In The Loop Travel
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • The Americas
    • Caribbean
    • Mexico
    • Europe
    • Asia/Pacific
    • Africa
  • Fitness
  • Cruising
  • Travel Tips
  • Videos
  • Work With Us
  • My Work
  • About
  • Colorado Craft Brewery Guide
  • Media Kit
  • TBIN Influencer Network

Snowshoeing in Wisconsin: Bundle Up for a Winter Blast

1/10/2017

0 Comments

 
Snowshoeing in Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin
I enjoyed a workout in the fresh (if quite frigid) air on on Christmas Day.
By John Roberts 

A snowstorm is coming. Well, more of an ice storm. Grrreat.  

It's Christmas morning, the wind chill means it feels like 3 degrees outside, and we're rushing out to go snowshoeing for the first time. You know, before the weather gets really bad. Ugh. 

​Welcome to Wisconsin in early winter. What better place to take my first crack at snowshoeing? 

You have to go where the snow is, after all, and a trip to Up North to spend a long weekend with Colleen's parents provided the best opportunity to strap on the shoes for the first time. 

Pat and Mary, my father- and mother-in-law, had long raved about how much they enjoy getting out for some "shoeing" during the winters in Lac du Flambeau and the surrounding lake communities. Colleen and I, however, are severely cold-weather averse and had always shied away from the activity -- and visiting Wisconsin in wintertime, in general, actually.  

"No thanks; we'll see you next summer, though," has always been a standard response to invites to swing by for a visit in winter months. 

The thing is, we also love seeing family for the Christmas holiday. So, we have been bundling up and making the trip the past couple of years. And while sharing holiday joy, hearty meals and a group viewing of the holiday classics "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Die Hard" with family is always on the agenda -- inside the comfort and warmth of the family home -- Mary has been prodding us to get out and try their favorite sport. 

We actually had planned to give it a go more than a year ago but the weather was surprisingly mild during our visit for the holidays in 2015. Were we disappointed or relieved? Hmmm. Maybe a little of both. Like I say, we're no fans of the cold but always love to try fun new sports.  
Snowshoes
This time, the weather is ideal. 

But maybe for just another few hours before the storm hits. We pull on our wool socks, make sure we have plenty of layers under our winter coats and head out. I have visions of falling over and plodding along, snot freezing to my goatee and fingers growing more numb by the moment. I mean, how is walking around with tennis racket-shaped footwear supposed to be enjoyable? 

The snowshoes are designed in a way that it's easy to walk along at a normal gait, though. The temps also are so cold that the snow is soft and fluffy. 

Colleen and I make our way down to the edge of Long Interlaken Lake, the body of water on which Pat and Mary's home is located. The lake is frozen (mostly), and we decide the ice is thick enough at the edges near land that we can safely start here.  

​Despite the chilling temps, we quickly warm up once we start walking, and neither of us falls down. We walk the length of the lake until we realize that we can't get to the trails that we want to check out without trudging through the yards of some private residences. We double-back and head past the McDaniel home and out toward the road to follow over to the wooded area.
 
Snowshoeing in Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin
Colleen cuts a fresh path in the snow.
Being Christmas Day, we see few cars (maybe one or two) and just enjoy the peaceful walk in deeper snow alongside the road. Snow coats everything -- the road, rooftops, and tree branches -- offering a fresh, crisp canvas. And we insert ourselves in the portrait, creating the first tracks of the day with our snowshoes. 
​

Properly warmed up, we have been out for about two hours when we gauge that we should get back before the first ice starts pelting us from the sky. Growing more confident in our abilities, we try a little jogging in the shoes on the way back. Snows flies from our feet as we swoosh through the powder. Gasping a bit, now I slow my pace, and we arrive back to the house in time for a hearty breakfast. 
 
About an hour later, we hear the first plinks of ice striking the tin roof. Looks like we'll be homebound for the rest of the day. I suppose there's nothing left to do but get another slice of pumpkin pie and pop in that "Die Hard" DVD. 

What new sport or activity have you tried recently that you weren't sure that you would like? (Please comment below.) 

Travel fit, and thanks for reading! 
​
JR
Snowshoeing in Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin

5 Things About Snowshoeing in Wisconsin

  • It's easy to do. You strap on the shoes to your boots and start walking. The straps hold your toes in place and your heels stay free.  
  • You will sink into the snow but ride on top more easily than if you didn't have on the snowshoes. You also will have to take more pronounced strides, lifting up your legs higher, especially if you're in deep snow. In deep snow, you can use "hiking" poles to assist. 
  • Snowshoeing is a multifaceted workout: you get cardio, strength and agility benefits, burning up to 1,000 calories per hour. â€‹
  • Be safe. Make sure the ice is thick enough if you plan to go out onto a lake. 
  • Wisconsin is filled with dozens of snowshoe trails. Choose from these trails for your next winter adventure.

Traveling to Wisconsin? Get the Right Hotel for Your Trip.

Subscribe today to get the latest reviews, tips and tricks to help you have your best adventure ever.

0 Comments

    Categories

    All
    Africa
    AIDA Cruises
    Alaska
    Albatros Expeditions
    Alicante
    AmaWaterways
    Amber Cove
    American Queen Steamboat Company
    American Queen Voyages
    Amsterdam
    Antarctica
    Antigua
    Arctic
    Arizona
    Aruba
    Asia
    Atlas Ocean Voyages
    Australia
    Austria
    Avalon Waterways
    Backroads
    Bahamas
    Barbados
    Barcelona
    Belize
    Blue World Voyages
    Bonaire
    Bora Bora
    Brooklyn
    Budapest
    Burma
    Cabo San Lucas
    Cadiz
    California
    Cambodia
    Cancun
    Caribbean
    Carnival Cruise
    Celebrity Cruises
    Celestyal Cruises
    Christmas Markets
    Cologne
    Colombia
    Colorado
    Corfu
    Costa Rica
    Cozumel
    Craft Beer
    Croatia
    Crystal Cruises
    Cuba
    Curacao
    Dominican Republic
    Dubrovnik
    Egypt
    Emerald Cruises
    Emerald Waterways
    Europe
    Expat Life
    Explora Journeys
    Fathom Travel
    Fitness
    Florida
    Fort Lauderdale
    France
    French Polynesia
    Galapagos
    Galveston
    Germany
    Grand Cayman
    Greece
    Grenada
    Guatemala
    Halifax
    Harmony Of The Seas
    Hawaii
    High Line Park
    Hiking
    Holland America
    Hong Kong
    Houston
    Hungary
    Ibiza
    Iceland
    Isla Mujeres
    Italy
    Jim Thorpe
    Key West
    Kotor
    Labadee
    Lake Minnewaska
    Las Vegas
    Lisbon
    Lithuania
    London
    London Eye
    Maine
    Malaga
    Mexico
    Miami
    Minnesota
    Mississippi River
    Monte Carlo
    Montenegro
    Monterey
    Montreal
    Moorea
    MSC Cruises
    MSC Divina
    Netherlands
    Newfoundland
    New Jersey
    New Orleans
    New York
    New York City
    New Zealand
    North Carolina
    Norway
    Norwegian Cruise Line
    Nuremberg
    Oceania Cruises
    Oregon
    Orlando
    Panama
    Panama Canal
    Passau
    Paul Gauguin
    Paul Gauguin Cruises
    Pennsylvania
    Philadelphia
    Pickleball
    Ponant
    Portugal
    Prague
    Princess Cruises
    Puerto-rico
    Queens
    Regensburg
    Regent Seven Seas
    Rome
    Royal Caribbean
    Saint-Tropez
    San Francisco
    Santorini
    Scenic Cruises
    Scottsdale
    Seabourn
    SeaDream Yacht Club
    Sicily
    Silversea
    Sintra
    Sorrento
    Spain
    Star Clippers
    St. Maarten
    St. Thomas
    Symphony Of The Seas
    Tahiti
    Travel Gear
    Travel Tips
    Tunisia
    Turkey
    Turks And Caicos
    UnCruise
    Un-Cruise Adventures
    UnCruise Adventures
    Universal's Islands Of Adventure
    Uniworld
    Utah
    Utica
    Utica Boilermaker 15K
    Vienna
    Vietnam
    Viking Cruises
    Washington
    Windstar Cruises
    Wisconsin

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    RSS Feed

Copyright © 2013 | All rights reserved | Ewing, New Jersey.
Contact | About | Media Kit