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Introduction to Travel in the Snow
Travel in the Snow: Snow has a uniquely magical quality that pulls adventurers from their homes into the winter wilderness each year.
Adventure travel in the snow is unlike anything else with a crispness to the air, an unblemished white canvas that covers nature and a one-of-a-kind solitude found in snow-swept environments.
Winter, for a lot of people, evokes memories of snuggling up indoors but for the adventurers out there, it lures into the teeth of nature.
Snow creates a different and surreal version of our familiar trails, forests, and mountains that are often ideal for exhilarating outdoor activities.
Riding the Snow with Skiing and Snowboarding
Travel in the Snow: Snow skiing and snowboarding are the first things that we think of for how to have fun in the snow. Nothing compares to the thrill of gliding down a mountainside with the wind in your face while snow-laden trees and peaks surround you.
From the world-famous slopes of the Swiss Alps to challenging terrain in Canada’s rugged Whistler, ski resorts around the globe are ready for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities.
Alpenglow: Skiing and snowboarding may seem daunting for first-timers, but the majority of ski resorts offer lessons taught by experienced instructors who can help you with the basics.
Over time it will be come to understand that slippery science which is snow and how you must become in control of the descent, gaining confidence with each turn.
And with skill comes breadth in the choices from tree trails and wide-open bowls to trickier out-of-bounds areas allowing an even deeper connection to the mountain.
Skiing or snowboarding, that other kind of extinct-but-still-kicking-goat is the sound of it swishing through untracked powder and sinking into thigh-deep crud and slipping down moguls with nothing but a dinner plate-size spray to witness its wrath.
Read MoreDiscovering Isolation Through Snowshoeing
Travel in the Snow: If you want to take a slower, quieter stroll through winter’s wonderland, snowshoeing is a great option.
Snowshoeing on the other hand can send you out in search of familiar vistas buried deep under mountain snowpack, a walk across an untouched landscape or into secluded forests and secret pathways that are locked away during winter months.
Picture a hike through a snow-covered forest; the only sound being the soft crunch of snow underfoot, maybe far-off calls from wintering birds.
Walking in this manner is as much an exercise in tranquility, but it also allows you to explore a portion of the wilderness that goes untouched and untroubled throughout the winter.
Snowshoeing is another non-rideable sport that is fairly easy to learn, even for the beginner individual as all you need to bring along with you are a sturdy set of snowshoes and warm clothing.
Snowshoeing is great for families, especially since you don’t have to be a sports star to enjoy it.
If you live in a climate where there is snow, and you hike a lot during the warmer months then snowshoeing will be an obvious step from your regular hiking hobby.
There are hundreds of snowshoe trails at national parks or other outdoor destinations and they lead you through still, winter scenes where the beauty of winter’s sound has been silenced under a blanket.
The Ice Climbing: The Frozen Walls to the Top
Ice climbing is a thrilling way to experience the freezing season for true adrenaline junkies that are looking to push their limits.
Combining both physical as well as Mental strength, confident climbers use ice axes, crampon and ropes to climb frozen waterfalls, icy cliffs and glacier walls on this adventure.
There’s nothing quite like the thrill of plunging into ice, the satisfying crunch of your crampons sinking into hard ice, and slowly ascending against a frosty backdrop.
Ice climbing is something that requires not only respect for the sport but also respect for the element, as cold and ice can create specific challenges.
In Banff, Canada, Colorado in the U.S., and Chamonix in France for example, these regions provide opportunities to meet experienced climbers who guide you through the fundamentals of this unusual sport as well as every climb along the way.
Most guided trips are perfect for beginners, giving you an idea of what it is like to climb the ice in controlled circumstances.
But for the more experienced climbers, what nature offers during winter is simply an opportunity to break boundaries and experience the essence of a winter wilderness from vertical.
Snow Camping: Connecting with the Quiet of Winter
Travel in the Snow: Though it sounds like a semi-crazy activity that only crazy people do, camping in the snow is quickly becoming a way for winter lovers to enjoy this beautiful season outdoors.
In the advices of experts, snow camping covered by warm insulated sleeping bags, winter tents and multi-lined clothes needs preparation.
However, for those who dare to venture out in the winter weather, it comes with a small reward as this places you right into experiencing the stillness of winter like never before.
Experiencing the surreal scene of a snowy landscape illuminated by moonlight, hearing only the crackle of a campfire while bundled up in freezing temperatures, waking up to an untouched view? That is what snow camping is all about.
Snow camping is popular in areas of Canada, Scandinavian countries as well as the northern states of the USA.
Many parks and outdoor companies offer guided trips snow camping, with the former providing safety to explore popular summer hands-off spots, while the later adds a touch of detailed expertise for beginners.
Most of these excursions also involve snowshoeing, ice fishing or even cross-country skiing – and you are really on for a full-on winter adventure.
Cross-Country Skiing:Cross the snowy trails
Cross-country skiing combines the best of all worlds, an adventure without noise or adrenaline; it brings the excitement of a ski trip and the meditative state of mind you get with a winter hike.
Unlike downhill skiing, it will not take you to ski resorts, but rather zipped from trail to trail where the scenery often includes forests, fields and frozen lakes.
Not only does this activity give you a great workout as you hike on the snowy ground at your own pace, but it also tests your endurance.
If you are just starting out in cross-country skiing, there are plenty of trails for beginners found at all the winter resorts and national parks.
And it accessible sport to all ages due to its content being quit easy to learn and play. With more experience, you can venture further from civilization on more challenging routes into the heart of winter.
Cross-country skiing is an even more relaxing way to be in nature, gliding across the landscape under a blanket of snow with little sound besides your breath and the tick-tick of skis breaking through fresh powder.
Final Words: Securing Your Adventure This Winter
Travel in the Snow: Snowy adventure travel is an invitation to experience nature in a way that may feel completely new.
Skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding and even snow camping takes your winter experience in a different way.
But these adventures go beyond the excitement to include connecting with nature, testing your limits and accommodation beauty in the cold and silence of winter.
So, as winter looms upon us, maybe give yourself a little nudge outside that comfy box and get out there in the snowy wild.
From taking an ice climbing lesson to a peaceful day of snowshoeing through the forest, there’s an outdoor winter adventure calling your name.
They’re all winter experiences, a piece of the holiday season to tuck into your memory so they can warm you during those long months when the defining beauty of this time of year is often frost and white.
