How much snow is needed for snowshoes?

Paul Cummings

01/12/2010 at 14:35

I saw someone using them in six inches of snow today. In a flat Surrey park....

As I was wading through the snow for a little leg stretch, I started thinking about how much more snow we need, before I would benefit from getting my snowshoes out.

Zuma

01/12/2010 at 14:55

It's a bit personal, some use them already in 10cm of snow. I tend more like minimal 20cm of snow. It's a depth when with snowshoes on I reach the break even point of annoyance to lift my knees high up. Again it's personal. But the shallower the snowdepth the quicker spikes and other pointy stuff on te shoes wil wear off. 20cm is in that regard also quite safe.

Paul Cummings

01/12/2010 at 15:17

Yeah, thinking about it, I'm very tempted to get the snowshoes out and have a bit of practice. I'd just feel a bit of a plonker if I met anyone I knew, unless the snow was deep enough for the benefits to outweigh the "plonker factor".

woozle

01/12/2010 at 17:26

If you've got nice smooth snow on a hill say, then I'd put them on with 10 cm. and to hell with the image, depends though how much you're slipping and sliding. You'd look a lot more of a plonker breaking your bum bone slipping on 5 cm of stuff or with crampons on

. Snowshoeing on any amount of snow over 8-10 cm is much easier I find anyway than walking on it with boots.

Paul Cummings

01/12/2010 at 17:29

I agree, it's just the idea of using snowshoes in Surrey I have a real problem with.

Peter Clinch

01/12/2010 at 17:40

It's good for XC skis at the moment in Dundee. I overtook quite a few folk walking to work as I was on my skis this morning.

Skis give both flotation and glide. What snowshoes give that skis don't is manoeuvrability and the abilty to not slide when poitning down a slope. Plenty of places that's useful, but the middle of open park land ain't generally one of them...

OTOH, though I've not personally ever tried snowshoes it's generally the case that things like that typically benefit from practice, and there's an excellent opportunity right now.

Pete.

Metric Kate

01/12/2010 at 17:42

Come on, Paul, who cares if you look a plonker? Get out there and play with the gear while you have the chance!

woozle

01/12/2010 at 18:25

go the whole hog and put a balaclava and ski mask on (then nobody will recognise you anyway)

Paul Cummings

01/12/2010 at 18:45

Now that's a plan! With my goggles on too, nobody would recognise me. I'll have a poke around the loft tonight and dig them out of my winter kit box.

It would be good to get some practice before heading off to Snowdonia on Tuesday, where I'm hoping that some decent snow will still be hanging around for me.

Paul Cummings

02/12/2010 at 13:57

Well I had a good go today. I decided on wearing my Oakley Radar Pitches, as they are just so cool, I could live with wearing the snowshoes.

As it happened, it was a great morning for it. We'd had another few inches of snow, so there was 8-12 inches everywhere. Plenty of practice on slopes, crossing paths as well as yomping along over the open ground. I learnt a lot above my shiny new snowshoes.

Zuma

02/12/2010 at 22:54

12 inches is good, you must have had a blast there on the open ground.

Paul Cummings

03/12/2010 at 10:27

Oh yes, marvellous fun. Felt like a snow plough when I was at full speed with the amount of snow I was kicking up. You certainly want to wear waterproof bottoms with my snowshoes.

Damn tiring though.

Chris Tack(2)

03/12/2010 at 13:23

You need to finds a steep hill and 'Shoosh' down. I won't describe the technique just make sure there's a lot of snow on it, and don't come to see me about any injuries!

woozle

03/12/2010 at 13:30

You can have quite a lot of bone breaking fun with snowshoes and a simple plastic bag.
Find slope, place plastic bag folded lengthways under right snowshoe (if right footed). Squat down on right leg extending left leg forwards for balance, minimal braking and snow-spraying then lean back and stabilising yourself with your hands speed your way to A&E or mountain rescue as desired.

Edited: 03/12/2010 at 13:30