Snowshoeing

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Heads up on a pretty good sale I came upon....
I just bought an extra pair of snowshoes so that visiting friends or daughter might be able to show with me sometime. I found these at a VERY good price of $85:
http://www.ems.com/catalog/product_d...=1198791586080
Shipping is additional, was around $12 for me.
This Tubbs Venture model for mixed terrain is usually $120-150. It's just one small step down from my Tubbs Odyssey shoes- the difference being my Odysseys have steel crampons and these Venture ones have aluminum crampons (which will wear a bit quicker) But that's fine because these won't get nearly as much use as mine and they are cheaper. Both have pretty good crampons for steep slopes, and I can vouch for them being easy to get in and out of.
My next step is to find an equally good deal on a men's size 30 equivalent so my 6 ft. DH could go, or my one daughter's heavier partner.

I found out about some snowshoeing outings in Jan and Feb right in our area, organized by our local Land Conservancy organization. One outing is a "Full Moon nighttime snowshoe trek.... woo-HOOOO!! I just hope there is enough snow on the ground for that date.

[Crankin]

Sometimes I am not sure when to go snow shoeing or when to just hike... for example, Wednesday we went out on a rolling trail that is about 4 miles round trip. There is a hill climb of about 300 feet that adds another mile, but we skipped that part. I thought the conditions would be icy and not great and I was right. Both my husband and I felt like our snow shoes were lead weights on our feet and we were slogging up the little rollers. We should have just hiked.
Today we went on a different trail, and decided just to wear our hiking shoes. I have only been ons this trail twice, on my mtb and once walking, but not in the winter. The further we got into the woods, the more we began sinking into the snow. It made for some slow hiking and we only did 3 miles, stopping to eat lunch on a nice rock.
It has rained a bit over the snow pack and the conditions are hard to judge. Tonight it is supposed to rain hard, through tomorrow, so this will probably be my last snow shoe or x country ski for awhile...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

3-8" snow in our forecast tonight.....ooooohhhhh, snowshoe time tomorrow perhaps! Hope the weather forecasters are not wrong (again).

[surgtech1956]

Friday we were suppose to get 5" of snow, so we were all set to go snowshoeing Saturday morning. We barely got
3", big disappointment not enough snow. Its suppose to snow Tuesday and Wednesday - we'll see. Anyways, we decided next weekend we will either snowshoe or cross country ski.

[Crankin]

Lisa, we have the same forecast as you, plus more expected Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday. It's looking good!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

OMGosh- we got about 10" of heavy snow. There's a break now and we are shoveling and cleaning off the cars, etc.

Will start some blackeyed peas in the crockpot and then head out to snowshoe for a while.

But.....we are now supposed to get ANOTHER 5-7" tomorrow!!!

Major snowshoeing in my schedule if I can manage to run away from the snow shovel.

Ironically, I bought a second pair of snowshoes on sale last week, and they still have not arrived! Otherwise DH could go out with me maybe.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well we got another 2- 3"- enough to have some nice fresh powder on top.

Another couple spent the night and we 4 went hiking and shoeing in a nearby land conservation preserve ths morning after breakfast. DH just walked with his big winter boots, I snowshoed. It was snowing. We had fun! I mentioned to DH that maybe I should get him some shoes as well, and he (finally) seemed interested...probably since our friends brought had their shoes too. So....I think I can now go ahead get a larger men's pair to have on hand for him (or handy for other male friends who visit as well).
It is so much fun to shoe with others. I am used to going alone. But I like doing both!
Here's one quick photo from this morning, New Year's Day.....

[Lifesgreat]

I went snowshoeing this morning at Sundance Resort. I have a pass and live just a few minutes away. It was a beautiful sunny/partly cloudy day and the trail wove through the trees. Some of the trail is alongside a groomed xc ski trail and it was fun to see the skiers go by. It was hillier than I thought it would be so I had the opportunity to stop often and admire the trees and mountain views. I only had about an hour, but it was a fun, beautful outing.

[short cut sally]

I was able to go shoeing the past 2 days, despite the 15degree weather and wind. I didn't care, I wanted to get out of the house. We didn't get as much snow as Lisa, the fields are bare but along the hedgerows and some of the flatter areas, I was able to find some good snow to walk on. I hear it might snow again tomorrow. I will be at work so I hope it snows all weekend so monday when I'm off I can get outside. Now that I have a reason to be out side, I pray for snow Lisa, all that snow and that night shoeing sounds like so much fun. Will it be on a lit trail or will you have to wear a head light type of thing? Either way, enjoy.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

It's much more work for me to snowshoe for 2 miles than to fitness walk for 5 miles. Snowshoeing really gets my heart going and my lungs a workout.

Too cold for me to do either today- at 0 degrees F.

I finally ordered some Tubbs Wilderness snowshoes for my DH. After much online price comparing, I found this site to have some pretty good prices:
http://www.thewildernessexperience.c...let/StoreFront
folks might want to check it when shopping around.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I was able to go shoeing the past 2 days, despite the 15degree weather and wind. I didn't care, I wanted to get out of the house.

Whoa, that's BRAVE!!! Braver than me. I'll go walking the streets on my fitness walks at 10 degrees, but not shoeing into the forest or fields. Yikes.

Now that I have a reason to be out side, I pray for snow Lisa, all that snow and that night shoeing sounds like so much fun. Will it be on a lit trail or will you have to wear a head light type of thing? Either way, enjoy.

Yes I feel the same way- between my walks and my "shoe-ings" I now have a reason to get out in the winter and actually enjoy it! I spent my life avoiding the outside in the cold and snow. Better to start late than never!

Our local Land Conservancy org is planning several snowshoe outings in Jan/feb. One of them in Feb is supposed to be a nighttime "Full Moon Snowshoe Trek" in a nearby preserve of rolling fields and huge pond. If there isn't too much cloud cover that night, there should be plenty of moonlight to shoe by. I'll bring a little flashlight in my pocket just in case, but I'm sure we'll be asked to not use any lights. The preserve has many open rolling fields with no trails needed, so we won't be tripping over rocks and roots in a forest or anything like that.
I've never done such a thing before, and so I'm a bit scared but I'm hoping the weather and snow situation will cooperate for it. I have no idea how many people might go to something like that- I would think maybe only a handful. Last year there wasn't any snow on the ground at the scheduled times, and they had to cancel their snowshoe events.
We'll see this year, so far so good....
We still have about 5" on the ground now, but it's awfully wet heavy crusted snow, and the temps are very cold at the moment. Sat and & Sunday look to get warmer up in the 30's. I might go into the woods then to check things out again.

[Lifesgreat]

Re: snow in upstate NY

My mom grew up on Oswego and would tell us kiddos about how high the snow would get with the storms coming off the lake. I grew up in Central CA and we were like "yeah right, Mom". I never imagined it snowing that much. I know better now.

[AuntieK]

Lifesgreat,
Call me next time you plan to go. I also have a Sundance pass. I've been up to the Nordic Center several times this year xc skiing, and I have wanted to try snowshoeing, too. I'd be good for me to go with a seasoned veteran of s-shoe. Plus, I always have fun hanging out with you!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Oh you lucky gals, being able to get together! Be sure to take a few pictures and post them here!

Lifesgreat- I don't live as far "upstate" as you might think- more like central NY state. In NYC, anything more than 2 hours north is called "upstate". We don't get nearly as much snow here as Oswego or Buffalo, for example. But I'm ever hopeful for more.... The next few days however will be above freezing and no chance of snow. Who knows, I might even be able to get a bike ride in if the roads are dry!

[Lifesgreat]

Lifesgreat,
Call me next time you plan to go. I also have a Sundance pass. I've been up to the Nordic Center several times this year xc skiing, and I have wanted to try snowshoeing, too. I'd be good for me to go with a seasoned veteran of s-shoe. Plus, I always have fun hanging out with you!

Like I am a seasoned veteran

I would love to have you come, but as you know, I will need to stop often to admire the scenery (and catch my breath).