 Poster: A snowHead
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i tried some snow shoe walking while in flaine, totally loved it. going to purchase a set and some poles. has anyone else tried/or do this. what are good boots, just used my blacks walking boots (where ok), but dragged my salomon super mountain 9's out of retirement for future snow hikes. had to practically jet wash them as a mouse had set up home in one of them. also what is a good set of collapsable poles????
thanks
graeme 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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graeme, I've tried it and enjoyed it, but can offer no advice whatsoever. I did find that they worked well on some snow but that on other snow, one sank in up to one's oxters anyway.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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richmond, i found that all part of the experience. i plan to purchase a set+poles, use them for options while on the mountain. very good for fitness also
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we enjoy it. We bought TSL 225 Rando snowshoes, very standard, sold all over. There are other more specialised ones but we took local advice and are very happy with them. You can clip heels down, for rough terrain, or have them loose, and can raise a little platform which makes ascents easier. For max comfort have waterproof hiking boots and gaiters. You can get collapsible poles for very few euros (like about 17) in French sports shops like Decathlon and it's a job to see why it might be worthwhile to spend heaps more. We have several pairs, which came with powder baskets inter-changeable, and are very useful for different sized skiers. Holidays in the mountains aren't only about taking mechanical lifts up mountains and sliding down on skis as fast as possible. It's good to get away from the lifts, nice as it is to have them carry you up the hill. We are a bit careful about avalanches, and not being at all well informed about them (despite attendance at one of Snow and Rock's sessions) we are conservative about where we go and we only do quite modest outings. But there are plenty of paths around here, and probably other parts of the Alps, and the French are very good at signposting paths and produce first class maps. Most resorts will have leaflets of walks and there are some paths here which are only accessible with "raquettes". They're extremely popular here, and the ski schools run guided outtings at all different levels of ability and fitness. Great opportunity for French conversation practice!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| graeme wrote: |
| richmond, i found that all part of the experience. |
It indubitably was. I was surprised, 'though. The best snow that we found on our short snow shoe walk was on a frozen lake.
The guys we went with are in the habit of hitching themselves to a couple of sleds and snow shoeing for days and days across the trackless wastes of the Canadian Rockies, looking out for wolves and, in the late season, bears who've just woken up. Personally, I'd prefer to stay within easy shoeing distance of a bar.
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richmond, i would love to do some backcountry trekking for a few days, i am contemplating whistler as my ski destination next year. hopefully i will combine the skiboards and the snowshoe trekking. just been on ebay and bought some prefect boots for the snowshoe'ing. a pair of north face lifty 400's. good down to -30ish maybe a bit more. have primaloft insulation in them.
pam w, thanks for the info, glad am not the only one doing this
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graeme, I do a fair bit too, it's fantastic when the snow is a little poor or when all the off piste is tracked out and the pistes are full. you can pick up tennis rackets cheapish but the lighter / stronger models can be expensive but well worth it if you really get into it... can you hire again before you buy?
my poles are just cheapies from decathlon, superb though, adjustable and they have a mile elastomer 'shock absorber' no real need in the winter but fantastic for summer hiking...
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