Temperature control is most difficult on the lower body given the greater difficulty in changing layers. The most important safety consideration in the winter is how to keep an injured person warm while waiting for help to arrive and during the evacuation. Add a small foam pad and a waterproof tarp for an extra measure of security for very little additional weight. The above discussion also argues for groups of four to six in the winter both to share the weight of emergency gear and to provide for a group of at least two to go for help. The first couple of snowshoe hikes should probably be less than full day outings on terrain that is not so steep as to require more advanced snowshoe techniques such as step kicking.
Popular routes have the advantage of usually providing a packed trail.
Some popular beginning backcountry snowshoe trips include Cascade and Rooster Comb Mountains in the High Peaks. Both hikes are 2.5 miles to the summit and have a few steep pitches near the top of otherwise easier grades. The southern Adirondacks offer some of the best true beginner snowshoe trips including Hadley Mountain near Lake Luzerne with mostly gentle grades for 1.8 miles to the summit. Black Mountain east of Lake George offers spectacular views of the lake after a 2.5-mile hike. Those who are intrigued by their first winter hiking experiences and want to take on some greater challenges are advised to buy at least one book on the subject.