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Some commonly asked questions about snowshoeing.....
Snowshoes
have evolved from the days when they looked a bit like tennis rackets. Now they
are shaped (waisted) and they allow
you to walk normally. 5 minutes after putting them on you'll forget you're
wearing them. They can be attached
to any boots and have crampons underneath which avoid any slippage on harder
snow.
Snowshoeing
is not different to walking, it can be done at any level. So we can do the full
range of hikes from gentle leisurely walks in the forest,
to high mountain summit expeditions. There
are many aspects to snowshoeing: the slow plod of the ascent, the beautiful
views, the magnificence of the snow-covered scenery….and the BLAST of the
descent!! Snowshoeing
is winter walking. You need regular walking clothes, plenty of layers for the
early morning cold but, but expect to be hot in the midday sunshine. Boots
should be leather or some other form of waterproof. The only other piece of kit
you need is gaiters - ankle or knee length are fine. Snowshoes and emergency
gear is supplied by Trekking in the Alps. Winter
is a more difficult time to walk than summer because snow covers the paths. You
need to have a good sense of route and to be able to navigate in the snow. For
these reasons many people feel that they would rather be with a professional for
winter walking in the Alps. Conditions
in the winter vary hugely from one week to the next - due to snowfall, wind,
sunshine…It is best to be flexible about location until the last minute so
that we can go to the best and safest areas. There
are very few huts open from January to March, but I do know a few. From the end
of March many huts open for a short season, until mid-May. My criteria for
winter hut nights are that the hut should be warm, have good views and great
food. Basic huts are best kept for the summer months. So luxury is the key word
here. Yes,
kids love to snowshoe. I have snowshoed with lots of families and it has always
been a great success. From the age of 7, most active children can manage a good
4 hours of snowshoeing so long as they are kept well-fed and warm. Snowshoeing
is a fun activity and kids love the idea of running downhill, jumping and
combing with sledging. Not
at all. There is little similarity between skiing and snowshoeing, beyond the
snow. But that does not mean skiers cannot enjoy snowshoeing too. Snowshoeing is
walking. Sliding is not involved. All you need is a love of the mountains,
walking, beautiful scenery and a desire to get up high for the views.
Hilary Sharp,
Trekking in the Alps, Chemin des Biolles, Vallorcine 74660, France [ Tel:
+33 6 8265 4214 ] |
Snowshoe descents can be sedate, you can walk down just like regular
hiking. But you can also run, and you do not need to be a runner to do this,
just someone who likes to have let loose and enjoy themselves. Most snow is deep
and soft and plunging down on snowshoes is great fun, kind on the knees and
effective. It also makes for wonderful photos. Falling down doesn't hurt
anything other than your pride. Many people discover the child in themselves
that they thought was long forgotten.
This
is my job and hence many people prefer to snowshoe with a guide. There is also
the risk of avalanche. A guide will know how to minimise this risk. We go to
areas which are the safest on the day according to the snowfall. We always wear
avalanche transceivers and carry lightweight shovels and probes. THIS IS
STANDARD PRACTISE IN WINTER IN THE ALPS. The fact that we carry avalanche rescue
gear does not mean we will be taking more
risks, but it is crucial to be equipped correctly and to know how to use
this gear. On the first day of any snowshoeing holiday I will teach you how to
use the avalanche transceivers.
I have a general plan for each week
and I book at least one overnight hut for each trip but beyond that we can go
where conditions are best. This is why I prefer not to plan treks because this
limits us and can also lead to cancellation of the trip if the conditions are
too dangerous in that place on the day. By staying flexible we can always go out
and do walks whatever the weather. However, as the season progresses and the
daylight hours get longer we do spend more and more nights high up in the
mountains.
