BWCA Snowshoe Pulk - Poles or Rope and Length? Boundary Waters Winter Camping and Activities
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      Snowshoe Pulk - Poles or Rope and Length?     

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UphillHarry
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12/07/2015 06:19AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I'm creating a couple of pulks for snowshoeing. I've gotten some good info on this forum and other places online, but it's still unclear to me if it's better to use ropes or poles to pull it with snowshoes, and also what is a good length for those ropes/poles. For the trip we have planned, we will be pulling partly on a groomed trail and partly in ungroomed trail, but nothing really technical, and no bushwacking through thick woods. We will have an Emsco and a Paris Expedition sled. If you have experience pulling a pulk while snowshoeing, I'd appreciate your insights.
 
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OldFingers57
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12/07/2015 07:03AM  
Are you going to be doing mostly flat ground or some hills?
I've got a couple of sleds like you have set up each way. One with poles and one with a tump and rope. For the one with the rope I got the length set up so on a hill that I can go to the back of the sled and walk the sled down without it getting away from me. I'm back enough so I still have room between the sled and my snowshoes. For the one with poles it is not necessary as the poles are attached to the sled and then to my waistbelt harness. So it won't run over me.

If you are doing a lot of hills or they are steep, I'd go with the tump and the rope as opposed to the poles. Just my preference though.
OldFingers57
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12/07/2015 07:10AM  
If you are getting into winter camping come on over to Wintertrekking.com and join up on the forums for some good info.
CrookedPaddler1
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12/07/2015 01:13PM  
I prefer using poles......but ropes will work, especially if you have multiple people in the party and one can tie onto the back of your sled. The sled will have a tenancy to run you over, especially if you are using snowshoes over skis.
UphillHarry
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12/07/2015 09:34PM  
Yes, the more I'm reading it does sound like poles are the way to go. Thanks.
OldFingers57
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12/08/2015 06:52AM  
As I said with the ropes you just have them long enough to get back behind the sled and control it's descent yourself. No need for another person to act as the brake man and slow the sled down so it doesn't run over you. I can measure my ropes if you want. I think you will find most of the guys over on Wintertrekking go with ropes and no poles.
OldFingers57
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12/08/2015 08:47AM  
For the poles there are two different type of set up:
1. they are attached to the sled with a bracket
2. They just are a pipe that the rope goes thru and are not attached to the sled as the rope is only attached.
12/08/2015 08:07PM  
poles for me and I beleive less back and forth jerking also.
UphillHarry
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12/08/2015 09:39PM  
Thanks everyone.

I have decide to go with poles and have found several excellent examples in other online resources, especially wintertrekking.com. Thanks for letting me know about that site OldFingers57.
12/09/2015 08:07AM  
quote UphillHarry: "Thanks everyone.


I have decide to go with poles and have found several excellent examples in other online resources, especially wintertrekking.com. Thanks for letting me know about that site OldFingers57. "


Type of poles is also a full discussion we have had in past.
 
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