one of the coldest and snowiest on our calendar, so come prepared! Carpooling is recommended and those who desire collector’s item rooster tees are encouraged to preregister, snail mail only. Enjoy a cozy fire-heated cabin and top-notch raffle prizes featuring plenty of warm socks! Kids have their own free half-mile race beforehand (cockadoodlesnowshoe.com). 

The last chance to qualify in January is the no-frills Mt. Tom Snowshoe Scramble 5K & 10K on Jan. 25 in Holyoke, Mass. Expect a two-loop hilly, singletrack route for the 10K, with permission to decide after the first go-around if you’re game to hang on for the second. New this year will be a team competition with the fastest four scoring (runreg.com).

On February 8, Wilton Wildlife Park & Preserve’s Camp Saratoga 8K, near Saratoga Springs, has a mix of groomed ski trails and hilly singletrack – and afterwards enjoy a buffet spread for runners and friends in a woodstove heated cabin. As a special bonus, Wilton boasts heated his/her flush bathrooms – a big deal in the woods in wintertime (saratogastryders.org)! 

Get in some Leadville training at the Stone Bridge Caveman 6K & 15K on February 16 at Natural Stone Bridge & Caves in Pottersville. Both races begin on a steep uphill over a course replete with equally challenging ascents and descents. To get an idea of the terrain, view the miniseries Escape at Dannemora, which utilized the area to film the outdoor scenes. Afterwards, take the short hike to view the icicled Stone Bridge, home of the largest marble cave entrance in the East (stonebridgeandcaves.com). 

Although not part of the Dion Snowshoe Series, the Adirondack Snowshoe Fest on February 22 with a 5K and 10K at Dewey Mountain Recreation Center in Saranac Lake, and the following day a 5K and 15K at Paul Smith’s College VIC is also a qualifier (adksnowshoefest.com). Dewey features twists and turns up and down the mountain, while the VIC showcases Adirondack ecosystems including ponds, open forests and swampland. This is a true family weekend with clinics, nature hikes, marshmallow roasts, scavenger hunts and snowshoe building crafts!

Good prep races for qualifiers include the Gore Ski Bowl 5K on December 15 at 2pm in North Creek. Do not let the early date stop you as the Gore Nordic Center has snowmaking. Use this as golden ticket to test out your gear and preview sections of the evening Citizens’ Race Series (goremountain.com).

The Gurney Lane 5K Snowshoe Race & Fat Bike Day, on the groomed trails at Gurney Lane Recreation Area in Queensbury, greets the new year on January 11. Trails are typical curvy bike routes featuring ups and downs and mostly singletrack (runreg.com). Bring the family as there is a playground and sledding hill for the kids! Afternoon brings a fat bike Fun Group Ride, 10M and 5M Races, and Frozen Ring Donut Race (yes, ride lap, eat donut and repeat!), and Grey Ghost Bicycles will be there with some fat bike demos available (bikereg.com). 

On February 2, head to the Saratoga Spa State Park for the Winterfest 5K, featuring a fairly easy run/walk route followed by a pot luck luncheon with plenty of time left for your evening Super Bowl festivities (saratogastryders.org). February 22 is the Hoot, Toot & Whistle 5K in Readsboro, Vt., a rolling out-and-back along the old narrow-gauge railbed on the Catamount Ski Trail. Age-group awards are genuine railroad spikes (dionwmacsnowshoe.com)! Stay tuned for ARE’s Brave the Blizzard Snowshoe Race sometime in February at Tawasentha Park in Guilderland. Enjoy a mix of challenging slanted field trails, wooded singletrack, and finish with a pancake breakfast in a heated cabin (areep.com).

Top off February with the Garnet Hill Snowshoe 5K on February 29 at the Garnet Hill Lodge & Nordic Ski Center in North River, on a combo of groomed ski trails and narrow singletrack – and beautiful Adirondack views. The main 5K is followed by a 3K citizen race, and afterwards all are welcome to cross-country ski on the trails – and enjoy delicious food and drink (garnet-hill.com)!

If there is scanty snow, some of the events will forge ahead as trail races. And because conditions vary widely from one town to another, check websites or Facebook beforehand for updates. Meanwhile, think snow!

Laura Clark (snowshoegal133@gmail.com) of Saratoga Springs is an avid trail runner, ultramarathoner, snowshoer and cross-country skier. She is a children’s librarian at the Saratoga Springs Public Library.