Snowshoeing

A great recreation that the whole family can enjoy! Here are a few easy hikes that I take with my 4 and 10 year old.
With the four year old, its a little too early to use snowshoes. They either walk the packed trail, ride in a pull behind sled or if you have a "light weight" use the child carrier.

Newcomb
Well, you have to start at the Visitor Interpretive Center! They have shoes to use for free, the trails are almost always packed so it makes for easy walking or sledding and there's great things to see along the way like huge glacial erratics, vistas across frozen lakes, towering hemlock trees and usually lots of interesting animal tracks. Plus there's hot chocolate at the the end of the trail and warm bathrooms.

Glens Falls
Hudson Pointe Nature Preserve
If you live in the Glens Falls/Queensbury area this is a nice hike that's so close to home. You'll have to bring your own shoes and its not maintained in any way but, that's the beauty of it! Its like a little piece of the woods in the middle of suburbia. Get off at exit 18 of the Northway and head west toward Corinth. About five miles down the road on your left you'll see the sign for the Hudson Pointe development. turn hear and follow the road to the back of the development. You'll see the trailhead. Park at the trail head/parking area. Check out the map. Head across the field straight ahead to catch the trail that leads along the ridge along the Hudson and then descends to the river itself. I'll be doing a nature hike for the Town of Queensbury there in February.
Kids snowshoe on February 18th for Ages 7-12 from 10-12 noon. Fee $14. Includes use of snowshoes
Adults snowshoe on February 22nd from 10am-12 noon. Fee $16. Includes use of snowshoes
You must register in advance. Call 761-8216 or e-mail recreation@queensbury.net

Let me hear from you about your favorite hikes with kids. I'll share them here. natureonthemove@frontiernet.net
 
 
 

Making Snow Cream
My favorite activity of the winter season is making snow cream

Materials
coffee can with lid (cleaned and all sharp edges hammered down) 1lb
coffee can with lid 2lb (smaller can must nest within the larger)
rock salt
snow
1 cup cold milk
2 tbsp sweetened condensed milk
2 tbsp sugar
favorite flavorings (vanilla, cocoa, maple syrup, raspberry jam etc...)

Inside
In the smaller coffee can, place:
milk
sugar
sweetened condensed milk
flavoring
Cover with the lid. Make sure this is sealed. It will be placed inside the larger coffee can with salt and snow. You don't want the rock salt slush to leak in!

While you're outside
Place a thin layer of the rock salt in the bottom of the large coffee can, then place a thin layer of snow on top of that.
Place the smaller coffee can with your ingredients into the larger can.
Pack around the smaller can with layers of rock salt and snow.
Tamp down and place another layer of rock salt and snow on top
Seal with lid. Make sure this fits well. You don't  want the rock salt and snow to leak out.

Roll the can around on the ground for about 10 minutes. I like to make this a group activity. We sit in a circle and roll to each other. Or we make it a race, making several cans and rolling them down the sled hill. Either way, use your imagination.