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Like hiking, hiking on snow is a complete sport that exercises the upper body as well as the lower body, the muscles and your physical endurance while offering you all the well-being of a day spent outdoors in the mountains. As well as enjoying the exploration of nature, spending time with people, being rewarded for the efforts you make, hiking on snow also has the benefit of being a low-impact sport.
Whether you are climbing, descending, on level terrain, or walking at your own pace, each walking movement exercises a different part of the body and all this exercises your heart, your breathing and your endurance.
Walking involves constantly exercising your balance and, even if this seems natural and effortless, your muscles are constantly at work to maintain your balance and stay upright. Hiking on snow accentuates this effort because of the unevenness of the terrain, the slope and the fact that you are always taking care not to slip on the snow. Similarly, this effect is even more evident when wearing snowshoes.
Walking with poles exercises your arms, shoulders and back as well as your core strength when you use poles to climb or hold you back when descending.
Escaping the daily routine, seeing something exceptional, breathing fresh air, going back to basics.
When you are far from your usual surroundings, in the wild, you can enjoy the feeling of being outside of time. The sun gives you a good dose of vitamin D, you feel a complete change of scenery in a remarkable environment, which is in stark contrast to the busyness of city life. The mountain air is free of city pollution, pollen and acarids.
Although the mountains require more effort, they are more rewarding given the many physical and spiritual benefits.
Walking in the mountains forces your body to produce more red blood cells in order to compensate for the effects of the altitude, where there is less oxygen – a beneficial exercise for your heart, breathing, muscles and your general endurance.
Walking in the countryside has an effect that is similar to that of meditation, the benefits of which will boost your mental health and have repercussions on your physical health.
Hiking on snow is a time that is entirely devoted to you, where your concentration focuses on the landscapes, the positioning of your feet and the pace of your breathing. Although you won't be able to control your thoughts initially, the flow will start to calm down to be replaced by a sense of peace. Hiking is a time that allows your mind to wander and free yourself of your daily routine.
Your breathing becomes more regular, your heartbeat slows down, your body releases all its tension and your body is at peace. You can enjoy the well-being produced by the pleasure of spending some time with friends or family as well as by the benefits of the physical effort made.
Combining a sense of freedom, pleasure and well-being, hiking on snow can only be seen in a positive light. And what if you were also to take advantage of these benefits? Choose your route and tell us what the hike did for you.
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