Outdoor enthusiasts step into snowshoes
BRADY TWP — Trudging through the snow on a brisk winter day may be a chore to some, but walking briskly atop the powder draws families to Jennings Environmental Education Center on many winter days.
The center's Step into Snowshoes program gives people the opportunity to borrow a pair of the wide-bottomed footwear and hike the nearby trails.
"I always wanted to try it. It was pretty easy for me," said Jen Cobalt, 17, of Zelienople.
"It was my first time, too, and it was a lot of fun. I'm used to hiking, but never in snowshoes," said Aly Mahoney, 15, of Harmony.
Cobalt and Mahoney took in the experience with Aly's mother, Cris Mahoney.
"It was interesting," Cris Mahoney said. "But I actually think we did a pretty good job of falling."
The toes of modern snowshoes are turned up to avoid digging into snow, and the heel is elongated to weigh the shoe down, bringing up the toe when one walks.
"Walking in the snow is not bad at all with these," said Mary Horodyski of Kinsman, Ohio.
Kinsman, who did her own share of stepping on her own feet, spent the weekend camping at Moraine State Park with her husband and two friends.
"When you're choosing a pair of snowshoes for yourself, you have to think about where and how you are going to use them," said Becky Lubold, an environmental education specialist at Jennings.
Snowshoes have a large base designed to evenly distribute the wearer's weight, keeping them atop snow instead of sinking. They vary in size — some are the size of a tennis racquet, while others may be five feet long. Jennings offers the larger as well as more compact varieties.Larger shoes are intended for wide open spaces, while smaller ones are used where maneuverability is needed, like in wooded areas."I think it's neat they offer both types," said Lisa Steiner of Butler."We're outside a lot but not really snowshoeing or skiing."Steiner and two friends went cross-country skiing at Jennings on Saturday, but said they have used the snowshoes there in the past.Both activities can be made easier with ski poles."With the poles, you get a little bit more of a workout but it's easier to keep your balance," Lubold said.Historians estimate snowshoes have been around for more than 5,000 years.Used for winter travel, hunting and trapping, snowshoes are used by modern forest rangers to reach areas inaccessible by motorized vehicles.Neoprene webbing, plastic and aluminum have for the most part replaced the wood and leather materials of the past, but traditional snowshoes are still made and used.The modern materials are usually preferred to traditional ones, as the rawhide webbing tends to lose its effectiveness as it soaks up water and, simply, "critters like to eat them," Lubold said.Jennings has offered the old-style snowshoes since the 1990s, but added the modern snow shoes and skis several years ago, when the park began promoting the program. This year, about 125 people have used the equipment on the park's nearly 5 miles of trail.Those hoping to use snowshoes or trekking skis in the future can do so between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on weekdays and on Saturdays when snow is sufficient.Lubold suggests calling the park office or visiting the Web site on those days to find out about snow conditions, which sometimes differ from those in surrounding areas.To inquire, call 724-794-6011 or click the Jennings link at www.visitpaparks.com.
