Sunday, January 08, 2006

Snowshoes


Richard and I went out on our snowshoes yesterday at the Pine Tree State Arboretum here in Augusta. The weather was crisp and cold, but once we got 'shoeing' around, we were plenty warm enough. The arboretum has cross country ski trails which are open to snowshoers and also some trails that are designated for snowshoes in particular.
We are using Tubbs, and neither of us are using poles. The snow isn't very deep yet, and there's a crusty under layer so we were maneuvering quite easily on the trails and also off-trail in the woods and fields.
Snowshoes and cross country skis are my favorite way to get out and experience nature in the winter. They are quiet, lightweight, and you get a good exercise workout on some different muscles than you'd usually use. I have never gone out on the old traditional style showshoes, but Richard has. He was pretty impressed with the newer version.
In thinking about naming this post, I came up with several fiddle tunes that reference snow.

  • Snowflake Reel from the Fiddler's Fakebook, a bluegrass tune
  • Snowshoes A, also from the Fakebook, an old-time bluegrass tune
  • Waiting for Snow from the Waltz Book Volume 2
  • Snow Deer from Mel Bay's Twin Fiddling
  • Snow on Valafield found in The Portland Collection
  • Snowbird on the Ashbank which is in the Portland Collection Vol.2 and also the Fakebook
  • Snowflake Hornpipe from the New England Fiddler's Repertoire
  • Snowshoer's Reel from the Repertoire
  • Snowstorm, a waltz by Molly Mason that I got via email recently

Any other 'snow' tunes that you know of out there?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

We are anxious to acquire some snowshoes and try the sport out. Sounds like a good day.