Snowshoe races have begun to attract runners and cross-country skiers in the northern states. Many of the better ski stores now carry snowshoes, but if you're an endurance athlete, make sure that you purchase narrow shoes suitable for moving fast. If the salesperson doesn't know what you're talking about, find another store. Ski resorts lately have begun to provide snowshoeing tours for their guests, both skiers and those who do not ski. Renting snowshoes, we rode the lift up to the top of one of the downhill runs, then followed a trail that wound through the woods back to the base.
Winter Park is another Colorado resort that offers guided snowshoe tours.
We snowshoed there several years earlier. After we got off the lift, we disappeared into the woods and, despite the presence of downhill trails nearby, we might have been miles from civilization. Snowshoeing provides a unique experience for guests who might otherwise skip the downhill slopes. And it's fun if you're a cross-country skier as well. Once you get the snowshoes on your feet, you'll be surprised how easy it is to walk or run on them.