Snowshoeing

Submitted by Oceanblue on January 27, 2011 - 8:39pm
Body: 

Hi everyone,

Just curious, has anyone gone snowshoeing lately?

Are they heavy?

Safe to wear for an extended walk?

Thank you,

Oceanblue

Yellow Daffodil

January 27, 2011 - 9:36pm

No, but I want to...they are very lightweight...as soon as I figure out how to fix my POP, I'd like to try it...a good incentive...thanks!

Oceanblue

February 1, 2011 - 1:40pm

Hi everyone,
Just viewed several videos with regards to how to snowshoe, and guess what?
It looks doable :)

Have viewed female as well as male instructors in metal snowshoes, as well as male instructors in wooden snowshoes, and wooden snowshoes would be my preference, but am not sure how heavy they might be for me, or for you.

I must admit, it looks like fun, but I think that my preference would be with cross country skiing :)

But, am willing to give it a whirl, and go as far as I am able. btw: where I'm going they are supplying the snowshoes and most likely they would be the metal ones, which would be the lighter ones.

Never know ... snowshoeing is gaining in popularity

Any feedback would be welcomed!

Christine

January 28, 2011 - 5:20pm

Oceanblue...you may have to become our official WW Snowshoe Expert. ;)

I have a pair of old-fashioned ones that I used to wear many moons ago. They are now stationed on the wall above my sewing table, too big and cumbersome to ever wear again.

The small, light-framed ones look beautifully engineered to trudge across the snow in WW posture.

Hugs from Christine

Oceanblue

January 28, 2011 - 7:22pm

We shall see what has yet to come .... there are many that swear by the wooden ones, but I tend to agree with you, that best choice for WW posture would be the lighter weight ones, that are smaller in size.

Poles help too!

Hugs for you too,
Oceanblue

Oceanblue

February 1, 2011 - 1:39pm

Hi everyone,

Well, a storm is on its way, but I was lucky enough to borrow some plastic snowshoes and give it a try.

Once I had an understanding of how to strap my boots into the snowshoes, off I went, without poles.

It was fun, and felt as if I was walking with little or no compromise to my usual method of walking with icegrabbers on my boots.

If you have snow in your area, it would be worthy to rent, before you purchase, try it, and then make your decision.

I know that I quite like it, and felt quite confident as I was mini-trekking along the ice covered snow.

Good Luck!

Oceanblue

louiseds

February 2, 2011 - 8:14pm

Oceanblue, that is great. There is a lot to be said for "Suck it and see". We really are the best judge of what we can do with our bodies.

There goes another dollop of fear down the plughole!

Louise

Oceanblue

February 3, 2011 - 8:42am

First time I have ever heard of the expression "Suck it and see".

Yes, key here is that unfortunately, I'm not really using the traditional wooden handcrafted snowshoes, but rather plastic, (polypropylene to be precise) strap on modern day snowshoes, that are fairly light. They are about 22 inches in length, and about 8 inches in width, and one would walk in them as you would normally walk. I will be going out again, without poles, this time adding a light pack, and making sure that I am bundled up!

Found that yesterday, that I am using muscles in my legs that I didn't know existed :)

Yah!
Oceanblue

Oceanblue

February 8, 2011 - 9:59pm

Hi, me again!

Was to attend a Snowshoe Hike, but due to the weather, it has been deferred until later on this month.

I still think it gives you a great cardio workout and is a lot of fun!

One snowshoe forward, then the other and so on ...

If you are able to do it, enjoy :)

Oceanblue

Christine

February 9, 2011 - 12:22pm

Oceanblue, thanks so much for this update! Shhhhhhhh (don't tell Lanny), but I'm going to outfit us with snowshoes next Christmas. They look so much more practical than the old-fashioned long ones. Can't wait - I love snow! :)

Oceanblue

February 17, 2011 - 1:02pm

Msg to Christine ....
Okay, promise not to tell :)

Hugs,
OB :)

Oceanblue

February 27, 2011 - 3:51pm

Well today was sunny and brisk, the snow was sparkling, and I went on the Snowshoe Hike with my family, plus my very close and special dog friend. Oh yes, there were about 24 others that took part too!

What a great day it was, huge rocks some covered with lichens, and tiny trees, trees covered with beautiful lichens, trees just happy being trees, special ones were the Beech groves, even an owl perched high up in the trees, golly day, we all had fun!!!

When the hike was finished we all gathered together for an outdoor bbq. Yes, I flexed.

Okay, if you feel up to it, have snow as part of your winter, try snowshoeing, it's a wonderful form of outdoor exercise :)

louiseds

February 28, 2011 - 1:06am

Hi Oceanblue

Thankyou for posting this and reminding me that everybody does not live in a fan-forced oven like I do at the moment. This too will pass. In the meantime I will just close my eyes and go with you through your cool wonderland.

Actually this unpleasantly hot weather does have its upside. My office window looks out onto our shaded patio. I am getting lots of birds coming in to just sit there out of the sun. The magpies come looking for bugs and sing warbly, happy little songs to me as they fossick under the table. It is like hearing a woman working, singing random little riffs as she works.

Autumn starts for us in a couple of days. Crazy. We haven't had a day below 37 maximum for about a month. The only way the leaves will turn and fall off any time soon is from thirst and heat stress!

But after midnight it is heaven outside under a starry sky with a cool breeze blowing if we are lucky! There is always a redeeming moment.

Louise

lanny

February 28, 2011 - 12:29pm

:-)

Christine

February 28, 2011 - 2:36pm

My surprise is out of the bag. Oh well, lumps of coal for you then! xo

hockeyMom

February 28, 2011 - 6:49pm

Louise, your post made me laugh. I live in northern Canada, and it hasn't been above -20C for the last few weeks. As I sit here freezing, I imagine you sweltering away on the flip-side of the Earth. We have a low of -32 tonight. So even though we have the snow for it, it's too cold for snowshoeing!

louiseds

February 28, 2011 - 7:44pm

Yeah, well at least we can laugh about it, eh? I keep thinking about people in other parts of the world who, by way of natural disaster or other reason, get thrown out to the elements with just the clothes they are wearing. We take our warm or cool buildings very much for granted.

Our house is pretty well built as passive solar, so when it is 42 degrees outside and the thermometer hasn't been below 26 degrees for weeks, the masonry heats up and takes days to cool down again, even though we open the house at night to let the cool air through. We had a couple of days this week when it only got down to 28 degrees overnight outside and was over 40 degrees max. It did get over 32 inside on one day, but it wasn't too bad with the fans going. However it is very humid as well at the moment because of the continuous pattern of tropical lows, so you need to shower a couple of times a day to get rid of the stickiness.

Aren't we lucky to have houses at all?

I was reflecting yesterday with a friend about how we will all be whingeing and moaning in three months when the easterlies turn cold and we have to rug up like Michelin men and it takes so long to dress and undress. Then there is the mud ... but we can also toast ourselves in front of a warm fire.

Never satisfied!

Rosebud1224

March 2, 2011 - 10:04am

I don't frequent here a lot unless something POP comes my way. Then it's usually a few weeks of my browsing the forums, playing catch up. Sometimes I feel like I'm spying on a private conversation between friends & it reminds me how great this village is! I love how close of a community it is :) This post put a smile on my face....while spying on yous ;)

Snowshoeing sounds grand! My hubby would love it. He is dreaming of us becoming mountainmen when the girls are grown & gone. This is so absurd to me LOL!!! I've lived in a city my whole life! Anyway, showshoeing would give us something active to do together. Sure wish we could take a vacation to a snowier (is that a word? lol) place. I envision a log cabin, toasty fire, brisk air & warm sun. Sounds like a lovely get away for the two of us.

HockeyMom.....YIKES to your temps!! I'm sure spring can't get here fast enough for you....