Anyone Else Hike With Snowshoes?

[Linda Frank]

With wintery weather fast approaching (and here in some areas already), we've finally decided it was time to venture onto the trails in snowshoes rather than being intimidated off the trails by some snow and/or ice cover. Plus I think it'd make bushwacking even more of an adventure.

We've xcountry skied before, but having gotten into hiking quite seriously over the past year, we'd like to continue the pace and body movements more associated w/hiking.  So snowshoes seemed to be a perfect implement for just that purpose. 

Wondering how many of you continue some of your winter hikes on snowshoes?  While I know you can simply head out the back door, so to speak and don't really need a specifically delineated trail to snowshoe, are there any particular trails/parks, etc. that you frequent w/your snowshoes?  How was your first experience?  What kind of equipment do you use?  (Don't know if brand names are allowed here, so if not, then just describe what you use as best you can.)

Thanks in advance for sharing.  Any new venture has a certain learning curve and it's always best to pick up whatever you can learn from others' experience and add it to your own.

Linda

[njHiking.com]

We bought basic snowshoes on a whim years ago, but should have researched it more first. Especially since women should get ones geared for them...  I didn't know that at the time.

Overall, they are fun but can tiring, and a little rough on the hips (this could be due to us not getting fantastic ones). An issue we have is not getting much snow in central Jersey (snowshoes are best for at least 6-8" or so), and needing to drive on snowy/icy roads to get to a trail - we don't have a 4x4 vehicle.So we don't use ours as much as we'd like.

If you have trekking poles, bring them!

I've gone to Cheesequake State Park with snoeshoes as it's the closest nice park to us. I believe Wawayanda would be excellent for snowshoeing... many of the trails are old woods roads and would be nice and level for that. (as opposed to maybe something like the rugged up-n-downs of Norvin.)

For lesser amounts of snowfall, YakTrax are handy to have. We've been thinking about getting MICROspikes for icier conditions.

No matter what is on your feet, though, there is nothing like the tranquility of a snow-covered forest!!

(And, brand mentions are OK here; the more specifics the better with gear... helps people choose what to get (or avoid!!))

 

[Linda Frank]

After lots of research, DH and I decided to gift each other this Christmas w/"Pathfinder" series (they made by Tubbs) snowshoes from LLBean.  They're not as technical as a model or two up but not as 'introductory' as the models lower.  Also, the woman's version is designed specifically for a woman's stride, etc.  They're supposed to have fairly easy binding apparatus and (more importantly, IMO) easy to get off in an emergency.  We'll also be getting gaiters to protect our pantlegs from both snow, wet and possible abrasion from crampons. 

We do have poles.  Not the best in the world, but quite serviceable so far.   When we bought them we didn't want to invest too much because we were new to using them.  Well, DH's have bent after much use/abuse and he's now investing in either Leki's or Black Diamond's.  The deal is that when mine go, I'll get newer, better ones, too.

Far as snow cover....in Jersey...I hear you.  Although last winter was a boon to both x-country and snowshoers! We found out that High Point in N.J. has a Nordic Center for both x-country and snowshoe use.  PLUS...they dedicate about two miles of trails to snow making just for that purpose.  They start after the first of the year and we plan on being there - with bells and snowshoes on :) - after the New Year.

We used to x-country in VT & NH.  Talk about solitude, quiet and beauty!!!!  Maybe that's another reason why I like hiking so much.  It provides the same quality of life whether there's snow on the ground or not.

[Linda Frank]

The day after Christmas gifted us with about 12+ inches of fresh, powdery snow in my neck of the Jersey woods.  So I had ample opportunity to 'test drive' my new snowshoes on paths I blazed in the snowy woods behind my house.

 

 But on New Year's Day DH and snowshoed at Holmdel Park.   The usually tame and easy hike in those woods became quite an exhilarating workout on snowshoes. The shoes & snow cover truly do allow you to go off trail onto areas you wouldn't (or couldn't) normally go when regularly hiking or even if you x-countried. 

 

Can't wait to try them out on more taxing trails, which (hopefully) will be this weekend at High Point.  Let you know how that adventure turns out. :)