For the most part snowshoeing in Canada during the winter months is pretty simple. Look outside, if it’s snowing, grab snowshoes and go. This year the unsteady weather patterns have left Canucks with less than favourable snowfall, particularly in parts of Ontario.

The Don’t Get Lost Snowshoe Raid, organized by Bob Miller, has also seen some change compared to past years. This edition of the Snowshoe Raid (Jan 22) has been moved over to Blue Mountain.

"I've been trail running and snowshoeing in the area for a number of years and have always thought it would be a fantastic venue for an adventure running event," says Miller. "There are countless unique hills, valleys, ridges, fields, streams etc. which provide not only a stunning visual backdrop, but also provide an endless assortment of checkpoint placement opportunities."

As for snow, well, this may be one of the only areas in the Golden Horshoe that can boast about the white fluffy stuff.

"There's actually 30-40cm of snow on the ground in the forests where the event will take place, so snowshoes are highly recommended. The Blue Mountains have received quite a bit more snow versus the greater Toronto Area this year, since they're a bit further north, and believe it or not, a few hundred feet higher in elevation, which both equal colder temps. and more snow."

With snow on the mind 24 checkpoints to be found, here are a few tips from Miller on how to have a successful Snowshoe Raid.

1. Learn and practice your navigation skills. The navigation clinics on offer at Golden Horseshoe Orienteering (GHO), as well as the Thomass Winter Adventure Running Series provide perfect excuses for learning and practicing.

2. Know your average speed while snowshoeing! Since there is a time-limit of 3-hours for the Snowshoe Raid, participants should know the average speed they expect to move, so they can plan (before the race begins) to cover an appropriate distance on the course and optimize the number of checkpoints collected. This will be especially important this year, since the course will be more linear in nature and making it to the finish line before the cut-off and potential penalties will be crucial.

3. Pick up a pair of lightweight running snowshoes. The old adage of "one pound on your feet equals five on your back" also holds true with snowshoeing. The "Race" and "Run" model of snowshoes available from event sponsor Atlas are the best we've found.

4. Dress appropriately for the conditions. This sounds obvious, but being outside for 3 hours of strenuous activity in the winter can be difficult to plan for. Often times clothes become wet from sweat resulting in a speedy cool-down if the high-rate of activity isn't maintained, which typically happens towards the end of the 3 hours. Carrying extra clothing and food in a pack is the best solution.

5. Know how to read contour lines. This relates specifically to the course we've built this year. The forest we'll be using features many hills & valleys, so reading contours will be a critical skill.

A bonus: #6. See recommendation # 2 above and don't forget to enjoy the view from the top of Blue Mountain across Georgian Bay, it's incredibly unique and on a clear day, simply breath-taking!