Snowshoeing- Beauty & broken boot

[shootingstar]

This past Christmas, I managed to do 3 different snowshoeing trips each day in Lake Louise, Canadian Rockies.

Then my right snowshoe boot broke across the foot, rendering the boot to duct-tape repair for walkability. But not for snowshoeing. So last 2 days, no snowshoeing for me. :( He went off on his own and enjoy lovely sights.

So, I don't need to tell this to cyclists but: whenever you go on vacation that involves a sport, make each day count and enjoy it. You never know when equipment fails, get an injury (thankfully I haven't had this problem yet), etc.

Note: I couldn't find appropriate deep cold weather boots for snowshoeing at the only sports store here. Seems like they stock boots for fashionable snowbunnies, not harder core trekking in the winter mountains. So, it's another long search for the right boots to replace when got broken. Sigh.

Scenery: Just gorgeous lush snow draping all over the forests and deep snow. :)

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[Crankin]

I don't use any special boots for snow shoeing; just my regular hiking shoes/boots. Except for shoelaces, I don't think those will break!
That picture looks beautiful.

[shootingstar]

We go snowshoeing in mountain wilderness areas where bears, elk, caribou, deer and wolves roam. These are national or provincial wilderness parks in Alberta and British Columbia. We have done this over the past decade, nearly every winter.

I honestly don't want to snowshoe for many km. by myself, weather can change, signage can be vague at times....and it was -25 degrees C for several consecutive days when we went snowshoeing this Christmas. We were 2,000 metres above sea level.
It's the normal temperatures in our area for winters.

I need snowboots with winter insulation and constructed in manner so that my snowshoe straps will not erode seams/shoe materials. Even better, a boot with a back heel lip to hold in the snowshoe strap better. My broken boot had these features....but it broke and I think it was because I was not paying attention to a loosely strapped right foot when I was roughing around for 10 km. snowshoeing... I wondered vaguely why one boot flopped more than the other one.

So this afternoon I started to check out 2 outdoor fitness sports and shoe stores....hardly any suitable models. Meanwhile I'm checking the cost of boot repair..even it means $20.00-$30.00 to repair 1 boot, it's worth it.

[lph]

If it's the sole that's broken and the rest of the boot isn't too worn, you can get the boot re-soled with good results. I had a backcountry ski boot break like that once, probably in transit from rough handling and packing, and it was like new once I got a new sole on it. Well worth it on an expensive boot.

[Crankin]

All the reasons you listed are why I wear hiking boots. They have winter insulation, stiff sole, and the snow shoe strap fits snugly around the heel. I often say that I will have these boots until I die!
But, I understand how frustrated you must have been. I'd be really upset if my vacation was ruined. I've never had equipment failure, only forgetting clothing. Once, I forgot my jacket for x country skiing, so I layered up and wore my Shak as an outer layer at about 5 degrees F. It worked. I was not going to buy another jacket.

[eofelis]

I use my regular Lowa hiking boots for snowshoeing also. I've been snowshoeing a couple of times in the past week or so.

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This was in xmas day at Powderhorn Resort on the slopes of the Grand Mesa.

Yesterday we went up to the top of the Grand Mesa (10,000+ft) and did some more snowshoeing. It was snowing moderately the whole time we were there. It was like being in a snowglobe.

Temps were in the 20s for both trips.

I did a snowshoe hut trip several years ago with a group of folks. We snowshoed in to one of the 10th Division Huts near Aspen. I borrowed a set of MSR Denali snowshoes for the trip, used the Lowa hiking boots. It was 6 miles in (uphill) on mostly packed snow trails. The next day we did a 6 mile snowshoe hike just out and around the area of the hut. Then it snowed a foot overnight so we packed out in fresh snow. I did about 18 miles total for the whole trip. My feet never got cold.

I really liked the MSR snowshoes but wasn't sure I'd go snowshoeing enough if I bought some. So I hesitated for a long time. A couple months ago we went to our local REI Garage Sale (as we always do). At this one they were selling off all of last years rental snowshoes, all MSR Denalis. $19.99/pr. They were well used, but still perfectly serviceable. I grabbed two pairs (one for bf), and two sets of short tails ($4/pr) and two sets of long tails ($6/pr). For $30 each my bf and I are set up to go snowshoeing.

[shootingstar]

Looks lovely, eofelis! Sounds like wonderful weather at that height. And when it snows in the mtns., it is always wonderful....and with other snowshoers nearby and not get lost since one can't see too far ahead.

For others, for us at 2,000 metres high ..that's 6,500+ ft.

Some of our trips: http://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com/?s=snowshoeing in other years.

I caved in and bought a new pr. of boots for $100.00 --deeply discounted. My broken boot was across broken across the top not at the sole..a very different, more complex and expensive repair.
I have MSR evo snowshoes....which were bought 10 yrs. ago and used every year, several times since then. Now snowshoe choices are abundant and a bit cheaper. But my snowshoes have paid off themselves instead of renting.

If given a choice now, I would buy a slightly slimmer model towards tail-end of snowshoe.

[goldfinch]

The picture you posted is lovely. It has been five years now since I abandoned winter. I do miss skiing and snowshoeing but not enough to return to winter day in and day out. I used to wear mukluks for hiking and snowshoeing in winter and liked them about best, but maybe there are better options now.

[Crankin]

I have been very happy with my Atlas women's snow shoes. They are narrower than DH's, and shorter. Snow shoeing is something I am more apt to do right out my door (though not the kind of snow shoeing you did on your trip, Shooting Star), hence, I did not want to have to rent them. And, I like having them when we do x country ski trips. At times, we ski in the morning and snow shoe in the afternoon, and other times, the lack of snow at nordic ski places has forced us to go into the forest and do some challenging snow shoes.