"No one who heard I was planning to spend two weeks snowshoeing in frigid Larador in February seemed to approve. Even a worker on the train that dumped our group in the subarctic wilderness felt compelled to shout, "You stupid Yankees! What's wrong with you? Are you crazy?"

Nathaniel Reade, Snow Country

Winter Travel: Special Requirements for Winter Trips

You need to be in reasonable shape. Anyone who is seriously overweight or has limited flexibility will discover some real handicaps due to so much kneeling, sitting without back support, squatting, and doing things at ground level. Attitude is everything. If you really want to be there, have the temperament to attend to fussy little details, and are a patient and eager learner, then the winter trail will be very rewarding.