Avoiding Rolled Ankles and Sore Knees When Snowshoeing
Seeing that I’ve spent winter trying to avoid crowds, I’ve recently turned back to one of my old favorite winter activities. Snowshoeing. I’m going to be honest, I had to convince Model Matt that he would enjoy it. After spending a lifetime on skis, he thought that speed was the only way to enjoy the snow. I knew I could convince him otherwise. How? Because I know he loves to hike and that’s all snowshoeing is. Hiking without worrying that you’re going to break your ankle from postholing every other step. While snowshoeing is significantly less complicated than other winter activities like cross-country or alpine (downhill) skiing, that’s not to say it’s necessarily super simple on the body. Balance and that perfect mix of stability and mobility in your ankles and knees are great skills to have to ensure you have a great day out in the snow. Take a look at why below.
If you’re interested in trying out snowshoeing, make sure you stay on designated trails or you have sufficient avalanche training and gear to go off trail. Keep safe and have fun!
Resources
Switzerland
Mammut Alpine School Avalanche Training
SLF Website and App Daily avalanche reports as well as snowshoeing maps not found on the Mobility App
United States
Check each state for regional avalanche reports