Fit Snowshoe Tour in Beaver Creek

Monday I headed out with a couple of friends on Beaver Creek's new Fit Snowshoe Tour.  Here's the kicker - you start this tour at 9,840 feet and climb to 10,400' feet.  It's really cool because it's in McCoy Park, which is one of three lift access Nordic centers in the United States.  Most are at the base of mountains.

I really liked how our guide Tom got us through the workout.  We started by just counter poling, which is using opposite pole with opposite foot, for 100 yards then resting 30 to 60 seconds. We did that for several rounds then started adding more distance in between breaks.  We did a variety of terrain from flat groomed trail to well into the powder on an incline.

We were out of breath and sweating.  Definitely a great workout!  Tom put it this way - if you take one breath at sea level, at that altitude of almost two miles high, you're taking two breaths.  You're working harder as your body compensates for less available oxygen.  Tom also said this working is twice as intense as hiking.

I loved the mega workout at altitude.  I can't wait to go back and snowshoe or try cross country, skate, or tele skiing at McCoy Park with the Beaver Creek Nordic Center.