Snow shoes or Cross country skiing? (Frisco, Breckenridge: activities, area, build)

[AlleyTD]

I have bad knees - from an OLD ski accident (1st timers bad luck) Needless to say, I don't ski.
I want to enjoy the snow and have debated the two activities - Snow shoes or Cross County skiing What do you think?

Compare the two in terms of ease and fun.

Or should I try snow boarding?

My knee problem is that my right knee can very easily POP (and it hurts) if I twist the wrong way or come down on it too hard.

My favorite snow activity is a hot toddy by a warm fire, but I'm look for a bit of exercise here.

[WhereTheSidewalkEnds]

You might want to give both a try - what one person might think is fun, another does not. I have tried both. Now I do not like to ski in general. So cross country skiing I did not find enjoyable. I found it to be a lot of work and I'm not very coordinated so I really didn't enjoy myself.
Snow shoeing on the other hand - I love it. You can get off into some great places, and while it is work, it's a different kind of work
I'm with you on the hot toddy by the fire idea.....

[Fuzz]

Both of them will put pressure on the knees. Even in a "slow" activity like snowshoeing you will be on a relatively unstable surface (snow), so there's always the chance of falling/twisting/hurting. Snowboarding is no guarantee against knee injuries (although it's less common than in skiing) -- one of my buddies just re-tore his ACL snowboarding. There are two types of XC skiing -- traditional and skate -- although I've never done either, I'd think traditional would be easier on your knees (skating puts lateral pressure).

Depending on what is wrong with your knees, is surgery an option? If not, how about lots of rehab and a brace? I know many people who have torn their ACL skiing, but in lieu of surgery, have done rehab (to build up muscles to compensate for lack of ACL) and have returned to big mountain skiing.

Almost any activity you do in the mountains carries a risk of injury. But that is no reason to sit at home. There are many options (surgery, rehab/exercise, brace) to help you get out there. With those options, I'm sure you could do any activity.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

AlleyTD, I suggest going to an area with a Nordic track (Frisco, Breckenridge, WinterPark) and taking a cross-country lesson to try it out. You could properly also find some snowshoeing lessons, or at least some pros or experts who would be willing to give you some tips. Personally, I enjoy doing both as a way to get into the mountains in the winter and enjoy the scenery.

[winglady]

I do both, but think there is much more likelihood of hurting your knee when cross-country skiing. Even on a relatively flat trail, you'll find minor ups and downs as you travel along. As a beginner, there's a real possibility that you'll take a few falls (especially on downhill sections of trail). And when you have a bit of a hill to climb, if your skis aren't sticking well, you can also slip; or you'll need to use a "climbing" technique that can put some torque on your needs.

I can't remember ever falling when snowshoeing, and it is much easier to avoid movements that torque the knee. Snowshoeing requires almost no "learning curve" -- you pretty much just walk with your feet a little further apart than usual.

I suggest you use poles when snowshoeing, although people will tell you they aren't mandatory. They can help you feel a bit more stable, and possibly help avert a little extra stress on your knees.