A few years ago in one of Rochester's many winter storms, Mort Nace found himself snowed in behind several feet of flakes.

As everyone else hid indoors, he strapped on his snowshoes and walked a mile from his Brighton home to deliver cereal to his parents. They didn't have breakfast food and he didn't want to be cooped up.

"I remember walking over Route 590 and seeing cars abandoned on the highway," he says. "I had no problem. I wanted to do it. I wanted to be in the snow when everyone else was hibernating."

People in central Asia first used a basic form of snowshoeing in 4000 B.C. for survival, strapping long boards to their feet to trudge through deep snow. While there's no real worry here of starving to death before stores reopen to sell Rice Krispies, the simplicity and usefulness of snowshoes allow enthusiasts like Nace - and anyone else - to be mobile when everyone else is waiting for the snowplows.

Nace has been snowshoeing since the mid 1990's. He and Goose Adventure Racing partner Tim Ratwoski organize three annual snowshoe races in the area. Passionate trail runners, the two launched Frozen Assets, the Winterfest Mendon Ponds Snowshoe Races (both of which took place earlier this month), and the Cast a Shadow Snowshoe Relay (February 2) to stay on the trails during winter.

The duo has seen race participation and the sport's popularity grow each year. Thirty-five people signed up for the first Frozen Assets 5K competition eight years ago. There were 112 finishers last year.

"More people are trying it and discovering how fun it is," says Nace, "and more people are realizing the benefit of training on snowshoes."

The workout is low-impact, boosts your heart rate, and provides the same challenge as gym cardio equipment, but with better scenery. It's also simple. You don't need lessons, any special equipment, or special skills. If you can walk, you can snowshoe, says Nace. (Snowshoes work by distributing your body weight more evenly, which help to prevent sinking into the snow.)

"You can strap them on your feet and go out your back door. It's very low-tech," says Craig Smith, who rents and sells snowshoes at his bike shop, The Mendon Cyclesmith, in Mendon.

There are plenty of ways to try the sport this winter. Many parks, stores, and other facilities rent snowshoes (see sidebar) or offer guidance and guided outings, like the Lunar Ski and Snowshoe February 7 at Tinker Nature Park. Last year, about 70 people strolled woodland trails lit by glow sticks before heading into the lodge for chili and hot drinks, says Tim Pratt, program director. The event is an easy way for people to experience snowshoeing at night, he says. Volunteers also take groups out to call for owls.

Smith often sees owls and fox on his regular evening outings in Mendon Ponds Park. Getting out and snowshoeing in winter - and at night - provides a different perspective of the trails and nature you are used to seeing in balmier weather, say Smith and Nace.

"It can be a trail you've been on dozens of times, but if you've never snowshoed it, it can take on a different look," says Nace.

He and his friends met at Harriett Hollister Spencer Memorial State Recreation Area in Canadice for their first snowshoe of the season in December. The park often has deep snow when other parks don't because of its elevation. Every tree was covered in snow and ice.

"You had to stop and look at the structure of the crystals because it was so cool," says Nace.

On snowshoes, they went wherever they wanted - off the trail and to places snowmobiles and skis just don't fit.

"With snowshoes, I'm out there jumping logs, making lots of tight turns and running between trees," says Nace. "It's liberating to go where you feel like heading."

They had the park to themselves and a field of white with no footprints.

"Going out on your snowshoes and being the first to go there," says Nace, "makes you feel like a kid again."

Where to rent snowshoes

If you want to try snowshoeing for the first time, or don't have your own pair, plenty of places offer rentals at reasonable prices. Some even have trails to try them out. Here are several:

Bristol Mountain Resort (5799 South Hill Rd, South Bristol; 374-6000, bristolmountain.com) The Summit Nordic Ski Center opened at the top of the mountain in 2007, offering cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on 1.8 miles of lit trails. The easier loop is three-quarters of a mile long and has snowmaking. The longer trail has rolling hills and turns and no snowmaking capability. Admission: $10 per visit (season pass $60). Rentals: $14 plus tax.

Cumming Nature Center (6472 Gulick Rd, Naples; 374-6160, rmsc.org/cummingnaturecenter) The 900-acre nature preserve has two miles of dedicated snowshoe trails and 15 miles of total trails. Admission: $3 per person/$10 per family. Free for Rochester Museum and Science Center members. Rentals: $5 per day

Eastern Mountain Sports (3349 Monroe Ave., Pittsford; 383-1140, ems.com) Rentals: $15 per day, $20 for three days.

Genesee Country Nature Center (1410 Flint Hill Rd, Mumford; 538-6822, gcv.org/attractions/natureCenter.shtml) The 175-acre reserve at the Genesee Country Village and Museum features some groomed trails. Admission: $4 (free for Genesee Country Village and Museum members). Rentals: $5 per day.

Mendon Cyclesmith (1350 Pittsford-Mendon Road, Mendon; 624-2120, mendoncyclesmith.com) Rentals: $10 per day, with poles if preferred.

Tinker Nature Park and Hansen Nature Center (1525 Calkins Rd, Henrietta; 359-7044, hansennaturecenter.googlepages.com) The 68-acre nature park features two miles of trails, a camouflaged blind from which to view wildlife, and guided walks. Admission: Free. Rentals: $2 (in-park use only).

How to buy snowshoes

Snowshoes are made for women, men, and for specific activities, such as running. New pairs start around $100 and cost as much as $400. Bindings are adjustable. More expensive pairs have higher-quality bindings that offer more foot control and stronger crampons (the metal set of teeth on the bottom of the snowshoe that grabs the snow).

Entry-level snowshoes are good for beginners, and people who walk on trails and in parks, says Craig Smith, owner of The Mendon Cyclesmith, who has been snowshoeing for decades. Spend more if you use the snowshoes every day, or in tougher conditions, such as climbing Adirondacks peaks, he says, because they will last longer and the crampons won't bend.

Snowshoeing Events

Lunar Ski and Snowshoe Saturday, February 7. Tinker Nature Park and Hansen Nature Center, Henrietta. 6-9 p.m. Rent or bring your own snowshoes for trail walking, followed by chili and hot drinks. Some guided walks. 359-7044.

Cast A Shadow 6-hour Snowshoe Relay. Saturday, February 7. For solo racers and teams in Mendon Ponds Park. Sponsored by Goose Adventure Racing. roadsarepoison.com.

Full Moon Snowshoe and Music Outing Saturday, February 7. Bristol Mountain Resort's Summit Nordic Center. Snowshoe the trails then gather in the center for live music and gourmet desserts. 5-8:30 p.m. $79, includes snowshoes, instruction, trail use fees, music, hot drinks and desserts. 346-5597, packpaddleski.com (registration required).

Snowshoe spots

When Mother Nature is unreliable for snowshoeing, Mort Nace knows he can count on an out-of-the way park in Ontario County. When other parks don't have enough snow, Harriett Hollister Spencer State Recreation in Canadice usually does. Hollister has 16 miles of wooded trails and a good view of Honeoye Lake. It's a favorite place to snowshoe for many in the region because of its beauty and reliability. It's a 40-minute drive from Rochester but "it's worth it," says Nace.

Other favorite parks to trek for their wildlife, scenery and the diversity of easy and more difficult terrain are:

-Mendon Ponds Park (95 Douglas Rd, Honeoye Halls; 753-PARK, monroecounty.gov/parks-mendonponds.php)

-Tryon Park (Loudisa Drive, Rochester; ci.rochester.ny.us/prhs/Parks)

-Webster Park (255 Holt Rd, Webster; 753-PARK, monroecounty.gov/parks-webster.php)

-Northampton Park (304 Salmon Creek Rd, Brockport; 753-PARK, monroecounty.gov/parks-northampton.php)

-Powder Mills Park (154 Park Rd, Pittsford; 753-PARK, monroecounty.gov/parks-powdermill.php)