Snow shoes

A snowHead

For bad weather days we've noticed that increasing numbers of people in our village are going snow-shoeing. These things seem to start at about CHF70 at Decathlon, and obviously you can pay way more if you want to. Any recommendations for snow shoes? And any advice for beginners?

A snowHead

The basic Decathlon ones should be fine - snowshoes (raquettes) are also very cheap to hire in-resort. Even the basic ones have heel lifts to make walking uphill easier. What's more important for beginners than choosing between styles is to have really robust footwear to strap into the snowshoes and, if you intend to go off pisted trails, gaiters. And, of course, long poles, if possible

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Never tried it, as a skier there are other options, seen many snowboarders use them though.

Looks like hard work, I think the knees need to be lifted quite a bit each step. Better than sinking of course.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

@pam w, thanks, I will get some. Who knows, it might even snow before long!

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Taking up snowshoeing a few years ago transformed our winter holidays. The exercise is great as it's much more consistent in terms of effort and, in the main, you're much less likely to be injured from a fall or someone crashing into you. We now snowshoe on days when the weather is grotty or the pistes are busy and it's much more rewarding than putting up with poor conditions: we realised that we were often going out because we'd bought a period pass and 'wanted to get our money's worth'. So in inconsistent weather, we'll tend to buy day or shorter passes, but not use the lifts when we snowshoe, saving the cost of an unrewarding day's skiing. We find we can really get away from the crowds quite fast, and do this much nearer to the resort - in a short time, you're away from the pistes often in enjoyable isolation, but without having to trek a long way from where you're staying.

We got our shoes in Decathlon. It's useful to understand when you do and don't unclip the hinged soles. Start on easier local trails as it can take longer than you think if you're on tracks that you walk over in the summer. And carry your shoe bag with you as it's much safer/easier to carry the spikes shoes in a bag if you decide to hop on the navette. and re the bus - you'll probably find that you can use the free bus to get to/from a lot of the routes without having to do a strenuous climb/descent.

This isn't to say that we dislike skiing, we still do, but it's just that snowshoeing is a great complementary activity to have as an option.

You'll need to Register first of course.

A good walked, ruined Happy

or is that golf?

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

After all it is free

If I lived in the Alps i'd definitely use them, ski touring also, otherwise sadly time's too precious, prefer down currently not up.

I guess they might be hugely popular this year, and consequently in short supply - always looks fun for hikes etc on a moonlit evening etc. Taking care with av terrain obviously.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

I've a couple of pairs of Inuit 450s, one up from Decathlon's base model, perfectly adequate. Nice to do pre season if there's an early dump or with a non skier. This was exactly a year ago today after an early dump. First tracks on what is a summer hiking path which I know so was comfortable taking.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

snow reports

Have a pair of Tubbs Flex RDG that I bought 3 to 4 years ago.
They are used when there isn't enough snow to ski tour but there are patches of snow in the mountains. i.e. Grip and ease of use was more important than float. (Powder = skitour or freeriding)
Snowshoeing is basically a way for me to get fit for the ski touring season in the mountains within 2 hours drive of Vienna, typically at the start of the winter season. (Oct Nov & Dec)
Once went up the Großvenediger (3666m) in snow shoes but it was a much longer day than with touring skis - the descent takes much longer.

Snowshoe test here ...
https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/snow-sports/best-snowshoes

From my experience of deciding what to buy here's my 2 Euro cence ....

Different snow shoes have different weight limits. e.g. 90, 100, 110, 120 kg etc.
Some snow shoes are a lot of work to put on with more straps that a suspender belt and harder to work than a bra. Worth checking to see if you can put them on with gloves. (One of the reasons I went for the Tubbs Flex RDG was the boa fasteners)
Best to try the boots you will be using with the snowshoes. (e.g. I have small feet so the women's model worked best for me. My boots were much more secure/stable in certain snowshoes than others.)
As with skis, some snow shoes are better for ice (more agressive teeth) whereas others are better for powder (larger surface area).
Some snow shoes have heel lifters to aid walking up steeper slopes.

http://youtube.com/v/vsco4SkXSTc

From my experience of using snow shoes ....
Snowshoeing can put a lot of strain on your knees.
Poles are important. Telescopic with large snow baskets and a long grip are the way to go. (The optimal pole length for you may be different for ascending and descending, long grips help when traversing across a steep slope)
Snowshoe routes will often be the reverse direction of the ski touring route. (Steep up, gradual steepness down)
It's bad etiquette to walk in a ski touring track as you will mash it up.
Gaitors keep the snow out and protect your legs/pants.
Snow shoeing in the dark is not much fun.
Avalanche gear should be carried (along with a knowledge of how to use it) where there is enough snow to cause an avalanche.
Groups should space out on tricky terrain to spread out loading on the snowbase and avoid an avalanche
There are various snowshoe techniques, many of which I've not been able to master

http://youtube.com/v/CpIYXKwe0JY

I have a pair which I take with me strapped to my day sack-they are light and easy to carry, so I don’t need to walk with them 100% of the time if I’m on firm pisted footpaths for some of the way. I think more and more people are getting into snowshoe walking- and if you try and hike in ordinary boots on well trod snowshoe tracks, you are likely to find yourself sinking! They definitely worth having, though they are cheap to rent too!

You know it makes sense.

Thank you so much for all this advice!

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

We found it took a while to get our eye in re snowshoe trail markers, and in interpreting the snowshoe trail maps and profiles. In the 4 Vallées, the markers are pink, snowshoe-shaped, about 25cm long and pinned to the trees, and carry a route number that corresponds to the map. In our area, there are fewer of these, compared to the yellow summer signs, and the snow trail signs don't carry any sort of time indicator like the summers. So you have to get used to your route being confirmed/indicated much less often than when walking in the summer. The good thing about our trails is that in the main, they are separate to the pistes, which is good. But in a couple of places they do cross a piste and then you have to be really careful. And where the terrain is more open, just be alert for freeriders who might not be expecting a winter trail to be crossing their path (this is one reason why we stick to marked trails - because freeriders are generally pretty good, and aware of the routes).

Where we are, quite a few marked routes use the navette to get you out of the village centre and up the first 100 vertical m by-passing what would otherwise be a less interesting section.

A common initial mistake is to overestimate how much you can climb vertically before you get really tired: it's a good deal less than when walking in the summer: so if you struggle with a 300m vertical route in the summer, then halve it for snowshoes - at least until you get a better idea of what you're capable of. Remember, unlike skiing, you have to lose that vertical gain walking downhill, which can be just as tiring. But I don't mean to put anyone off - it's more a case of just adjusting your expectations and map-reading from walking and skiing - the upside as I said is that you can have a great excursion relatively close to your resort; quickly get away from the crowds but still be near home; and save the cost of a day's skipass. And it's excellent exercise that is very steady in terms of the workload on the body.

And you'll also find that having a pair of snowshoes can also be useful just within your village when the snowfall is heavy and/or you get those treacherous snow-on ice (or just plain ice) conditions en route to the shops etc.

A snowHead

@LaForet, so if on snowshoes why not walk on the side of the road in the deeper snow rather than along it?

Nothing worse than having a load of pedestrians on the road like the ones up ahead in front of the car when conditions are like that and as I'm sure you appreciate with your many posts about all things driving in the mountains that's the last thing you need when conditions are like that!

Surprised you even posted that photo?

A snowHead

@Weathercam Wow. What's the beef? Don't you think you're being a bit judgemental? I just meant this as a bit of light relief. It's odd that you should comment as you did when you have no idea at all of the context of the photo:

The pedestrians ahead aren't pedestrians. They're skiers. They've just come down the piste run by the sign and are crossing - carefully - to drop down the other side back home. And the car ahead is parked, picking some people up. And the bollards are there to show drivers that skiers cross the road at this very point, so need to be aware it's a busy spot for pedestrians. It's also where the navette stops. And it's where the steps from the télécabine come out and there's a pedestrian crossing to the underground parking opposite. So no one is going to be barrelling along here unaware that it's a mainly pedestrian zone.

And to paraphrase a famous character, I believe that I can post what content I think suitable, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected to me.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@LaForet, sorry if I came across a bit angry but it's really a pet hate of mine, pedestrians & skiers in the middle of the road when conditions are like that, and to allow skiers to cross the road like that is a recipe for an accident.

I've never come across anywhere where that is allowed if it's one thing that is interdit in many a resort and that's skiing on the road!

You need to Login to know who's really who.

I think you need to realize that people have to get about as well as car drivers, and if you can't deal with it, then maybe stay home? People walk where you have to walk, they don't do it to annoy car drivers, who perhaps need to show a little consideration for others?

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@philwig, that's why you end up with gridlock in ski resorts in those conditions as people who merrily walk in the road don't realise that cars* then have to keep stopping and then often can't get traction to get going again, I've seen it so often!
It's a real pain when trying to get to do first lifts and the idiots are walking up a hill on the road causing carnage behind them rather than use the sidewalk.

*often driven by people that are not use to driving in snow

You'll need to Register first of course.

sidewalk*

*Pavement snowHead

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

had a good bit of fun walking in them in Norway, could not go skiing where we were so went for a hilly walk, half way we stopped at a refuge for a beer etc.. would do it again if not able to ski

After all it is free

@Weathercam Hey, no probs. The subtleties of a conversation get erased in a post ... and I know what you mean about pedestrians/skiers not appreciating that even with the most considerate driver, vehicles in snow/slush simply can't respond as easily as on tarmac, and cars are often trying to keep momentum going, especially uphill. But I also understand @philwig's point. In fact, I agree with everyone.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

@abc, I think until you've seen a French resort in gridlock you're not really in a position to comment from your side of the pond Laughing

If I ever get to go back out this season and see traffic carnage I promise that I will take vids and photos to prove my point!

I hasten to add that in the big high altitude ski factories just as Tignes etc this is not a problem as a large % of people are bussed in, it's the valley resorts where many a Frenchie will drive to and stay in neighbouring cute villages and they then drive to the lifts.

And there's the parking, something the French on holiday excel at Laughing

I would park up carefully leaving room for others to manoeuvre enabling people to drive around etc then I'd come back and find cars blocking others in, really bizarre behaviour Puzzled

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

snow reports

One useful thing about the French and parking is that they hate to pay for it. There were quite modest charges in Saisies for parking on the main drag - including spaces a couple of metres (literally) from where you could put your skis on and slide down to the main lifts. Perfect for dropping kids at ski school, or picking them up. Or right near the boulangerie, or the 8 a 8. If they'd been free there would have been no chance, ever, of anybody other than the people who worked in the shops getting a space. But because it cost a couple of euros, they'd prefer to walk from the big free car park, further away. So I could get a space. Ten minutes was free and so - in French style - was lunchtime, 12 - 2. A deal with the restaurants, probably. Maximum parking time was two hours. But if your time was adjacent to the lunchtime slot you could get 4 hours for the price of 2. Yes, there were people walking all over the road without looking, kids or skis over their shoulders. It's a ski resort - folk are on holiday!!

You know it makes sense.

@LaForet, Very amusing Lizzie

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Just wanted to say thanks to all the folk who offered advice on this thread - we've had a blast!

Help!!

Snow shoes

snowHeads Forum Index >>> The Piste