For some folks, getting deep into the mountains can be a daunting and discouraging undertaking.  Where do we start?  How long will it take?  What if something goes wrong?  These are some of the questions we ask ourselves when planning any sort of mountain adventure.  These questions tend to have more complex answers in the winter months, when snow covers the ground.  Even as guides, we ask these questions.  However, our experience in the mountains and knowledge of the region, allow us to answer these questions and remove many of the unknown factors, making for a safer and more enjoyable experience for our guests.

Many people ask if we go on the same adventures in the winter as we do in the summer.  The answer is YES!  But, we use different types of equipment to access these areas, equipment that makes it more efficient to move on snow.  Our winter hiking tours include the use of snowshoes.  Snowshoes are designed to help a hiker stay on top of the snow when there has been recent accumulation or when the sun begins to soften the surface.  Snowshoes are also equipped with a “crampon” or spikes beneath the foot which provide traction and stability on slippery or uneven surfaces.

Snowshoes allow our guides to bring guests farther into the mountains, accessing places where a traditional hiker will not be able to venture with simple hiking boots.  With the use of snowshoes, we offer everything from simple half-day hikes, full-day hiking adventures near Frisco, Breckenridge, Dillon, Silverthorne, and Keystone.  We also offer peak ascents to the summits of Summit County’s 13ers and 14ers, including Quandary Peak, Grays Peak, and Torreys Peak.  A guided adventure is more than just a walk in the woods.  Hiking with a guide has many benefits.  First, it takes out planning time and potential time lost finding the trailhead and/or trail.  Second, guides are trained medical professionals with years of experience making decisions in the outdoors, therefore, their first job is doing what it takes to keep you and your group safe.  Lastly, you will learn something!  Guides love telling stories, especially about the place we call home.

What exactly is “holistic health”? It’s not just about nutrition or acupuncture or massage therapy. Holistic health is an approach to healthcare that considers the “whole” person and all aspects of the body and mind. There is no single aspect of your life to focus on, no one cure-all for your problems. It is not necessarily about losing weight or getting to the gym. It’s about finding balance across your life, as a whole, and in the process, finding health and happiness too.

How does one actually do this? Of course, there is no single answer that works for every person. One important aspect of holistic health is that we must take responsibility for our own well-being. Personally, I know that spending time outside is integral to my mental health. I can’t spend too many hours between four walls before I start to feel anxious and restless. Whether I am hiking, skiing, rock climbing, cycling or just sitting in my camp chair with my feet up, I need the great outdoors to feel satisfied in my life.

While this certainly won’t be the same for everyone, there is a definite correlation between time spent outside, physical activity and mental health. Proximity to green spaces reduces stress and depression. Absorbing vitamin D from the sun will improve your mood and reduce anxiety. And of course, regular exercise will support both mental and physical health,improve your quality of sleep, and help ward off heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

Guests preparing for a hike with Colorado Adventure Guides commonly ask about trekking poles. Do I need them? Do you rent them? How do I use them? 

Knees love trekking poles; poles distribute the impact of hiking to all four limbs rather than just to the legs. They can give hikers a little extra power going uphill, as you can push off both your arms and legs. Their greatest value, however, might be on the downhills, when the impact forces of descending tend to make knees ache and quads sore. Poles can also improve balance by keeping four limbs in contact with the ground instead of two.

If you want to try the benefits of hiking with poles, first find a pair that fits you. When holding the handle with the tip of the pole on the ground, your elbow should bend at a 90 degree angle. Some hikers like to lengthen their poles for downhills and shorten them for uphills if their poles are adjustable.

Remember that you don’t need to change how you walk to use trekking poles efficiently. You may have never noticed, but with each step forward you take, the opposite arm and hand also swing forward. This opposite arm swing happens involuntarily whether you are hiking up a mountain or walking through the mall. Now that you have poles in hand, simply plant the pole in the ground each time the hand holding it swings forward. For a natural arm swing and efficient pole use, plant the pole tip slightly ahead (if hiking downhill) or behind (if hiking uphill) and outside of your body. In other words, when your right foot steps forward, your left arm, hand, and pole also swing forward, and you plant your left pole. You weight your right foot and left pole at the same time. Then step forward with the opposite foot and swing and plant the opposite pole. Don’t overthink it! When using poles smoothly and efficiently, your body moves naturally, just as it would without poles.

This opposite foot/pole technique effectively distributes impact between all four limbs and aids in balance, but there are also other ways to use poles. Sometimes, when pushing the pace up steep terrain, it’s helpful to use a double pole plant: plant both poles ahead of your feet simultaneously, then take two steps, resting your body weight on both poles as you step. It’s nice to use this technique to get into a mesmerizing rhythm while hiking uphill: plant, step, step, repeat indefinitely. You could also take four smaller steps in between a longer pole swing while using the double pole technique.

Finally, it’s important to remember a few seldom mentioned things about using trekking poles. Firstly, keep in mind that poles redistribute the impact of hiking; while poles reduce the impact to the legs, they add impact to the upper body. Expect to feel some soreness in the triceps and shoulders, especially while getting used to them. Additionally, though poles are very helpful, there are some situations in which they can be annoying at best. If your hike requires frequent use of hands for scrambling, consider leaving poles behind. And perhaps most importantly, remember that those stabby things in your hands can seriously injure others! Leave space between you and other hikers to avoid impaling your hiking buddy’s Achilles tendon. Be aware of where you point and plant your poles.

We’re excited to announce that we now offer trekking poles for guests to rent on guided hikes! We also highly recommend shopping with the knowledgeable staff at Mountain Outfitters in Breckenridge if you’re looking to invest in a pair of your own. Happy hiking!