BWCA Any advice on how to snowshoe? Boundary Waters Winter Camping and Activities
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      Any advice on how to snowshoe?     

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JimmyJustice
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03/04/2015 09:51AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
This weekend, I will be snowshoeing for the first time. Any advice on how to avoid blisters and proper technique?
 
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03/04/2015 10:16AM  
Place one foot in front of the other, a little bit wider from each other, point your toes both up and down hills (if they are metal shoes.)

Not much too it really though. A skinny sock like hikers wear will help anytime blisters are a worry. If you feel a "hot spot" forming on your feet fix it with mole skin or duck tape.

Have fun and fall if you want to!
03/04/2015 11:20AM  
I make and use traditional, wooden snowshoes. Their teardrop design makes them easy to walk a normal stride without waddling. The longer tail stays on the ground while you lift the toe of the opposite shoe while bringing that foot forward. When you put that step down, the shoe should contact only the snow without stepping on top of the other snowshoe. The shape also allows for a larger deck, and thus, better flotation than many of the newer, modern designs. Just my opinion though.
schweady
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03/04/2015 01:41PM  
Not sure if Knoozer is talking about the traditional type rounded in the front, but here is a pic of the ones we used on the hike out to Sigurd Olson's Listening Point during Ely's Winter Festival last month. (Sig's sauna on the left, wood shed on the right) Made with two strips of wood and fairly symmetrical with points front and back, these are the type I plan to make if Peta offers her class at the new Ely Folk School this summer. With a natural stride, the wide part of one 'nests' next to the narrow part of the other. No waddling or bowlegged effort. We hadn't been on snowshoes in over 40 years, and it was almost as natural as walking without them.

03/04/2015 02:58PM  
Making a 90 degree turn can be a bit tricky. You want to make sure you don't end up stepping on your other snowshoe as you turn.
OldFingers57
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03/04/2015 03:21PM  
Put one foot in front of the other and repeat. You can go from a Novice to and Intermediate snowshoer in just one day. Just Google "how to snowshoe" and you'll get a lot of good info on going up and down hills, traversing a slope and how to turn. Good luck and enjoy it.
Cedarboy
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03/04/2015 03:51PM  
quote schweady: "Not sure if Knoozer is talking about the traditional type rounded in the front, but here is a pic of the ones we used on the hike out to Sigurd Olson's Listening Point during Ely's Winter Festival last month. (Sig's sauna on the left, wood shed on the right) Made with two strips of wood and fairly symmetrical with points front and back, these are the type I plan to make if Peta offers her class at the new Ely Folk School this summer. With a natural stride, the wide part of one 'nests' next to the narrow part of the other. No waddling or bowlegged effort. We hadn't been on snowshoes in over 40 years, and it was almost as natural as walking without them.

"


You used Ojibwa style snowshoes in Ely. Round in front raditional shoes are sometimes called Alaskan or Bear Paw. Country Ways www has kits and pics.
CB
schweady
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03/04/2015 05:02PM  
quote Cedarboy: "You used Ojibwa style snowshoes in Ely. Round in front raditional shoes are sometimes called Alaskan or Bear Paw. Country Ways www has kits and pics.
CB"

Thanks
JimmyJustice
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03/05/2015 09:40AM  
Thank you all for the advice. I'm looking forward to a fun adventure.
 
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