Snowshoeing

[cosc]

Yesterday I took my new snowshoes for their 2nd hike of the winter. Not a lot of snow -mabe 4 inches. My upper leg muscles told me when I'd been out long enough. My hour hike ended with a 2 hour tractor ride with my dh and rat terrier to feed the cows hay. After today snow I'm looking forward to shoeing in deeper snow. The cold and wind will keep the hikes short but that should agree with my muscles. I'm not a very coordinated person but fine shoeing very easy. I could use tips on how to go down steeper sections. Lisa I'm sorry your still waiting on snow. All that snow in NY and no one will share with you. I'm glad you presevere and don't let cold, wind, and ice keep you from riding bike or walking. You"ll do great when you finally get to use your Tubbs.

[LBTC]

I could use tips on how to go down steeper sections.

cosc, try to put your weight on your heals as you descend, and keep your knees bent to catch yourself easily if you start to lose your balance.

annie, we don't use poles, but I can see they would ensure that your upper body would stay involved.

Good luck to both of you!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

OH MY GOD!!! Here's tomorrow's forecast!!!:

WEDNESDAY: Snow....heavy at times...may briefly mix with sleet south and east of Albany...Accumulations by Wednesday night 10"-16"....Highs 20-25.

OK so I will be READY!!!! Just went to the supermarket yesterday so we are all stocked up. Got my warm baselayers, my Tubbs crampon snowshoes, my Ibex wool tights, Burley waterproof pants, poles, and gortex gaiters!!! Woo-HOOOOOO!! Can't WAIT!!!!

[LBTC]

Wahoo!! Go, Lisa, Go!

~T~

[Haudlady]

Yippee!!!

I have TONS of comp time right now, so I'm taking tomorrow off to celebrate the big snow (I just hope we get it)!

With any luck, me and Zaboo (my faithful dog) will be FINALLY going out to do the first snowshoeing of the winter!

I'll be thinking of you, Lisa!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The snow is supposed to start late tonight, with 8-10" by morning, another load of snow falling all day tomorrow too...for a total predicted snow accumulation of 18-30" by wednesday night!!!
It's the cold that worries me a bit- a high only in the teens for the next few days straight, with windchill making it single digits. I may have to make several shorter walks if I have trouble keeping warm. I will really layer up GOOD, believe me. I won't venture far from civilization though, so don't worry. My first outing might even be down into town for latte and eggs tomorrow morning, after which I might continue looping around the village perimeters before heading home.

I will practice this evening getting "clipped in and out" so to speak so hopefully I will be able to do it without fumbling too much in the cold and with gloves on.

It'll be my very FIRST time snowshoeing, and I'm so excited!
I'll be thinking of YOU guys too!!!

[PAP103]

Yesterday they predicted a good amount of snow here in NE for today and tonight so I went and bought myself a pair of Tubbs snowshoes! Great time to buy them, they were on sale at EMS.

Its snowing right now so I'm hoping that it stays snow and doesn't turn to rain. I'm planning my first snowshoe stomp for Saturday! Can't wait.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

FINALLY!!!!!!!!
Got everything strapped on and bundled up and went all around the village boundaries for an hour and a half (about 2 1/2 miles). I kept pretty warm and dry except for my face- it was nasty sleeting/snowing right into my face most of the time and it was only 8 degreesF (with wind chill it must have been about 0). But I had all the right layers on and stayed snug. Lots of wool base layers and topped off by waterproof biking pants, windbreaker, balaclava, ski gloves, and gaiters. Would have stayed out longer but wanted to do a lot more tomorrow so I took it easy this first day.
My Tubbs "Odyssey" women's shoes worked very nicely- it was EASY!!! I only stepped on my other shoe once when I was turning to look behind me while walking (quickly learned to stop to look back), but i didn't fall. I didn't have the dreaded "snow flip" effect at all. Our village was pretty deserted with the falling snow and only plows were out, waving at me. I did see one male friend I know XC skiing along the same street I was shoeing. Another lady was walking her dog in the snow and using hiking poles.
I got up and down our steep hill very easily with my crampons, and soon i just stowed my poles in my backpack as I found I didn't need them much.
I was surprised to see that one doesn't stay on TOP of the snow completely in snowshoes- you do sink a few inches down, but that's normal, right? On some snow I sank up to 6", in other snow I only sank 2" or so. Is 6" normal too?
Holy cow but I had FUN. Tomorrow should have a few more fresh inches of snow and I'll be going out again for sure, want to go at least 3 miles tomorrow and maybe shoe the woodland conservancy trail near my house too.

[DebW]

FINALLY!!!!!!!!

I was surprised to see that one doesn't stay on TOP of the snow completely in snowshoes- you do sink a few inches down, but that's normal, right? On some snow I sank up to 6", in other snow I only sank 2" or so. Is 6" normal too?

6" is normal. Depends on the snow density and depth. Tomorrow try walking on the trail you made today. You'll hardly sink at all on an already-compacted trail, making it far less work. Kind of like cycling a paceline.

[LBTC]

Lisa! I'm so glad you finally got out there on the snowshoes and had some fun in the snow!! Those are pretty crazy temps though - we haven't been out in anything nearly that cold! You go, girl!

We don't sink much on the established trails we've been SSing on, except when there's some fresh snow on top...I"ve stepped off the trail once or twice and get knee deep in a second. I have no idea how deep the snow really is, but I bet it's several feet compacted below, and the trails have gotten lower than the sides every time we've been there...

Let us know how the woodlands are! And enjoy!!

Hugs and happy butterflies,
~T~

[DebW]

I'm jealous - haven't been out snowshoeing yet this year. Sounds like you all are having fun. A few tips: on uphills, keep you foot flat on the snowshoe so that the crampons fully engage (this builds a flexible achilles) and provide good traction. On well-packed trails, the toe crampon may be enough, but on loose snow you really need the whole shoe to get good grip. For steep uphills on loose snow, you can sort of kick in to the snow and create a flat platform for your shoe like making stairsteps. For downhills, keep weight on your heels and shift your weight back and forth from one foot to the other so the tips of your snowshoes don't get buried. It can be a rather fun ski/slide/run downhill.