Please don’t think for a second, that I mean a polar bear dip on a frozen morning. I’m a life-long swimmer, but outdoor swimming in the winter requires a heated pool. The kind of plunge that I am advocating for is one on snowshoes. Let me explain.
A recent Saturday found me, along with 21 Senior Rippers and 2 dogs, at a trailhead in the Uinta Mountains as part of an organized trip through The Park City Mountain Sports Club, an all volunteer group of like-interested Parkites.
It had been several days since the last snow fall so there were tracks up an old Mine Trail, the sky was blue, the air was fresh, and the snow sparkled. New to snowshoes, I hung near the back of the pack and enjoyed asking questions about the equipment and where to go. The trail moved us through a meadow and up through groves of Aspen Trees before summiting 2.5 miles later on a beautiful ridgeline facing the Wasatch Range. That’s where the fun began!
Our leader explained that she likes to deviate from the trail on the way down using a technique called plunging. It didn’t take long before one Senior Ripper joked, “When the trail gets clogged, one must plunge!” So off we went, using the snowshoes to hopefully float near the top of what was close to 50 inches of snow cover. This was what they were designed for after all.
Snowshoes were widely used by Native Americans and others whose lives depended on traveling over snow to hunt and trade. Today they are used primarily by hikers and runners who want to continue their sports during the winter months. I questioned whether they are actually necessary and quickly found out yes when I “post holed” literally up to my crotch off trail. The length of the snowshoe should match the depth of the snow on which it must traverse. My recommended length was 25 inches. Other recommendations included a binding that is easy to get into, a heel lift for steep climbs, along with a jagged edge, which adds traction. Poles with a large basket aid balance and make a snowshoe hike a full body workout.
The payoff for the cardio workout on the way up was the sight of 21 Rippers plunging downhill. The grins on everyone’s faces convinced me that this is something that I want to do again and again. So I stopped at my local L.L.Beans on the way home, where I found the perfect package of Trailblazer Snowshoes waiting for me and better yet, they were on sale. Now I just have to get the other Ripper in my family to take the plunge too. Will you join us?
Congrats! You’ve both experienced the clog and proceeded with the plunge. Snow shoes must be part of everyone’s wardrobe in the Wasatch. Sounds like a blast for people and canines alike.
We found some snowshoes at an outlet store in Jackson WY a few years ago. I love them. Haven’t had much snow in Iowa this year, but it is always a treat to use them in the deep stuff!