Break A Trail While Snowshoeing

1. Be Safe

If you're going to break a trail while snowshoeing, it's likely that you'll be taking a route that no one has ever taken before. Since you won't be following a set path, it's extremely important that you tell someone exactly what area you plan to break your trail. Should you hurt yourself or get lost, you need to make it easier for someone to find you. Always check the local weather conditions before breaking a trail while snowshoeing. Conditions can change abruptly and you don't want to be left stranded. Be sure to pay attention to your surroundings so that you can spot possible dangers before they're actually and issue. Possible dangers could include only partially frozen lakes and rivers, dips, extremely slippery surfaces or avalanches.

2. Mark Your Trail

When you break a trail while snowshoeing, you're going to want to be able to find your way back. You can't count on simply following your footsteps back out. Wind and other conditions can easily obscure your footprints so you'll have no idea from which direction you came to reach your current location. Use trail markers to mark where you've hiked through the snow. Position the markers firmly so that the wind can't knock them over or move them. Also make sure the flags on the markers are firmly attached before you begin your snowshoeing trip. Damaged flags can easily be blown off the markers making them harder to see. Use your discretion when placing trail markers. Just make sure you put them in locations and at distances that you'll be able to easily find. If you run out of markers before you finish breaking a new trail while snowshoeing, it's safer to turn back than to continue on. You also have the option to tie brightly colored ribbons to trees if you're snowshoeing through the woods.

3. Take Turns in a Group

You might be hiking with more than one person. If this is the case, walk in single file and take turns breaking the trail. Walking through new (virgin) snow is an intense workout especially if the snow is powdery. The person breaking the trail could get exhausted very quickly since it can take up to 50 percent more energy to break a snowshoeing trail than to walk on one already made. If you're hiking on your own, you obviously won't have the option to switch off when making a trial. So don't push yourself to the point of exhaustion. Depending on the terrain, snowshoeing poles may make it easier to break a trail by giving you extra support.