Snowshoeing

[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~

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

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!
~T~

T, if you only knew what a "winter wimp" I used to be!!
Well, now I have wisened up to proper types of cold weather layering, and it has made all the difference in the world. I used to freeze and shiver even though I was weighted down by huge heavy (cotton/acryllic) sweaters, cotton leggings under jeans, knitted mittens and bulky scarfs....all kinds of bulky heavy worthless stuff that didn't even keep me warm!
Since biking and reading up and listening to the wisdom of TE ladies, I have smartened up and switched to slim but warm layers of Underarmour, merino base layers top and bottom, glove liners, balaclavas, and waterproof/windproof biking layers, etc...all very lightweight and breathable but incredibly warm and cozy. So, it wasn't that I was "brave" or anything- I really wasn't even cold! -only my face, which was uncovered except for my balaclava-covered chin and forehead. Tomorrow should be easier because i doubt there will be that nasty sleet-snow blowing down like we had today.

Wish we could all snowshoe together with a snap of the fingers!

[DebW]

I got out for about 45 minutes of snowshoeing this morning. The snow crusted up overnight (must have rained), so I took out my wooden bearpaws (the newer MSRs are very noisy on crust). And just for Kit, a photo of the crampon on the bottom of one shoe. Actually, there is 1/2 a crampon on each shoe, attached with parachute cord (varnish the cord when you varnish the shoe and it will never come loose).

[anakiwa]

Went out this morning to try to pack down a path so my dog could get somewhere to go to the bathroom. (The snow is currently deeper than she is tall and she's not happy about it.) Even with the snowshoes on my feet I was still sinking in up to my knees! (I sure was glad I had them on, I can't imagine walking through all the snow without them right now.)

[annie]

I can't even imagine all the snow you NE'ers have!! We have just a nice amount here in IA. And we keep getting little bits at a time to keep it nice. I admire you all for going on about life as well as possible! And for getting out there and having FUN in the snow.

I tried out my new snowshoes this morning before work! Whoo-woo! They're great. Very easy on/off strap system. It was cold, about 7 F. Not sure what the windchill was, but not too windy and the sun was shining. Due to recent surgery, I'm not really supposed to out doing strenuous exercise, so I walked slowly and just took in the beauty of the day. I NEEDED to get outside. My body needs to take it easy but my spirit needs the outdoors! This was a good balance.

Annie

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Yay! So glad that some of us are getting our snowshoeing in now!!

I estimate we got around 16-18" snow here- nothing really when compared to the "other" upstate NY around the Great Lakes!
I went out again today, this time snowshoeing the woodland trail that is near my house. It goes all through the woods with slight hills and ends overlooking a little pond with a bench to rest on. Very nice! The whole trail is only about 1 3/4 miles round trip, but it was a pretty good workout with the deep snow and rolling terrain through the woods. I still find I don't seem to need my poles. It was the perfect quick hike, and I love that I only have to walk 2 blocks to where the trail starts- so no car use at all!
I will drive to other locations eventually to shoe when I want to go longer distance or want a change of pace.
Today was much nicer sunny cold 20degreeF weather, not freezing sleetsnow like yesterday.
When I finished the round trip trail, I created a seat for myself in a huge snowbank and took off my snowshoes and stowed them in my backpack, then I pulled on some Yak-Trax type crampons over my boots and hiked the 1/2 slushy mile to the village and had a yummy grilled cheese, then hiked home again.
Now back to work...

Happy shoeing, everyone!!
Annie, I thought of you with YOUR new Tubbs shoes, too!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

A good girlfriend of mine phoned this morning to see if i wanted to go snowshoeing.... Lucky lucky me!! So we drove to a nature preserve near here and we shoed for about an hour and a half across very deep snow and hilly windy fields with beautiful views of surrounding hills and farms and a huge pond. The snow blew across the surface of the fields like sand dunes as we walked. On the way back, our trail of 6" deep tracks was almost invisible already!

It was wonderful! A nice workout because we sank 4 to 6" with every step and the wind actually knocked us over a couple of times! It was about 20 degreesF but wind chill must have made it like 5 or so. COLD. We had FUN. I kept nice and warm with my just-right layering. Didn't need my poles at all. We then stopped into town for some great smoked mozzarella grillled cheese sandwiches and soup to warm up before going home. What a nice morning! (tomorrow I have to buckle down to some jobs piling up on my desk though )

[annie]

I got out shoeing again today! A gorgeous day! High of about 22, but very little wind (unlike your day, Lisa.) No getting blown over for me. You go, girl!!

I did a nice uphill hike, and then got to turn around and go downhill for the return trip. I was by myself. Nice sometimes, to have peace and quiet for thoughts.

Was so glad I was able to play in the snow today. Our predicted high is 40 tomorrow! Yikes! Can you just imagine what that will do to our snow? It won't melt it all, but it'll get all hard and crusty. It was soft and powdery today. Got to enjoy it while we can.

Annie