Lisa,
I have women-specific snow shoes, too (Atlas). I don't do much of the duck walk, either, but it does take getting used to at first. Mine don't have heel crampons, so that's why I use the technique I described. I guess they weren't meant for the super rugged terrain, but I've never had an issue. I ran down a pretty steep mountain in the White Mountains last winter, and as you know, I'm a downhill weenie!
It's really nice out today, but I rode the trainer and did some core work at home. The streets are a mess of melting stuff. Hope to be on the Voodoo tomorrow afternoon.