All-Terrain Wheelchair Snowshoeing

The National Ability Center in Park City, Utah invited us to visit their yurt in the Uinta’s. The hike is just under one mile and requires us to wear snowshoes. It was the first time we had ever been “All-Terrain Wheelchair Snowshoeing” with the Extreme Motus wheelchair and it was a very rewarding workout.

All-Terrain Wheelchair Snowshoeing; Deep Powder Ahead

Stepping off the trail with snowshoes I sank to my knee. Without them, I sank to my waist so staying on the trail was important.

The trail had been used by many people before we got there, so the snow was nice and packed down but it wasn’t wide enough for the Extreme Motus all-terrain wheelchair in some spots. Half of our group went ahead and used their snowshoes to widen the trail. They also recruited other hikers they passed along the way. They told them about the wheelchair that was on its way up and asked if they could walk along the edges of the trail to help.

The large tires of the Motus worked great in the packed snow. But when dealing with fresh powder it was more of a workout.

Pushing in the Snow

Pushing in the snow is a challenge. Our trick of attaching ropes to the front of the chair didn’t work well in the snow. The person up front was always turning the front of the chair and making the rear wheels slide off the beaten path.

Because the tires on the Extreme Motus all-terrain wheelchair are smooth they tend to slide sideways easily. During our All-Terrain Wheelchair Snowshoeing adventure when the trail was angled to the one side or the other the chair would slip into the powder and have to be muscled back onto the trail. Luckily between Sam weighing 90 pounds, and the chair weighing 49 that wasn’t too difficult to accomplish.

Slow and Steady

During our All-Terrain Wheelchair Snowshoeing adventure, we didn’t set any speed records, but we did make slow and steady progress to the yurt. On a trip like this, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to rush through such a beautiful country.

We stopped and said hello to other hikers. Sam even got a kiss… from a curious and friendly golden retriever along the way.

The National Ability Center Yurt

Our destination during our All-Terrain Wheelchair Snowshoeing adventure was the NAC’s yurt. They had chairs inside, but it wasn’t too cold and we decided it would be easier to keep Sam in the Extreme Motus all-terrain wheelchair out front. We brought the folding chairs outside, sunk them in the snow, and enjoyed some hot chocolate.

The yurt is available for overnight trips. Inside there are 3 bunk beds. I think it would be a lot of fun to take a group there and stay for the weekend.

After a much-deserved rest at the yurt, we packed everything away, strapped our snowshoes on, and headed back down the mountain.

National Ability Center Guides

Three members of the National Ability Center accompanied us on our All-Terrain Wheelchair Snowshoeing adventure. They all did an outstanding job.

Ruth was the leader of our group. She stuck with Roger and I and helped us push Sam up the hill. She made up for her small size with loads of energy and a great attitude. Ruth did more than her fair share of pushing Sam up the trail to the yurt.

Ruth is from Florida and deep down misses the beach. She kept mixing up the word snow with sand. She fell in the powder once and jumped up saying, “I’ve got SAND in my pants!”

Berin was the photographer/videographer for the trip. He was the only one in our group who wasn’t wearing snowshoes. Instead, he had special skis that allowed him to move around the group in the deep snow. He could leave the trail without sinking and get different shots as we traveled.

Brandon went ahead of the wheelchair to blaze the trail and unlock the yurt. He grew up in the area and was happy to see all the visitors in “his” mountains, but also misses the solitude they brought in his youth. Brandon did most of the pushing on the way back to the parking lot.

All three guides loved the Extreme Motus all-terrain wheelchair and made the trip so fun and we felt like old friends by the time we returned to the parking lot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you take an all-terrain wheelchair snowshoeing?

Yes. The Extreme Motus all-terrain wheelchair can handle packed snow and winter trails. Deep powder requires more pushing power, but with a small group helping it’s manageable and rewarding.

What are the challenges of wheelchair snowshoeing?

Packed snow works well, but fresh powder requires significantly more effort. Smooth tires can slide sideways on angled trails. Rope towing doesn’t work well in snow because it turns the chair. Trail width can also be limiting.

Where can you go wheelchair snowshoeing in Utah?

The National Ability Center in Park City, Utah offers all-terrain wheelchair snowshoeing experiences to their yurt in the Uinta Mountains. The hike is just under one mile and they provide guides and snowshoes.

Can you stay overnight at the NAC yurt?

Yes. The National Ability Center yurt is available for overnight trips and contains 3 bunk beds, making it ideal for groups or weekend adventures in the Uinta Mountains.

What should I know about pushing an all-terrain wheelchair in snow?

Pushing in snow is more work than on dry ground. Have multiple people help, expect to go slow and steady, and be prepared for the wheelchair to slide sideways on angled terrain. Fresh powder is particularly challenging.

Does the Extreme Motus wheelchair work in winter?

Yes. The large tires of the Extreme Motus work great in packed snow and winter trails. Fresh powder requires more effort to push, but the chair is fully capable of winter adventures with proper support and pacing.

Book your own trip

If you would like to book your own all-terrain wheelchair snowshoeing adventure, contact the National Ability Center at https://discovernac.org/facilities/uinta-yurt/