Is cross country skiing to snowshoeing what mountain biking is to hiking?
In that it’s faster.
Is cross country skiing to snowshoeing what mountain biking is to hiking?
In that it’s faster.
Not really, hikers and cyclists often use the same trails. When snowshoers use ski trails, they mess up the tracks making skiing very difficult. Most cross country ski resorts forbid snowshoes on cross country ski trails. There are usually separate trails for snowshoeing.
In that it’s faster?
Yes, that’s a reasonable analogy.
It’s not only speed. It is also appropriate in terms of the relationship to the terrain. Hiking and snowshoeing are both free form in the sense you don’t need a path and you can climb over rocks and things that you reasonably can’t on a bike or skies. Or, put the other way X-country skiing and mountain biking are best on trails, while hiking and snowshoeing can use trails, but don’t require them.
Pretty close comparison. I do all of the above except snowshoe and they are great ways to enjoy the woods.