Dayhiking+Snow=Snowshoeing

What is just as much fun as dayhiking? What gives you a total body workout? What gets you out in the dead of winter?

Snowshoeing!

With a couple extra pieces of gear and a knowledge of where you are going you can be out year round, and do it safely.

Safety?

While snowshoeing is a fun adventure, you have to be careful with snow. Avalanches and tree wells are real issues. Before you start snowshoeing, read up on both of them. Basic rules to follow?

• Always have a partner. Never go alone.
• Always look up the snow report of where you are going. If it is a high avalanche period, find out where the safe areas to go are. There is almost always a safe place to still go to. It might not be as scenic, but you will be safer. Avalanches are nothing to mock or mess with. Learn what to do in the case of an avalanche.
• Watch for tree wells? They form around trees, leaving a trench of sorts that can be many feet hollow. Get to close and you can fall in quite easily. In a best case you go feet first, and get stuck, unable to get your snowshoes off. Go in head first, and you could die very easily by suffocating. This is an issue for skiers and snowboarders as well. Having a partner is vital here.
• Be careful around water, as edges can cleave off. Snow bridges should be carefully looked at before going over. If crossing wooden bridges, you may want to remove your snowshoes first for stability.

What do I need for gear?

• Your dayhiking gear:
  You will want the whole list in winter.
• Often waterproof pants, in late season, hiking pants and knee high gaiters.
• A good jacket.
• An insulating layer to put on if it gets cold/snowing/way down.
• A way to protect your face from wind. Bandannas work well, tied on wild west style.
• Extra food.
• Trekking poles with ski baskets are also a good option to have.
• A snow shovel per person. And the ability to use it.
• Snowshoes!  Buy the best you can afford, with aggressive crampons (the pointy metal parts under where your toe box rests).  If you plan on doing backcountry snowshoeing or on hills, you will want more aggressive side traction. Many brands now make women versions. The MSR Denali snowshoe line is a very basic, affordable and excellent use snowshoe.  Atlas makes good ones and they make womens ones as well.  Go to the Atlas Snowshoe finder tool.

The heavier you are,  you will need bigger snowshoes for more flotation. Include your pack weight into this. Certain types of snow you will sink into more. Breaking trail is the term for the leader. Breaking trail is a hard job, so be sure to switch off. It can help to have the heaviest person in the group breaking trail where there is deep powder. It isn't unusual to have certain snow where you might go up to your knees periodically. It happens!

How do I do I actually snowshoe?

Easy! Find a beginner area (flat, good snow). Strap on your snowshoes according to the manufacturer, and start walking. That is it. Within a couple minutes your walking gait will become natural to you. Trekking poles help you

A couple years ago, getting ready for a trip in the Olympic Mountains. These snowshoes were very long (30"!) but had great flotation.