This time of year, when I go hiking, I carry my snowshoes on my pack. If the snow gets deeper than I want to walk through, then I put them on. I can walk though about 10 inches of new snow with less exertion than using the shoes. Any deeper than that or if the snow is crusted on top, then I put the shoes on.
Hi... I think that Grandpa has the right idea. If you just want to get used to wearing them for the first few times to get the 'feel' of them, no harm in trying them out in snow that is less deep. Carrying them with you during snow season is a very wise move. I've post-holed enough in the past to have learned that the hard way...!!
I have 2 pr. of snowshoes, neither one real good. We seldom get 10" of snow here. I have walked in them in 6" of snow and thought this would be easier in just boots. I may go somewhere to hike where there is alot of snow. No real plans.
I was once given an advice and it goes something along the lines of Grandpa's advice. You will feel it yourself so don't think about it too much.
Snow shoes are really designed to make it possible to walk in snow when it might not otherwise be do-able. They really do work well in deep snow.
I hope and pray with all my heart, That I aint ever gona be able to answer this question.:tinysmile_classes_t
You will know when it is time to put on the webs. Heavy snow with a crust is the worst. You can go longest without snowshoes in light, cold snow.
You can go longest without snowshoes in light, cold snow. Read more: http://www.outdoorbasecamp.com/forum/f87/how-much-snow-snowshoe-9894/#ixzz2E73EQMcd WRONG!!yA CAN GO LONGEST WITH OUT SNOW SHOES IN CAJUN COUNTRY. :becky::lol::jester::sarcastic:
This isn't an exact science. If you go hiking just attach them to your pack, they're not going to weigh you down much and if you do find you need them, you'll be thanking your lucky starts you have them on you.
Awww Cappy, You're missing a great outdoor adventure. Snow camping can be a lot of fun if you have enough snow to burrow in.
The forcast is for 6"-10" of heavy wet snow in the next 24-36 hours. I may get to try out snowshoes tomorrow.
It depends on snow conditions and terrain. If I'm on clean trail I know, then I'll plod along without the shoes until it's deep enough to where it's more work to bust through than to go over top of it. If I'm going over say.....marsh, then I want some higher "floatation" and may use them in as little as 10''.
I'd say generally about 10-12 inches is the dividing line where wearing snowshoes provides a benefit. We don't get deep snow often in NJ but you see people so eager to use their snowshoes that they wear them in 5-6 inches of snow. That's just a lot of necessary extra weight on their feet.
I suppose so. But snowshoes can be a lot of fun, not that I would expect a cajun to understand it. But, then it is difficult for those of us who do understand to contemplate the frivolity involved in mosquitoes the size of aircraft, frying eggs on the sidewalk come Summer and those nasty storms they call hurricanes.
