So, you're in the mountains and you don't feel like skiing, eh? You still want to get outside and enjoy the beauty of the snow, the trees, and the blue sky, right?  If that sounds like a quandary you've been in before, you're not alone.  Recently, one of my very close friends, who has lived in Truckee for over 20 years, admitted to me that she doesn't like skiing and tends to resent the winter and the big snowstorms.  I told her, "have I got an idea for you . . . snowshoeing!!"

Much like hiking in the summer, snowshoeing is one of the simplest ways to enjoy the outdoors.  Peole of all ages and ability levels can do it.  It can be enjoyed with your friends, or with your dog, or both.  The great part is, you get to enjoy the peace, quiet, and beauty of the mountains at any pace you choose and without having to deal with lift lines or crowded parking lots.

Snowshoeing is very safe (though I don't recommend doing it by yourself or in an area which you're not familiar with).  It can be done with limited time.  I took my friend out for an evening snowshoe (after dark, but basking in the light of a nearly full moon) and she absolutely loved it.  We went right out her front door, walked around a nearby greenbelt, and quickly she lost her resentment toward the snow.  As another storm came through this week, I enjoyed the smile on her face as she said, "maybe we could go snowshoeing again this week?!"

The moral of the story . . . get out and enjoy the snow any way you can!!