I have to be honest here. When I first started to snowshoe, I did it alone all the time. It was a chance for me to escape all the noise and chaos that often fills our house. It was a chance for me to reconnect with myself, and frankly, I didn’t know anyone else that was into the sport.
There are many reasons to go snowshoeing, some of which we anticipate. Snowshoeing, for me, is not only an opportunity to get out and exercise but also a time to reflect on your life, reconnect with nature and slow down from our often busy lives.
However, I didn’t expect snowshoeing to give me the ultimate bonding experience with friends and family, both new and old. Historically, we can look at team sports and make a good case that they offer the ultimate bonding experience. We’re forced to work together, travel together, and win or lose together.
It seems joining a team would somehow offer a better bonding experience than an individual sport. I played competitive baseball for many years and would be keen to agree with this theory. That is until I started to snowshoe.
Snowshoeing can create the ultimate bonding experience by giving time away from technology, having conversations, and enjoying nature’s beauty. Photos: Lindsay MacNevin
Beginning To Snowshoe With Others
It started as a simple offer to my mom to join me one day when I set out to tackle the trails. I was home for the holidays that year and needed a break from all the holiday food, music, and festivities. I had brought along a couple of pairs of snowshoes that I hadn’t gotten the chance to try out yet, and luckily the snow was in abundance.
My mom has always been an outdoors type. But I wasn’t sure she had ever snowshoed before, nor did I know if she had any interest. Luckily for both of us, she decided to join me. Thus, my experience of snowshoeing with other women began.
Wandering through snowy forests, over hills, and across creeks was enjoyable without any conversation. However, it wasn’t long before my mom and I started to chat about everything. Conversations ranged from my childhood to raising my kids to her employment to my hopes for the future.
It wasn’t until later that I realized I had never had that sort of in-depth conversation with my mom. Usually, the kids are running around, someone is trying to cook dinner, or we are simply too busy to pick up the phone and chat for hours. But, with no cell phones or other distractions on the trail, it was easy to engage in an in-depth conversation.
We trekked for hours that day, stopping to drink hot chocolate out of the thermos, take a few photos, and appreciate the beauty of the landscape. We encouraged each other when the hill looked overly daunting, laughed as we tumbled down the other side, and grew a bond, unlike anything I had ever had before.
It got me wondering, could I form this kind of bond with others while snowshoeing?
Perhaps I was missing out on some genuine conversation and shared passions. So it became my goal to explore this notion and go snowshoeing with other women. What I learned has convinced me that this sport offers exercise, connections with nature, and a newfound appreciation for the snow. It also provides the chance to form bonds and a support system with an array of incredible people.
Read More: 8 Reasons Why Winter Hiking Rocks
When snowshoeing with others, you can still enjoy nature’s beautiful views and serenity. Photo: Lindsay MacNevin
Groups, Friends, Family, Clubs
First, I joined a couple of groups on Facebook. The group, Snowshoeing and Winter Hiking, is a great starting point to find others or look for clubs in your area. Then, I reached out to my friends nearby. Next, I reached out to my family, asking them if they would join me in my snowshoe adventures. Many were hesitant at first, as they had never been snowshoeing. However, I managed to convince them with my charm (a.k.a. I begged and pleaded until they said yes).
In one year, I managed to go snowshoeing with more than 40 different women- some younger, some older, some new friends, and some old. Plus, not once did someone stop and say, “Hold on, I have to check my phone.” All was forgotten once we parked the car, bundled up in our hats and mitts, and buckled our snowshoes.
We laughed and chatted about life and its stresses. We sang, high-fived, hugged, and even had a winter picnic complete with mulled wine. But most of all, we bonded. New friends opened up to one another. We gave and asked for advice, and more importantly, we did not judge.
Sometimes there were just two of us out there, trekking in the backcountry for hours. Sometimes, there was a group of 8 or 9 women snowshoeing for a quick hour, able to sneak away at lunch or when our spouses got home. Heck, sometimes we even dragged the kids along with us (let it be noted it was less fun, and we left the wine at home).
Read More: Tips To Take Your Friends Snowshoeing (Really, They’ll Love It!)
Try joining an online group or local club to create your own bonding experiences. Photos: Lindsay MacNevin
Memories You Won’t Forget
One day sticks out clearly in my mind. It’s a day when my sister, mom, and I had the chance to snowshoe in Lake Louise together. It was the beginning of the snowshoe season, with a fresh batch of snow from the night before.
We had never snowshoed together or hiked together for several years. Distance had kept us on other sides of the country. So it was the first time we found time together without kids and spouses.
About five minutes into the trail, I looked behind me. My mom is bent over her poles and breathing heavily. I panic, as she is more fit than my sister and me, and I ask her what’s wrong. It turns out she’s not quite used to the altitude we have here in Alberta (especially at Lake Louise, the highest permanent settlement in Canada).
Sissy and I burst out laughing. Having lived in Alberta, we have gotten used to it. The day continues with our mom stopping every 10 minutes or so to catch her breath. Then, sis and I are breaking out in laughter, trying to capture it on film. We tease our mom, and we feed the birds. We trek up enormous hills where we (even I) need to break. Then, we talk about life, men, children, and everything in between.
As we drove back into the city, my mom turned to me and said, “Thank you for giving me the best day I have ever had with you two.” She goes home two days later, buys herself a pair of snowshoes, and creates her own female friends group. They get together at least once a week to snowshoe in the winter and hike in the summer.
Read More: The Myth That Snowshoeing Is Boring (and How To Avoid It)
Snowshoeing with others can create fond memories that can bring your closer to others. Photos: Lindsay MacNevin
Create Your Own Bonding Through Snowshoeing
You see, it doesn’t matter what age you are to get together. It doesn’t matter what you have in common. It doesn’t matter if you are single, married, childless, or a parent. All that matters is that you put yourself out there. Join a snowshoe group, call a friend, or ask your sister to join you. Watch in amazement as your bond grows stronger with each step you take.
What experiences have you had bonding with others, including women, while snowshoeing on the trail? Let us know in the comments below!
This article was originally published on March 9, 2016, and was last updated on December 22, 2022.
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