No particular place to go—and no hurry to get there. For many winter-sports lovers, this approach sums up snowshoeing’s appeal. Simply walking in snow is reward enough. For others, a destination—such as the summit of Dam Mountain above North Vancouver or the old-growth trails on neighbouring Mount Seymour—offers just the incentive needed for an enticing day trip.

That’s certainly Dan Grima’s experience. Reached by phone, the adventure-program supervisor at Grouse Mountain Resorts told the Georgia Straight that until he arrived here from the U.K. two years ago, he’d never stepped into snowshoes.

“Generally speaking, we don’t have enough snow or high elevations in Britain to warrant snowshoeing. When I moved here, I wanted to get involved with outdoors education, so I put forward a proposal for a summer-camp program at Grouse. I got the go-ahead and we attracted over a thousand attendees. From there, my next assignment was handling our snowshoe program this winter.”

And what kind of a season has it been? According to Grima, the best ever. “We get busier every year, especially with the group who enjoy hiking the Grouse Grind in summer that cross over to do our Snowshoe Grind in winter.”

One of the knocks against the Grouse Grind is the lack of viewpoints along the way. Not so for the Snowshoe Grind, which begins where the hiking trail tops out beside the resort’s chalet. From there, snowshoers traverse the west slope of Grouse and ascend north on Dam Mountain. At 4.3 kilometres, the Snowshoe Grind is almost twice the length of its summer sibling, albeit with only a quarter of the elevation gain. The best part of the winter route is the panoramic view of the Lower Mainland laid out for all to enjoy, especially those in no hurry.

“It’s all there at the top of Dam Mountain,” Grima said, “complete with stunning 360-degree views with the city below. After a snowfall, the descent is like surfing on powder.”

The introduction of lightweight aluminum models in the early 1990s heralded a snowshoe renaissance that continues today. For both neophyte snow sliders and a group Grima characterized as “boomers and zoomers”, snowshoeing offers an easy gateway to the white world, in terms of both comfort and cost. Entry-level snowshoes start at about $50, not bad when compared to pricier winter-sports gear like skis and snowboards.

Sunsets, when rosy alpenglow colours the peaks, are one of the most magical times to be on snow. Although Grouse’s snowshoe trails close at dusk, Grima noted that guided evening drop-in sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays have become a big draw with those wishing to stay out after dark.

“We average 100 to 150 guests who split into two groups, either to socialize or to run,” he explained. “The only criterion is that everyone has to bring a headlamp. As night falls, you see this snake of headlamps heading for the top. Once there, we turn off our lights to take in the night sky, sometimes with shooting stars to cap things off, or a wildlife spotting, such as the snowy owls I’ve seen on a couple of occasions this winter.”

Mount Seymour Resort’s Janey Chang believes that the key to snowshoeing’s sustained popularity lies in the search for peace and tranquility. On the phone from her office, the outdoor-education manager linked that quest with the increased pace of life. “People don’t have as much opportunity to step back and relax. We’re all seeking solitude and balance in our lives. That’s what you find when you’re outside.”

From her slopeside vantage point, everyone seems to want to snowshoe. “This winter has been amazing in so many different ways, from the phenomenal snow to the numbers of school and corporate groups to the hardy group of parents who come out no matter what the weather.”

Chang characterized Mount Seymour’s terrain as friendly to all levels, especially families. “That takes away the intimidation level and sends a message that it’s a safe activity. Our demographic keeps getting younger and younger. We now stock snowshoes for two-and-a-half-year-olds!”

No matter the season, two North Shore provincial parks—Cypress and Mount Seymour—offer a multitude of public trails. In some cases, the necessity of a vehicle to reach trailheads restricts access. Such exclusivity favours those who like to make fresh tracks after a snowfall. One such easygoing piste that requires only modest route-finding skills, Mount Seymour’s Perimeter Trail, begins at the Deep Cove Lookout on the Mount Seymour Parkway. Wooden signposts abetted by metal trail markers affixed high on tree trunks guide the way. Be prepared to ford open streams, balance atop snow-encrusted bridges, duck beneath overhanging blow-downs, and frolic in frozen meadows—in short, welcome to nature’s terrain park.

When skiers explored Mount Seymour in the early decades of the last century, the 1.5-kilometre Perimeter Trail served to lead those who went astray back to one of the main routes, such as the Goldie Lake Trail, today part of Mount Seymour Resort’s private Discovery snowshoe-trails network. Keep your eyes peeled for fleeting signs of wildlife, such as pine martens whose footprints crisscross the drifts.

Pack along some goodies to enjoy. With no particular place to go, the perfect rest stop awaits.