Make time for fitness each day, it will improve your health and wellness as well as counter the effects of many diseases.

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Better Homes & Gardens Features Mountain Trek

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Better Homes & Gardens Features Mountain Trek

One of the most popular magazines in North America has just featured Mountain Trek in its most recent issue. The August 2016 edition of Better Homes & Gardens has a story called "Gear Up" in which Mountain Trek's head guide Cathy Grierson is asked to provide her choices for what will help keep you comfortable and safe on the hiking trail. 

In the article, which appears in the "Better Family Travel" section of the magazine, Cathy (who used to be a park ranger before becoming a fitness guide at Mountain Trek) offers six tips for both those interested in getting into hiking and established trekkers.

#1. Dress in Layers

"The termparature can change drastically depedning on elevation and time of day, so check the weather and be ready with three layers," Cathy offers in the piece. She then goes on to describe the three different layers every hiker needs. 

#2. Travel Light

Aside from explaining the difference between a daypack and a full-on backpack, Cathy explains how to put one on: "Put the pack on so the weight is distributed evenly, loosen all straps, the tighten the waist belt and shoulder straps." 

#3. Wear the Right Shoes and Socks

"For day hikes, lightweight and flexible 'light hiker' shoes are best," Cathy says. She then goes on to describe what type of shoes to look for. To learn about how to properly fit a pair of hiking shoes, read here.

#4. Carry Enough Water

In the story Cathy explains the best way to carry H20: "A water bladder holds more than a bottle (up to 3 litres) and it nestles in your pack so you can hydrate hands-free."

#5. Buy Poles if Hiking Regularly

"The give you better balance and footing, reduce stress on your joints, and can help you feel like you're not working so hard," Cathy says. The article then goes on to describe some more benefits of poles including the fact you burn more calories when using them.

#6. Carry a First Aid Kit

Cathy finishes her recommendations with some items to include in your first aid kit on every hike such as moleskin, cloth tape, Band-aids and antibiotic ointment.

To read the Better Homes & Gardens article in its entirety, download the PDF of it here: August 2016_Better Homes & Gardens

Whether you're new to hiking, or have been doing it for years, we recommend you book Mountain Trek and enjoy world-class trails, supportive guides and all the amenities our all-inclusive resort offers:

  • complimentary massages
  • delicious boutique spa cuisine
  • natural hot springs
  • infrared sauna, outdoor hot tub and cold plunge pool
  • luxurious lodge in a natural setting far away from urban stressors

You're also guaranteed to reach your fitness goals with our program that's tailored to each individual. You can keep to your own pace but we'll make sure you get results. We hope to see you soon!

Beginner Workout Mistakes to Avoid

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As the Fitness Director at Mountain Trek, Cathy Grierson receives a lot of questions about exercise: when to do it and how often; what the best techniques are; and how to avoid injury. Recently she received a question that we thought warranted its own post-follow-up as it’s important for most guests of Mountain Trek Fitness Retreat and Health Spa: “What are some common workout mistakes that all beginners should avoid?” Cathy believes this is a big and important subject and so wrote the following in the hopes we can all learn from it.

close up of a person's legs running on a treadmill at mountain trek

Mistake #1: Only Doing Cardio

Many people, particularly women, believe the antiquated idea that cardio will make them slim and strength training will make them bulky. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Building muscle helps to raise your basal metabolic rate (BMR) and create a favorable metabolic environment for fat loss. Plus strength training strengthens our bones, improves our posture, and reduces the likelihood of injury.

close up of a person's legs stretching

Mistake #2: Neglecting the warm-up and cool-down stretch

Jumping right into a vigorous workout without warming up puts you at risk of injury. Instead, take at least 5 minutes to warm up the body, using lower intensity movements that mimic the exercise you are about to perform. Avoid static stretching during the warm-up and instead, use dynamic or moving stretches. Save the static stretches to restore worked muscles to their original length for about 5 minutes post-exercise.

a group fitness class

Mistake #3: Forgetting About Fun

It’s really hard to stay dedicated to something that you don’t enjoy. Thankfully, there are endless modes of exercise and there’s certain to be something out there that you will enjoy. Keep your expectations realistic. You do not need to be an iron-pumping bodybuilder or a marathon runner in order to reap the benefits of exercise. Think about the things you like and start with that. Is it music? Being outdoors? Spending time with friends? Build those things into your workouts to add some fun!

What is Mountain Trek?

Mountain Trek is the health reset you’ve been looking for. Our award-winning health retreat, immersed in the lush nature of British Columbia, will help you detox, unplug, recharge, and roll back years of stress and unhealthy habits. To learn more about the retreat, and how we can help you reset your health, please email us at info@mountaintrek.com or reach out below:

Delta Sky Magazine Features Mountain Trek

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Delta Sky Magazine

Delta Airline’s popular inflight magazine Sky has featured Mountain Trek in its most recent issue. Called “Getting Back on Track,” the article describes writer Susan B Barnes’s experience attending a one-week fitness program at Mountain Trek’s lodge near beautiful Nelson, British Columbia.

The Health Reset I Needed

The story appears in the September 2016 issue of the monthly Sky magazine that’s published by Delta, which flies into Spokane, the closest US airport to Mountain Trek. (A free airport shuttle is provided for guests arriving by air.) In the article, Susan mentions why she decided to enroll in the program in the first place:

“After months of indulging much to much while traveling, I had made the decision to get my fitness and eating routines back on track and was confident that the Mountain Trek program – the only mountain-based hiking, fitness and weight loss program in North America–would whip me into shape.

“Most of our time during the weeklong stay was spent on the nearby hiking trails, some of which took us into provincial parks and all of which presented challenges over the three- and four-hour-long daily hikes. The scenery was stunning— secluded forests, creeks carving through rock formations hundreds of feet below, glacial-fed lakes—but the hiking was intense and we didn’t linger to admire the sights. After all, we were there to work—hard.”

Susan goes on to say that “At the end of my week, I felt stronger and healthier than I had in quite a while. My cardio stamina increased. I was happy, well-rested and invigorated. And, as a bonus, I lost eight pounds.”

To read Susan’s article in its entirety, download the PDF of it here: Delta-Sky-Mountain-Trek-article

Whether you’re a resident of BC or a visitor, we recommend you book Mountain Trek and enjoy the amenities that only our all-inclusive resort can offer:

  • complimentary massages
  • delicious boutique spa cuisine
  • natural hot springs
  • infrared sauna, outdoor hot tub, and cold plunge pool
  • a luxurious lodge in a natural setting far away from urban stressors

You’re also guaranteed to reach your fitness goals with our program that’s tailored to each individual. You can keep to your own pace but we’ll make sure you get results. We hope to see you soon!

What is Mountain Trek?

Mountain Trek is the health reset you’ve been looking for. Our award-winning health retreat, immersed in the lush nature of British Columbia, will help you detox, unplug, recharge, and roll back years of stress and unhealthy habits. To learn more about the retreat, and how we can help you reset your health, please email us at info@mountaintrek.com or reach out below:

The Secret Formula to Proper Strength Training

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woman lifting weights for strength training

Don’t worry–we’re not expecting you to become a bodybuilder. But gaining a bit more muscle will help prolong your life. By increasing muscle mass, we increase bone density, burn more calories resting, and support an anabolic metabolism. 

Strength training is all about building lean muscle mass to help raise your basal metabolic rate (BMR) to create a favorable metabolic environment for fat loss. As we age, we’re prone to muscle loss; a 50-year-old person can lose 0.4 pounds of muscle every year! Compound that with muscle loss due to a sedentary lifestyle, and we start storing more calories than we’re burning. In order to combat this muscle loss, we must work our muscles to momentary muscular failure (MMF). 

Benefits of Strength Training

By strengthening our muscles we burn more calories. In fact, one pound of muscle burns six calories a day just resting. Compare that to one pound of adipose (fat), which only burns two calories per day. Also, when hormones such as HGH (Human Growth Hormone) are elevated from strength training, fatty acids are more readily mobilized and used for fuel. The positive outcomes include:

  • Higher energy levels
  • Increased strength
  • Counteracting osteoporosis and muscle decay
  • Stronger core for stability, balance, and posture
  • A longer life!

Our Formula for Effective Strength Training

  1. Start lifting, pushing, or pulling your body, or weights, to fatigue or MMF (momentary muscular failure), meaning you cannot do another rep.
  2. Do this 2x per week or 3x per week, allowing 48 hours between sessions for recovery.
  3. Work your largest muscles first, then your smallest. Ex: chest, then biceps; back, then triceps.
  4. Pick a weight that is difficult and intense to push, pull, or lift while maintaining good form. Max out your ability somewhere between 8-12 repetitions.
  5. Repeat each exercise twice with a 30-second recovery time between sets. Eventually, you can add a third set. Or increase the weight/resistance until 12 repetitions can easily be done on your second or third set, and then again increase the weight/resistance.
  6. Include compound exercises, such as squats, dead-lifts, rows, and bench presses as they fire the most muscles. Work your largest muscles first, your smallest last. Avoid muscle imbalance by ensuring you work both the front and back of your body. (Chest and back, quads and hamstrings, bicep and triceps, etc.)
  7. If you are new to strength training, hire a personal trainer to work with you to ensure good form, to motivate, and to reduce the risk of injury.

This formula will acutely inflame your muscle cells, which signals the growth hormone DHEA and other hormones to replace the smaller, atrophied muscle cells with larger and stronger cells. This reverses the effects of a catabolic metabolism, allowing us to maintain an anabolic, vital, growth-centered body for the rest of our lives.

What is Mountain Trek?

Mountain Trek is the health reset you’ve been looking for. Our award-winning retreat, immersed in the lush nature of British Columbia, will help you unplug, recharge, and roll back years of stress and unhealthy habits. To learn more about the retreat, and how we can help you reset your health, please email us at info@mountaintrek.com or reach out below:

Mountain Trek Is The Perfect Bachelorette Destination Say 2 Writers

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Friends-hiking-together

Mountain Trek has been featured in two articles recently that describe our health program as the perfect fitness-focused destination for brides-to-be. In her recent JetSetHerBlog.com article, Jamie Gaul writes that you’ll leave your bachelorette party at Mountain Trek “feeling like a new woman” and Alison Lewis writes in her HealthyTravelMag.com article that Mountain Trek is “the perfect retreat just before the big day!” Both place a spotlight on the hiking and how brides and their bachelorette parties can get fit before the big day, rather than derail all their hard work.

In her article Gaul writes, “Every time I get a wedding invite, I know a bachelorette party is in store and that means too much wine, too much food and a week-long hangover. Bachelorette parties don’t have to derail all the hard work you’ve done to get your wedding day bod. These locations are fun, relaxing and have your wellness in mind. So long, Vegas!”

Gaul then goes on to describe Mountain Trek saying, “A true backcountry experience, Mountain Trek offers the bride-to-be and her bridal party a dynamic ‘boot camp’ vacation. Yes, I know bootcamp and vakay aren’t exactly synonymous but trust me, you’ll emerge from this bachelorette party feeling like a new woman. Set in spectacular natural landscapes, guests spend time hiking, practicing yoga, indulging massage therapy and have access to a variety of fitness, detox and nutrition classes Average weight loss for a one week program ranges from 4.5 – 6.5 lbs per week for women. You may even need your wedding dress taken in after this trip!”

In her article entitled “Health Inspired Bachelorette Destinations” Alison Lewis writes, “Set in the most spectacular natural landscapes, (Mountain Trek) guests are treated to an ultra personalized program and spend time focusing on activities including hiking, yoga, massage therapty, detox treatments and a variety of fitness and nutrition classes.”

Mountain Trek has hosted many groups of women throughout the years and we even wrote our own article about “Why Mountain Trek is the Perfect Girls Getaway.” Here are just a few of the reasons why a healthy bachelorette party at Mountain Trek is such a good idea:

  • Spend some much-needed time with your friends away from all the distractions of your daily lives
  • Enjoy the world-famous hotsprings five minutes from our lodge
  • Lose weight before putting on that wedding dress and look beautiful on your big day
  • Learn healthy habits that will stay with you long after you leave our luxurious lodge
  • Have a guaranteed support network when you get home

To see Jamie’s story in its entirety, please click this link: Bachelorette Destinations Inspired by Health, Not Hangovers. And to see Alison’s story, please click here: Health Inspired Bachelorette Destinations.

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Review Magazine Features Mountain Trek

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lodge at mountain trek in british columbia

Mountain Trek has been featured in Review Magazine’s “Exercise Escape” article. Writer Leigh Doyle interviews our program director, Kirkland Shave, and discovers why more people are turning away from beach lounging and choosing instead to “unwind at fitness retreats to kick-start healthy new habits.”

In the interview, Kirkland is quoted as saying that people, typically urban professionals, visit Mountain Trek because “they want to change their body look and feel because that’s a visceral experience that their lives are back on track.”

The article goes on to detail the experience of a Mountain Trek Alumni guest named Jean Aldridge, who’s a financial planner in Orange County, California. She attends Mountain Trek every six months because:

It gives “her insights into how to make her day-to-day life healthier, and it also helped her lose about 10 pounds…it even helped keep her active after she returned home. She added more Pilates classes to her schedule, began walking after dinner and used her infrared sauna more regularly. She’s watched the extra weight disappear and, months later, has kept it off.”

Mountain Trek has good company in the piece as The Ashram in California and the Men’s Fitness Boot Camp Vacation in Florida are also listed. But unlike the other spas and resorts, Mountain Trek’s program guarantees fat loss, while also targeting sleep habits, improved fitness levels, and detoxification.

Writer Leigh Doyle goes on to say in the article, “For people looking to lose some weight, a week-long fitness vacation can get the ball rolling…it can kick-start motivated individuals into making serious changes by showing them how regular exercise, proper eating, and dedicated de-stress time can do the body good.”

Enjoy the amenities that Mountain Trek Fitness Retreat and Health Spa offers:

  • complimentary massages
  • delicious spa cuisine
  • natural hot springs
  • infrared sauna, outdoor hot tub and cold plunge pool
  • a luxurious lodge in a natural setting far away from urban stressors

To see Leigh’s story in its entirety, click this link: Mountain Trek Featured in Review Magazine

What is Mountain Trek?

Mountain Trek is the health reset you’ve been looking for. Our award-winning health retreat, immersed in the lush nature of British Columbia, will help you detox, unplug, recharge, and roll back years of stress and unhealthy habits. To learn more about the retreat, and how we can help you reset your health, please email us at info@mountaintrek.com or reach out below:

“I Survived Adult Fat Camp” – Fitness Magazine features Mountain Trek

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Mountain-Trek-Program-at-Rancho-La-Puerta

The headline may be a bit sensational but we enjoyed reading Juno DeMelo’s first-person story of her time spent experiencing the Mountain Trek program at Rancho La Puerta that recently ran on fitnessmagazine.com.

The reason Juno decided to take part in the Mountain Trek program is because, “I’m not fat or out of shape, but I’ve put on a few pounds over the last three years. And though I hate the idea of dieting, I like a challenge. I also figured that not having constant access to food would help me separate real hunger from the fake kind that tends to pop up when I’m bored or stressed. So, I packed my bags…with the hope of gaining energy and losing weight.”

The article then details what Juno experienced day-to-day while enrolled in the program, from morning yoga classes to day hikes to after-dinner workouts. She also spent a large part of the story talking about food.

Fitness Magazine features Mountain Trek

“I never felt stuffed, but I felt full for a couple of hours after each meal,” Juno writes. “By the third hour, it was time to have a snack, which usually – and surprisingly – held me over to dinner. By day five my appetite downshifted and…I felt satiated. The hikes started to feel more doable (and) I stopped fantasizing about cheesecake…”

By the seventh day it was time for the weigh out and Juno learned she had lost 5.2 pounds. “I was elated.” she writes. She then goes on to describe one of the best parts of the Mountain Trek program, namely the post-retreat support plan. “They say that if I keep this up, I should be able to maintain my weight loss and maybe even continue to drop 1/2 to 1 pound a week until by body hits its happy point…I now know I’m strong enough, mentally and physically, to hike for eight miles a day, six days in a row. That I can be a little bit hungry without the world crashing down. And that while food is still one of the great loves of my life, I’ve probably been over-romancing it.”

To see Juno’s story in its entirety, log on to the Fitness Magazine website and read, “I Survived Adult Fat Camp.”

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7 Winter Sports You Must do in Your Lifetime

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Tobogganing for Fitness

Health and wellness during the winter months could mean enjoying home-cooked meals, getting a massage, visiting some hot springs, or reading a book by the fire. This winter, we encourage you to get outside, stay active, and have some fun! There are plenty of snow sports for every age and ability. Snowshoeing, for example, is a perfect way to float over the snow and enjoy a walk in the woods. We’ve compiled a list of winter sports that we think everyone should try at least once.

Tobogganing

Ideal for Beginners

What it is:

Whether you call it sledding, GT Snow Racing, or tobogganing, chances are you did this as a kid if you lived in a snowy place or ever visited one. It refers to the act of sitting or lying down on a device designed to slide over snow and then going downhill on it.

Why it’s good for you:

Firstly, it’s super fun! Your serotonin levels are sure to rise with this activity because it’s so enjoyable racing downhill. It’ll make you feel like a kid again! Plus, the hike back up the hill again is a great way to increase your metabolism.

 

Snowshoeing for Fitness

Snowshoeing

Ideal for Weight loss

What it is:

Unlike the devices from years past, modern-day snowshoes are small, light, and strong. They’re easy to attach to any winter boot and then you’re free to go wander wherever the snow takes you. And that’s the beauty of snowshoeing – you’re no longer beholden to hiking paths or trails. You can walk over frozen lakes and through forests that, in the summertime, are inaccessible because of the undergrowth.

Why it’s good for you:

When combined with hiking poles, snowshoeing can be the perfect aerobic activity in the winter. The snow provides a bit of resistance as you walk and your arms get a workout as you swing your poles. And the best part is it doesn’t require a lot of skill – you’re just going for a walk. This is exactly why we recommend this winter sport to stay active throughout the winter.

 

Cross-country skiing

Cross-Country Skiing

Ideal for Full-body fitness

What it is:

There are two types of cross-country skiing: classic and skate skiing. The latter requires groomed trails whereas classic can be done anywhere. It too is as good a workout as snowshoeing with hiking poles but requires more skill, equipment, and know-how in terms of putting wax on the bases. Still, when you’re gliding along at a fast pace, this sport can be completely invigorating!

Why it’s good for you:

This is an excellent aerobic activity in the wintertime that strengthens your legs, core, and arms.

 

Ice Skate for Fitness

Ice Skating

Ideal for Leg strengthening

What it is:

Simply put on a pair of skates (basically a supportive shoe with a steel blade attached to the sole) and launch yourself across the ice of a frozen pond, lake, or indoor arena. If you’re a beginner, you might want to take it slow at first and hang out to a wall or a helpful friend. But whether you’re a pro or a first-timer, there’s no doubting that ice skating is super fun!

Why it’s good for you:

Ice skating is an effective way to strengthen both the major and minor muscles in your legs as you maintain balance while striding along the ice to push yourself forward. It’s also great for your core muscles.

 

Hiking in the snow

Winter Walking/Hiking

Ideal for People pressed for time

What it is:

Because of snowy and icy conditions in the wintertime, many of us forego walking outside. But it’s proven we need to breathe fresh air and get Vitamin D from the sun, even during the colder months. The best way to ensure you have a safe outdoor walk or hike during the winter is to invest in a pair of Yak Trax or a similar device that adheres to the bottom of your winter boots and basically acts like studded tires for your feet. They grip and cling to any surface and ensure you have an enjoyable and safe walk – especially when you use hiking poles as well.

Why it’s good for you:

The World Health Organization recommends that we all walk at least 10,000 steps a day to maintain our health. That includes during the winter months. When combined with hiking poles, winter walking is a good way to get aerobic exercise.

 

Fat Tire Biking in the Winter

Fat Biking

Ideal for Cyclists and Mountain Bikers

What it is:

Fat biking is a relatively new sport that allows people to use specially designed bicycles with 4-inch-wide tires to ride over packed snow. Many ski resorts (both alpine and cross-country) offer fat bike rentals and you’ll quickly learn that it’s super-fun pedaling over snow!

Why it’s good for you:

Just like regular bicycling, this is a great full-body workout but because you’re riding on snow. There’s more resistance while you ride, meaning you don’t have to travel as far to get the effects of a great workout.

 

Winter Bobsleigh

 

Bobsledding

Ideal for Thrill seekers

What it is:

No doubt you’ve seen this event in the Winter Olympics but what you might not know is places like Whistler, Calgary, and Salt Lake City offer bobsled rides down specially designed tracks (ie: ones that aren’t as steep or fast as those in the Olympics). No experience is required.

Why it’s good for you:

This activity involves what we call “good stress” – you’re cortisol levels will go up during your ride down but then be washed away in a flood of euphoria. Plus there’s a bit of running at the start. But really, the reason this is good for you is to simply remind yourself you’re strong enough and brave enough to do anything!

What is Mountain Trek?

Mountain Trek is the health reset you’ve been looking for. Our award-winning health retreat, immersed in the lush nature of British Columbia, will help you detox, unplug, recharge, and roll back years of stress and unhealthy habits. To learn more about the retreat, and how we can help you reset your health, please email us at info@mountaintrek.com or reach out below:

Winter Gear Guide for Snowshoeing

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The Mountain Trek Way Winter Gear Guide

Hiking through pristine, blanketed wilderness in the middle of winter is a wonderful experience. Not to mention, snowshoeing is a great form of exercise. But snowshoeing can quickly turn from magical to miserable without the proper gear. Don’t get caught out in the cold with wet feet or cold hands – follow our winter gear guide so you can enjoy the outdoors all winter long!

It is best to dress in layers for snowshoeing; with a base layer next to the skin, a secondary for warmth, and an outer layer that’s water-resistant.

Base Layers

Socks

Best: Thick merino wool socks are best for outdoor winter activities because merino doesn’t itch like other types of sheep wool, it breathes well, it stays warm even when wet and it tends not to smell.

Good: Polypropylene textiles or “polypro” are man-made synthetic thermoplastic polymers. They may not sound comfortable but they’re constructed to be hydrophobic, which means they transport or “wick” moisture away from the skin. They are also very warm but a disadvantage is they tend to retain body odor.

Worst: Anything with cotton in it. Derived from a plant that’s sole purpose is to retain moisture, cotton is the worst fabric to wear in the winter because it keeps moisture close to the skin and leaves you clammy and cold.

Brands to consider: Darn Tough (which has a lifetime guarantee!), Bridgedale, Smartwool, Icebreaker

Long Underwear

As with socks, the best long underwear is made with merino wool. Polypro or silk is second best and the worst is cotton. Brands to consider include Smartwool, Icebreaker, and Patagonia.

T-shirt and Long Sleeve

Again, the best fabric to have next to your skin is merino wool, followed by polypro and silk. As for the worst, there’s a reason behind the mountain culture adage, “cotton kills.” Brands to consider include Smartwool, Icebreaker, and Patagonia.

Secondary Layers

Socks

Most people do not require two layers of thick socks but some like to wear thin “liners” made of polypro that are worn next to the skin and underneath a thicker wool sock. These keep feet even warmer and also reduce friction, which causes blisters.

Pants and Shirt

Wear a thicker version of a base layer that will keep you warm at the start of your activity but you can remove when you heat up.

Insulated Jacket

Best: Goose down jackets are the best because in most cases they’re warmer and lighter than polypro and they pack up to a smaller size when you want to stuff them away after you’ve warmed up. Ensure the jacket you purchase has a durable water repellent coating on it to ward off water. When down gets wet, it tends to clump and loses some of its insulation qualities.

Good: Polypro is the next best version of an insulated jacket and they have the added bonus of not losing loft when they get wet.

Worst: As always – cotton.

Brands to consider: Patagonia and Outdoor Research tend to fit larger frames and have the added bonus of coming with lifetime guarantees. Arc’teryx and Prana are more form-fitted.

Outer Layers

Jacket and Pants

Best: A water-repellent shell made of Gore-Tex or Event (or similar technical fabric) with welded seams are the best winter garments for active people.

Good: There are different qualities of Gore-Tex (and related fabrics) and different kinds of seam sealing. Opt for the best if you want your garment to last a long time.

Worst: A heavy rubber-like what you’d find in yellow rain slickers. These do not breathe and will trap all moisture and keep you feeling cold and clammy.

Brands to consider: Patagonia and Outdoor Research tend to fit larger frames and have the added bonus of coming with lifetime guarantees. Arc’teryx, North Face, Black Diamond, Prana, and Westcomb are some other alternatives.

Gloves

Best: A glove with a wool/polypro liner and a Gore-Tex (or similar technical fabric) outer shell is the best. They keep your hands warm but repel water.

Good: Leather and fur. They’ll breathe but they’ll eventually get wet.

Worst: Wool as an outer layer. These will get wet and snow will eventually clump to them.

Equipment

Snowshoes

First, consider where you plan to snowshoe. There are different types of snowshoes for mellow maintained trails, steep terrain, and running. Next, choose your preferred material and binding style. Modern snowshoes are made from lightweight metal, durable plastic, and/or tough hi-tech fabric. Molded plastic snowshoes are cost-effective and long-lasting, while the metal frame styles allow for a more natural stride.

Brands to consider: MSR, Atlas

Poles

Using your trekking poles or ski poles can help you stay balanced in deep, slippery snow. Be sure to have large baskets on your poles so they won’t sink, and so they can stabilize you. Just like nordic fitness trekking, they’re extremely helpful ascending and descending steep terrain. 

Brands to consider: Leki, Black Diamond

Gaitors

Gaitors are a very important part of your snowshoeing gear. They wrap around your calf and boot preventing snow from getting into your boots and keep your feet dry. Choose a pair that is waterproof, and that wraps beneath your boot to be sure they stay in place.

Boots

Fortunately, snowshoes can accommodate practically any type of footwear. The best option is insulated winter boots, but your sturdy hiking boots will also be sufficient. Be sure to pair your boots with the proper sock base layer for warm comfortable feet!

How to Properly Fit a Pair of Hiking Boots

Staying active during the winter months is best when you can enjoy some time outdoors – especially when you’re properly dressed. See you on the trail!

What is Mountain Trek?

Mountain Trek is the health reset you’ve been looking for. Our award-winning retreat, immersed in the lush nature of British Columbia, will help you unplug, recharge, and roll back years of stress and unhealthy habits. To learn more about the retreat, and how we can help you reset your health, please email us at info@mountaintrek.com or reach out below:

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