In Vancouver, we have the luxury of being active outdoors year-round. Not everyone is a runner, and not everyone wants to commit to owning a swanky new road bike (although they can be particularly useful for city commutes). To solve this problem, there are many alternative outdoor actives that require minimal equipment and produce a killer workout!
On January 9th, IF – Vancouver and IF – Kits pulled out their snow-shoes and made their way to Mount Seymour to snowshoe Dog Mountain. For anyone who has never tried snowshoeing, it is like the winter version of hiking. If you’re at all a fan of hiking, snowshoeing is for you! Not only is it safe and fun for the whole family (kids can do it too!) but it provides both a cardiovascular workout, as well as tests your muscular endurance (legs will be burning!). Snowshoeing gives you a unique workout because, like hiking, you have to go up and down hills, but you have the additional challenge of working your way through snow, which creates more resistance. We decided to snow shoe through the back trails, which are not maintained by Mount Seymour, but do provide a moderate workout and a spectacular view. The climb was relatively steady, no massive hills but lots of gradual slopes and the view was breathtaking – absolutely worth the effort! The total trip time took about 2 hours so we were driving down the mountain just after noon. The great part about this trail is that it is beautiful and all fitness levels can do it – if you are a beginner, it is manageable and, for the more advanced, running is always an option! Finally, as the name implies, dogs are welcome on the trail. After the snow shoe, a few of us made our way to the Raven pub (family-friendly) for some lunch before parting ways.
Mount Seymour is rated #1 in “North America’s Top 10 Snowshoe-friendly Ski Resorts” (Article) – it is a 30 minute drive from downtown Vancouver, trails are dog-friendly and the whole family can enjoy them! Snowshoeing participation has increased significantly and it is known as one of the fastest growing winter sports in the world! If you haven’t tried the sport, now is the time! It’s relatively inexpensive and it allows you to hike year-round! Stay tuned for upcoming snowshoe events with IF – we will be snowshoeing as long as there is snow! ☺
Camille Hindley
Events Manager
Innovative Fitness – Four Seasons
Cell: 778.231.4292/Phone:604.609.5450
www.innovativefitness.com
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