Perhaps you're one of those individuals who doesn't find the idea of push-ups, lunges or crunches all that exciting, and therefore going to the gym sounds like a jail sentence. If you live in or near an area currently buried under three feet of snow and are looking for a great outdoor activity that will provide you with aerobic benefits as well as providing a high-intensity workout for major muscle groups, consider giving the age-old sport of snowshoeing a try.

No, it's not just something fur traders and trappers did centuries ago. You may be picturing the old-school wooden snowshoes of yore, however today's snowshoes are designed to be lighter with aluminum frames.

Interesting Facts 
☆ Snowshoeing burns 45 per cent more calories than walking or running

☆ In 2006, approximately 500 American schools - located mostly in the Northeast - introduced snowshoe programs as part of physical education curriculum in an effort to combat the problem of obesity in school children.

☆ Snow cushions the foot's impact making snowshoeing gentler on the feet than walking or running.

☆ The snow also buffers the earth against the impact of winter hikers or campers which leads to less erosion of trails.

☆ An adult weighing 155 pounds can burn approximately 563 calories per hour while snowshoeing.

☆ To provide a workout for your upper body including arms, shoulders and back muscles, consider using ski poles. And keep in mind, the risk of injury in snowshoeing shouldn't be any greater than the potential of hurting yourself while skiing. Just a warning, apparently it can leave your calves sore for days (which indicates that you've indeed exercised one of the aforementioned muscle groups).

Equipment needed
You'll want to dress in warm layers including thermal underwear and windproof and water-repellent pants and jackets so that you won't ever find yourself too hot or too cold. You'll also need typical winter gear including gloves, a hat and good waterproof winter boots. Poles are an optional accessory that can aid in walking.

You've probably already guessed that you will need snowshoes as well. Snowshoes fit around nearly any type of boot and come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are made using lightweight aluminum and durable plastic. Many outfitters offer the option to rent snowshoes for those who want to give it a try before sinking money into their own pair. When deciding which type of snowshoes to rent or buy, you'll need to consider the type of environment you'll be using them in and the type of activity you will be using them for. Mountain Equipment Co-op has a guide that can assist you in choosing the right type of snowshoes.

» Winter Trails

Yesterday I wrote about the benefits of snowshoeing. If you're considering taking up the sport and want to add an eco friendly element to it, take a look at the various snowshoe options available through Crescent Moon. Over the past two years, the company has worked to reduce their impact on the environment. They use no PVC in their shoes and use 100 percent wind-powered energy in their production facility. They also aim to use recyclable material in the construction and design of their snowshoes. Tamara Laug, co-owner of Crescent Moon explains their mission.

"It’s philosophically inconsistent to be an outdoor’s product manufacturer and not be considerate of the environment in which our products are being used – the great outdoors. We’ve been making this transition for a number of years but recently found alternatives to the decking materials we’ve been using (and our competition continues to use) that allows us to make this significant step towards being green. Currently, we can claim to be the first and only snowshoe manufacturer in the world to do so."

Visit Crescent Moon's website to view their products and read more about the green initiatives they have implemented.

» Crescent Moon (Official Site)