For those of you avid adventurers, you may know the phrase Type 2 Fun, an activity that is slightly miserable during the experience but enjoyable in retrospect. It’s a little bit of a sufferfest, similar to my recent biking trek.

This past week, I was able to experience some top-notch Type 2 Fun in the mountains of Denver after their recent epic snow fall.

Headlines read: “Denver area clobbered by heavy snow as 50-plus inches falls over Colorado mountains” and “Heavy, wet snow brought much of Denver, foothills to a standstill.”

As a true-blooded Canadian, I was ready for a winter wonderland, having not experienced true snow in a couple of years.

Little did I know how the sheer quantity of a wet snow can add a whole other dynamic to winter sports.

You might remember Kate – she wrote a guest article a few years ago about her canyoneering experiences in Zion National Park. She was my comrade during our snow expedition and keen for whatever the snowy mountains had to bring.

First, we went Nordic skiing. Commonly referred to as cross-country skiing, you first don soft-shelled boots and then attach the toe only to these skinny blades (the heal is released). They feel quite different than downhill skis, and the main purpose is to move horizontally over the snow surface.

For first-timers, we were quite good! Because of the recent storm, there weren’t many trails groomed, so we forged our own path in places, and figured out how to work with the snow rather than against it. It was tricky at times hefting uphill on a slippery surface. Even a slight downhill could be terrifying since the skis didn’t have an edge for controlled slowing down or stopping.

After over two hours of fun, we decided to go snowshoeing.

As a kid, I had used snowshoes a few times, but the old-school version made from leather. They were also bigger. The snowshoes I wore on my snow adventure with Kate were rather small and sunk down about 2 feet with every step. 

Yes. It took a lot of effort just to put one foot in front of the other. Luckily I wasn’t the trailblazer in the group; I had the shortest legs and the least-acclimated lungs, so I happily came third in line.

Still, it was a beast.

Going straight up from the rental center caused me to re-think my life’s choices. I was determined not to weigh down the team, so I kept my spirits high, and mentally prepared for a long trek.

It took us three hours to go 1.5 miles. There were some pretty views interspersed that livened everyone’s mood.

Yes, the fun-factor diminished during the last twenty minutes, and yes, the snow became foe instead of friend.

But in retrospect, was it fun? Was I able to bond with friends over a new experience? Was I proud that I was able to complete the circuit at elevation?

Heck yes.

Would I do it again?

Ask me in a few months. 🙂