Above-the-shins snow in the Laurel Highlands. Time for a walk in the woods.

But not in street shoes or sneakers. And not in those mega-sized snowshoes fur trappers use.

Just ease the toes of your hiking boots or work books into the webbed compartment of a modern pair of trim, lightweight snowshoes, cinch the strap over the toes and around the heel, and away you go.

Unless, of course, you put the left shoe on the right foot and someone like Rob Walters brings it to your attention. That's what I got for being in too much of a hurry earlier this month as we prepared to snowshoe on the trails of the 2,200-acre Powdermill Nature Reserve along Route 381, about eight miles southeast of Ligonier.

Walters is the program manager for Venture Outdoors, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to making the outdoor recreation community "a vibrant centerpiece of this region."

Venture Outdoors organized its first snowshoe trip four years ago. Since then, it has led or guided 25 snowshoeing programs attended by 344 men, women and children. It has nine trips planned for this winter. The fee -- $18 for members, $30 for non-members -- includes snowshoe rental.

A "Snowshoeing Lite" trip is scheduled for Jan. 19, at Laurel Summit State Park in Westmoreland County, about eight miles east of Ligonier. Take Route 30 to the top of Laurel Mountain, turn right on to Laurel Summit Road and follow it for three miles.

A snowshoeing trip for beginners, sponsored by REI, will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 26 at Bear Run. The cost, which includes snowshoe rental, is $15 for Venture Outdoors members and $30 for non-members.

"These trips will help shake winter doldrums," Walters said. "These trips will cover fewer miles than other snowshoe outings, with more time to rest and appreciate nature while enjoying the winter wonderland."

As we prepared to snowshoe on the Black Birch Trail at Powdermill (off-trail prohibited), Walters extolled the benefits of the sport.

"Snowshoeing is an easy and low-impact way to get some exercise and fresh air," he said. "It's as simple as walking, but a lot more fun."

And that it was as we made our way along the well-marked, ³/₄ mile trail. Completed in 1985, the trail is named for the abundant black birch trees that populate the site. The trees have glossy, dark brown bark that appears to be torn or split. The twigs, bark and wood are a commercial source of wintergreen oil. Birch beer is made from the fermented sap.

We hadn't gone too far before we saw the first set of deer tracks that cut across the trail. We saw another set of tracks that a bounding squirrel might have made between two trees. We spotted rectangular-shaped holes in the trunk of a dead tree, made by pileated woodpeckers.

Across the road from the expanded and renovated nature center is the Sugar Camp Trail, named for the maple syrup camps established there in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The trail is just over a mile long and wends through cherry and hawthorn trees.

Pieces of coal can be found on parts of the trail. The nearby hillside was the site of a pick and shovel coal operation in the early 1900s, when a bushel of coal sold for about 3 cents. A coal-stripping operation begun in 1946 was halted in 1947 to prevent the pollution of Powdermill Run, a tributary of Loyalhanna Creek.

And those are just some of the things that can be learned while walking through the woods on snowshoes on a winter day.

Three of Walters' co-workers -- Rebecca Malena, Lora Woodward and Cara Rufenacht -- were delighted with their first snowshoeing experience.

"It was a lot of fun," Rufenacht said. "I was amazed at how easy it was to walk around on them."

"I like being outside year-round and this is a fun way to do it in the winter," Woodward said.

"It's a good workout for your legs," Malena added.

Snowshoes can be rented at regional ski areas, including Blue Knob, Hidden Valley, Mystic Mountain at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa, Seven Springs and Wisp, the resort that overlooks Deep Creek Lake in western Maryland.

Seven Springs offers guided tours at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on weekends, and by appointment during the week. The weekend rate is $30 per person and includes snowshoes, a guide and a shuttle bus that takes you to trails and terrain away from the busy ski and snowboard slopes.

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Bear Run Nature Reserve

• Where: In the Laurel Highlands, north of Ohiopyle, off Route 381 in Fayette County.
• How far: About an hour's drive from Downtown.
• What to do: Hiking on more than 20 miles of marked trails, habitat and wildlife study, photography of Youghiogheny River Gorge, backpack camping, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The Fallingwater grounds and Frank Lloyd Wright's world-famous dwelling are adjacent to Bear Run Nature Reserve.
• Contact: 724-329-8501, fallingwater@paconscrvc.org.

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"It is such an energizing and invigorating activity," said Jamie Forys, the resort's adventure program manager and snowboard school supervisor. "It can be as comfortable or challenging as you want it to be. All you need is 6 to 8 inches of snow."

The resort's Snowshoe Center shares space with the Junior Snowsports School in the lower level of the Ski Lodge. Hanging on the wall is a selection of Tubbs snowshoes for men, women and children. Hanging next to them are ski poles beginners can use to help maintain balance.

Forys said snowshoes are sized by a person's weight -- 21 inches for most teens and petite women, 25 inches for adults up to 180 pounds, 30 inches for heavier adults and 36 inches for the heaviest adults or backpackers.

The snowshoes, which weigh between 4 and 6 pounds depending on length, have aluminum frames, woven nylon and fabric decks and aluminum cleats under the toe and heel to grip the snow. They cost between $170 to $200, depending on length.

An enthusiastic proponent of the sport, Forys said it doesn't take long for guests to get used to snowshoes.

"They're surprised how easy it is, and how much fun it is," Forys said. "And that's what it's all about."

For more information, go to www.ventureoutdoors.org (412-255-0564), www.7springs.com (800-452-2223); www.blueknob.com (814-239-5111); www.myhiddenvalleyresort.com (814-443-8000); www.nemacolin.com (800-422-2736) and www.skiwisp.com (301-387-4911); www.powdermill.org (724-593-6105).