Capital District options abound for a snowbound escape
It’s nearly February. There’s been fewer than 10 hours of daylight for more than two months. The temperature stays stubbornly below the freezing point. The twinkling lights are packed away, the Christmas cookies stale and weeks of sitting by the fire are morphing into an acute case of cabin fever.
So what’s a snowbound Capital District resident to do? Well, for those who are looking for some local outdoor fun in the colder months, snowshoeing can offer a relatively cheap and easy escape from the doldrums.
Unlike downhill skiing (mostly centered dozens of miles away) or its cross country cousin, snowshoeing doesn’t take hardly any practice, requires limited equipment and can be practiced almost anywhere with a good settling of snow.
That said, buying snowshoes is not an insignificant investment. If buying, expect to spend $100 or more for an adult pair, with many high-end models eclipsing the $200 mark. Most area outdoor retailers carry snowshoes in the winter season, including Eastern Mountain Sports (in Mohawk Commons, Stuyvesant Plaza and in Saratoga Springs) and LL Bean in Colonie Center.
Luckily many retailers, including those two, also rent shoes for full- or half-days, so novices can have a chance to try out the sport. There’s no excuse to not get back into nature this winter, so the following are some great local locations to hit the trail or field.
Some favorite snowshoeing grounds will rent equipment on site, making an outing even easier. The Fiver Rivers Environmental Education Center in New Scotland, for example, offers rentals and holds periodic learn to snowshoe walks with the center’s staff.
Five Rivers is also holding a `Gloomiest Day` walk on Saturday, Jan. 29. The 23rd is generally considered the gloomiest day of the year for a number of reasons, including the arrival of holiday bills and lack of sunlight, and taking a walk in the woods can be a good way to perk things up.
Snowshoes can be borrowed free of charge for the outing. To register, call 475-0291 by Thursday, Jan. 27, and visit www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html for more on Fiver Rivers’ programming.
Though much of Thacher Park’s facilities are infamously shuttered, the hiking trails at the park remain open and are a great winter resource. There are also trails in the adjacent Thompsons Lake Park, where shoes can be rented from the Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center. The center can be contacted at 872-0800.
Like at Fiver Rivers, there are plenty of guided walks through the Voorheesville park’s trail system. The next journey is on Sunday, Jan. 30, at 10 a.m.
The 3,100-acre Albany Pine Brush Preserve has miles of hiking trails that are well suited to a winter snowshoeing or cross-country skiing expedition. The preserve does not rent shoes but occasionally holds outings where equipment is provided for a modest cost. Visit www.albanypinebush.org for a calendar of events and directions to trailheads.
For a flatter, rolling hills type of snowshoeing experience, one might give the Saratoga Spa State Park a try. There are plenty of trails accessible by several trailheads throughout the park, and those wishing to stray from the established routes will find many of opportunities to do so through the golf course. Maps are available at the park office or www.saratogaspastatepark.org.
Unlike many local parks and preserves, the Plotter Kill Preserve in Schenectady County doesn’t have a welcome center or educational outreach building, so you’ll have to pack your own gear.
What this over 600-acre preserve does have is mile after mile of varied terrain that will keep any winter sojourner interested. Trails generally follow the river gorge to three waterfalls that provide interesting winter sights. Visitors should exercise caution when hiking on some trails, as they can pass near cliffs and falloffs.
It’s also worth mentioning snowshoeing can really be accomplished anywhere there’s a good settling of snow. Plenty of area golf courses offer good opportunity for virgin snowshoeing ground without necessitating a long trip.
Where’s your favorite spot for outdoor winter fun? Comment below.
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