Sports

Snowshoeing Programs Suffer Due to Lack of Snow

In past years, Lebanon Hills Regional Park has held successful snowshoeing events.

When it comes to winter sports, snowshoeing is sometimes thought of as skiing’s awkward estranged cousin. 

Nevertheless, offers a wide range of snowshoeing programs, which have proved popular in past, snowier winters.

The parks’ programming includes options for preschoolers through adults, including moonlit nature hikes, animal tracking by snowshoe, school field trips, family programs and scout nature hikes. Beginners are welcome. Parkgoers can also rent snowshoes for independent use at the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center.

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“If you can walk, you can snowshoe,” said Krista Jensen, education coordinator for Dakota County Parks.

Snowshoeing is essentially walking with wide, flat shoes attached to one’s feet. The widened weight distribution provided by the snowshoe keeps the snowshoer’s foot from sinking into the snow when he or she walks. This provides an alternative to traditional hiking in winter weather.

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“You have to be aware of how large your feet are,” said Autumn Hubbell, lead naturalist at Lebanon Hills.

Snowshoeing can be successfully executed at a wide range of skill levels, from beginners to competitive snowshoe racers. Snowshoe races are offered across the state and Dakota County Parks may consider hosting such a race in the future.

But even the most skilled competitors can’t snowshoe if there’s no snow.

“It’s been kind of a sparse year for programs,” said Hubbell.

Four inches of snow on the ground is required in order for Lebanon Hills to hold its snowshoeing programs. Due to the weather, the park has had to cancel some of their programming this year.

However, snowshoeing programs have been successful in whiter winters.

“It’s kind of a novelty,” said Jensen.


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