Every so often, I think I should get a pair of snow shoes. Usually, it’s at times like this. Those rare occasions when we actually have snow that may require snow shoes. The feeling usually passes as quickly as the snow on the south shore.
I have friends that have snow shoes and seem to enjoy them. I used to have snow shoes. But those were the old type snow shoes.
You know the type I mean. The type of snow shoes that helped you develop your reflexes. This was necessary to keep ones face out of the snow. Your face was going to go into the snow, because you were going to trip over your snow shoes. Mostly because the snow shoes were so big it was impossible to walk in them without tripping over them.
That was the other thing with the old type of snow shoes. You had to be able to walk with your legs far enough apart that someone on a snowmobile could drive between your legs and not touch any part of your body. That was the only way to keep from stepping on your own snow shoes and planting your face in the snow.
I used these snow shoes a time or too. Until, on one occasion, while taking a few days off to allow my thighs to recover from the stress of trying to walk in snow shoes, I hung them on the wall and decided they look really good there. They have been on that wall for a while now. Long enough that I don’t think I would trust them to hold my weight any longer. And I certainly don’t trust my thigh muscle to be able to withstand walking in proper snow shoe stance again.
But snow shoes have changed. The snow shoes itself got smaller. A lot smaller. You seem to be able to walk without having your feet socially distanced with about a three yard gap between them. They look a lot more comfortable. Fun even.
Having consistent snow cover is a whole other story. By the time I get around to thinking I should have a pair of snow shoes, the snow will probably disappear. But it’s fun to think about.
