Skis
or Snowshoes and other Footwear Questions
The big question that most people
ask is "Should I Ski or Snowshoe? The answer is pretty simple,
if you are a capable cross country or telemark skier, and have
skied with a pack before, then I would say to go for the skis.
They are faster, provide better flotation, and take less work
to actually propell you across the snow. BUT, if you have never
skied and are going into terrain with any ups and downs, I recommend
snowshoes to start. They are easy to learn how to use, will
keep you in place on a hillside without a high level of skill,
and do not require a special shoe or boot.
That is the quick and
easy answer. However if you ask any ten people who snow camp,
you will probably get ten different answers about which is better
and why. I tend to think that you will form your own preferances
by trying different methods and it isn't my place to prejudice
you.
For a novice skier, the
best way to start is by renting a pair of backcountry skis and
taking a few lessons from a qualified instructor. Make sure that
you rent metal edge skis. Track or touring skis are fine for groomed
slopes or trails, but on side hills with a pack on your back,
the metal edges will bite into the snow more securely. After you
have the basics down, pick a destination on moderate terrain and
go for it. I highly recommend renting a good set of climbing skins
(textured or haircovered material that is attached to the bottom
of the ski and lets it slide foreward but not backward). They
will prove invaluable on steep slopes and will also slow you down
if you have trouble controling your speed downhill.
If you've tried skis
and floundered, or don't want to go through the learning curve,
then try snowshoes. They are simple to learn how to use and they
can take you anywhere you can walk and beyond.
Most people think of snowshoes as oversize tennis rackets, but
there are many styles to match a wide range of snow conditions,
terrain, and uses. The type that resembles the tennis racket is
a traditional shoe made of hardwood that is steamed and bent to
form the frame with rawhide lacing woven into a criss-cross pattern
that makes up the deck or platform that you walk on. Older shoes
are bound to your boots with leather straps and are cumbersome
and need constant tightening and repair. Shapes vary from a "Yukon"
(long narrow frame with a long tail and overall length of up to
five feet) to round fat "Bevertail" shape that requires a wide
stance.
Technology has made snowshoing much easier and fun. With new materials
like aluminum frames and composite fabrics that are light and
strong, modern snowshoes bear little resemblance to their forerunners.
Most common is the "Western" style shoe, 8" to 10" wide and from
20" to 45" long, they are usually an aluminum frame with a solid
deck of Neoprene or Hypalon material and utilize a metal binding
with a claw that points downward for traction on icy slopes. Others
are molded from space age plastics like lexan and are rugged and
light. Whichever type you select, the bottom line is that snowshoes
are an easy to use, relatively inexpensive way to get around in
the backcountry.
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