Ancestors of the Inuits and Native Americans brought snowshoes with them when they migrated from central Asia to North America. And like most things that have been around for a very long time, snowshoeing has evolved from simple modified slabs of wood and cumbersome practical winter transportation to sophisticated lightweight aluminum recreation.

Snowshoeing enjoyed a relatively recent and exponential boom in the decade from the 1990s to the turn of the century in 2000. There were reportedly 444,000 enthusiasts in 1994, which leapt to 5 million Americans in 2000 that regularly went snowshoeing for pleasure. This phenomenal growth is attributed to two contributing factors: the 90’s rise in Nordic skiing, running, cycling, and triathlons, and Tubbs Snowshoe Company, formerly of Stowe, an industry leader with its pivotal early introduction of aluminum snowshoes. Under the leadership of then owner Ed Kiniry of Shelburne, Tubbs designed a revolutionary lightweight snowshoe and was largely responsible for broadening the appeal of winter’s fastest growing winter sport.

No longer a plodding experierence, today’s snowshoeing is a fun and easy way to be active in the winter and to connect with the outdoors. The sport is simple to learn, inexpensive compared to many other winter sports, and is gentle on the body. It also has the added benefit of being one of the most efficient cardiovascular activities: snowshoeing can burn more than 45 percent more calories than walking or running at the same speed.

Snowshoeing enthusiasts can use hiking trails for casual pleasure, trek through the backcountry for something more adventuresome and arduous, and now also can crank it up and join other competitors to race. With snowshoes on your feet, you can go places where skis cannot always take you.

Vermont is home to a wide variety of terrain and some of the most extensive and diverse trails in the East, making it the perfect destination this fast-growing sport. The Green Mountain Club, Vermont’s largest hiking organization, has compiled maps, guidebooks, and information about snowshoe hikes around the state. These guides are helpful as they include trail lengths, estimated hiking times, degrees of difficulty, locations of the trailheads, and descriptions of the trails. Whatever your level of fitness or expertise, there is a trail or path for you. For more information on the Green Mountain Club, visit www.greenmountainclub.com

Snowshoeing tours are also gaining popularity. Umiak Outdoor Outfitters in Stowe not only provides snowshoe rentals but also offers a variety of theme-based hikes and tours. Professional guides lead you to a hidden sugarhouse in the woods by the light of the moon (or headlamp) on their Moonlight Cabin Tour. The Best of the Best tour provides you with a certified outdoor guide who will teach you snowshoeing on beautiful wooded trails, ending at one of Vermont’s finest restaurants. And who could resist the Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream tour where the professional staff will guide you on a half hour snowshoe tour through the beautiful woodlands at Ben & Jerry’s factory, followed by a half hour ice cream factory tour and a taste of your favorite Ben and Jerry’s Ice cream. For more information on rentals and tour offerings from Umiak visit www.umiak.com

As grounded in ancient history as snowshoeing is, it has now taken flight with fans both young and old exploring Vermont’s starlit skies and its white-blanketed forest floors.