Snowshoeing

[Beaverdog]

I have two pair of 25” off Amazon. A ratchet style binding and a one pull strap style. I find the one pull strap style binding a lot more user friendly and quicker to get in and out of.

 

[Bergy]

Just tried it for the first time in February. Liked it and got snowshoes for me birthday.

 

[mtwarden]

First trip of 2023. Actually it was two trips as I left my windshirt hanging in a tree (after I discovered I had a leaking water bottle in my pack bag) and had to go back for it the next day My wife (and Tiny Elvis) agreed to go back with me the second day.

 

[def90]

I have some MSRs, haven't used them in years. Any time I've ever gone "snowshoeing" with friends it turns out I could just walk along with them in boots. Other times when I was really "snowshoeing" to get somewhere I wished I had some crosscountry skis.

I'm thinking of getting some of the Altai Hok or similar skis.

 

[mtwarden]

We did a 11 mile (2000') loop yesterday- had decent snow for the first 3 miles and then the snow went to $hit. Post holing sometimes up to our hips. Towards the end of the day it had warmed considerably and the snow started sticking to my shoes- about every four steps I'd have to kick both shoes to rid them of 2-3 lbs of snow!

Snowshoeing can be tough

 

[Pony Soldier]

I grew up on wet snow that packed well. I could go anywhere on a set of trail shoes. A little crust and bearpaws were a breeze.

Around my house the snow is a pile of ice chrystals. You couldn't make a snowball if your life depended on it. My neighbor came over and showed me his new shoes. Then he walked out in the field to show how much better the new shoes are and promptly sunk to his crotch. He followed that by running his snowcat out and sunk that. I'll wait for spring.

 

[mtwarden]

10-ish mile loop today- great day to be alive

 

[mtwarden]

This thread could use a few newer pics

Tiny Elvis and I on a day trip close to home

4 day/3 night trip into the Bob visiting the Chinese Wall

 

[mtwarden]

Just back from a 3 day trip in the Scapegoat Wilderness—not a soul or even a sign of a soul

 

[Pony Soldier]

You are correct. We got 6-8" of wet snow and for the first time since last winter not a soul ventured out on the county road.

I shoveled my walk, deck and my feed area at the barn and retreated thankfully to the house to feed the stove. I'll venture out to pack the driveway with the tractor.

You obviously need a remote ranch to focus your energy. Just kidding!

 

[mtwarden]

^ that would certainly be a bit more relaxing

but we did get to feed some fires

 

[VernAK]

Too old for runnin on webs anymore but I have two pair left:

A pair of 7' custom made Alaska Trail Shoes that hang on my wall. These were made by a backwoods craftsman in MN that started by splitting second growth ash saplings and webbing with hand cut babiche. Beautiful craftsmanship!

The second pair was made by the same gentleman but on a much larger scale and webbed with nylon cord.

 

[Pony Soldier]

I have a 5 ft pair of trail shoes that I used when I trapped beaver in the back country. For late spring I picked up a pair of bear paws that I used to traverse the spring heavy crust while trapping. All were made with rawhide lacing. I covered the trail shoes with muskrat hide covers for the really light powder.

I smile at todays commercial shoes that sink like a stone through our very light chrystal snow.

 

[Phaseolus]

I used to do a lot of backcountry hut to hut trips. I’d have a hard time going back to snowshoes for traveling distances. Skinner Hut 1997