"If you can walk, you can snowshoe," says Mary Jo Tarallo, the SnowSports Industries' director of education.
A growing number of ski areas offering snowshoe rentals and guided tours report an uptick in participation. At Smugglers' Notch in north-central Vermont, Nordic center director Clayton "Zeke" Zucker recalls that rentals there once consisted of one-size-fits-all shoes that resembled wooden tennis rackets. Modern aluminum versions are sized to fit everyone from tots to adults.
"This is the one winter sport that is absolutely great for three generations of the family," Zucker says. "We've had kids, parents and grandparents out together on the trails. Everybody can do it."
Smugglers' Notch has expanded its snowshoe program to include themed nature treks, local history tours and a Tuesday night five-course candlelight dinner where participants ride the lift up to a mountaintop shelter and hike down on snowshoes.
At Pennsylvania's Seven Springs Mountain Resort, the 6-year-old snowshoeing program features a dedicated area and guided treks into adjoining state park hiking trails.
And at Steamboat Ski Touring Center, Lindgren says that, while the numbers aren't huge, she's surprised at how many people are snowshoeing.
"There's definitely a time and place for it," she says. "There are people who never get out because either they physically can't ski or because they're afraid of getting injured. On snowshoes, they can get out in the forest and off the slick streets."
For information on discounts and promotions related to Learn a Snow Sport Month, go to winterfeelsgood.com.
For information on areas offering free snowshoeing and cross-country skiing Saturday, go to wintertrails.org.
