In Kamloops we are surrounded by hills that offer an opportunity to snowshoe, but few people know where to go or how to make the best of these areas.   Some basics on equipment, strategies, and routes are offered in a series of articles.

Snowshoes

Today’s snowshoes are light and strong, but there are also a wide range in features.

• any snowshoe will work for easy terrain or stomped-in tracks
• if you are only going out a couple of times and will follow an established (stomped-in) track, any snowshoe will do (as long as it is comfortable)
• a better quality snowshoe may be better for off-track snowshoeing, depending on where you choose to go
• for off-track snowshoeing, the smaller size helps to get over fallen trees and through more difficult terrain
• for deep snow in untracked terrain, a longer snowshoe works better, but there are two alternatives:
• MSR snowshoes have a capacity to add tails.   The tails are lightweight extensions that we can can keep in our packs and add them when needed; other products may also have this function, but since MSR makes the best snowshoes on the market, they are the recommended ones.
• if you snowshoe with a group of people, let the longer snowshoes break trail and lead; just follow in their footsteps.
• longer and wider snowshoes have more flotation in deep snow
• an absolute must for snowshoes is that they are easy to put on and take off when your hands are cold
• try them on before you buy them to make sure the binding system is a quick and secure system
• all snowshoes have a crampon near the front that bites into the snow; the better snowshoe brands/models have additional teeth that run down the spine of the shoe; this provides traction and stability on side hills and uneven terrain.
• snowshoes are made of a number of materials and have different construction features; some of these are stronger and more durable than others; most manufacturers divide their snowshoes into three types – trail snowshoes, exploring (off-track) snowshoes, and ascent snowshoes; the price goes up with each type, but so does the durability and reliability
• ascent snowshoes often have a light bar that can be elevated (a televator) underneath the heel to provide some relief to calves when climbing a steep hill; this is useful if you do steep ascents, but on shorter/less steep ascents, we can just wind up a hill
• some companies offer models for women; these are narrower, smaller, and lighter; this is a good choice for trail snowshoeing, but less effective for off-trail snowshoeing (unless you follow at the end of a group)
• if you are planning on snowshoeing a fair amount in varied terrain, get a pair of higher quality snowshoes; if you are planning on an occasional outing on established trails, look for the best price on a middle-priced snowshoe

Boots

Waterproof hiking boots are the best choice for snowshoeing.

• If the boots are not fully waterproof, we can coat our boots in dubbin (or a similar product at the start of the season, especially into the seams
• if your feet get wet, you won’t be having any fun
• gaiters work wonders in keeping our feet warm and dry; we wear a good pair of gaiters every time we go out; we prefer gaiters that are taller and are easy to get on and off (velcro works well); if you are buying gaiters, put them on in the store to try them out; when your fingers are cold, you don’t want to be adjusting them
• we also use stiff-soled winter boots (higher and more insulation) for colder conditions; soft-soled boots just don’t work very well with snowshoes; they bend too easily and the snowshoe will not stay securely fastened;  the foot will not be supported; we want to use our larger muscles (hamstrings and thighs) and not our smaller muscles, which will fatigue more quickly.
• there are also some lightweight boots that can be used for snowshoeing; these are fine for trail snowshoeing or anywhere that has a well-stomped-in trail

Equipment

• poles are optional for flat trail snowshoeing, but are very helpful for all other kinds of snowshoeing outings
• some people use two poles; this is better for stability, but it also means both hands are in use
• some of us carry one pole and switch hands as required; this leaves one hand free for other uses
• any pole will do, but we use longer poles for snowshoeing than for downhill skiing; cross country poles or hiking poles work well; adjustable poles work best; if the snow is deep, we can make our poles longer; if we want to secure our poles onto our packs, we can make them shorter
• trekking poles without baskets don’t work as well as poles with baskets

In Our Packs

• we like to bring something to sit on for our planned break while out on the trails; since you will be sitting on the snow (a stump or log is usually best), we bring a small inflatable cushion (Thermarest makes a good product)
• when you stop for lunch (or a break), it is nice to bring something to put on over our core areas; the newer “puffy” jackets work well; they are light, they pack into a small space, and they are warm
• we bring some kind of survival blanket or bivvy; these are lightweight and would make the difference in the event of an accident – link to products (MEC)
• we usually carry an extra pair of gloves and an extra toque; if we fall, our gloves can get wet and a warm, dry pair of gloves is a blessing
• we carry a headlamp all year round, but it is even more essential when the days are short; if you take a wrong turn or conditions worsen, you may find yourself returning in the fading light.
• we always bring a backpack and inside it are various items found within the Ten Essentials List

Articles to Follow:

• Snowshoeing 102 – Snowshoe Trails near Kamloops
• Snowshoeing 103 – Explorations and Ascents
• Snowshoeing 104 – Snowshoeing Resources