Snowshoeing: how to

Due to the massive boom in outdoor activities, large numbers of people now visit the mountains not just in summer, but in winter too. Over recent years, lots of newbie excursionists have been drawn to walking on snowshoes, a piece of equipment that lets you get out into nature to enjoy the unique charm of the snow-covered landscape. This activity is often labelled as “suitable for all”, and although this may be true, it should never be underestimated.
So let’s take a quick look at some aspects to bear in mind.

What are snowshoes?

Let’s start with the basics: snowshoes, once likened to rackets for the feet, let you ‘float’ on the surface of the snow cover, making it easier to walk in any snowy conditions, whether deep, soft, compact or frozen. Snowshoes work by spreading the weight of the body evenly over a larger area, thus allowing you to move with greater ease while walking on snow, and preventing you from sinking in.

How to use snowshoes

To put your snowshoes on, place your foot onto the tilting binding specifically designed to ensure your boot remains securely attached to the frame. As well as facilitating hiking on both flat and uphill terrain, this binding also offers the possibility of providing a more controlled stance as it locks in the heel. This setting completely secures the frame to the boot, and allows you to tackle more technical stretches where you need to move with greater agility. Another accessory fitted to the snowshoe is the heel lift. This component facilitates walking on steep inclines by limiting ankle movement, which in turn reduces the strain on calf muscles, therefore reducing fatigue. 

Snowshoeing techniques

Learning to walk with ease on snowshoes takes a little practice, as their bulk can initially make you feel somewhat clumsy. The texture of the snow (which can have different characteristics: powder, heavy, frozen) can also make a huge difference to which walking style you need to use. To walk efficiently, your stride should never be too long: short steps are always recommended as they provide more stability and are the best way to ration your energy. Aside from that, the movement pattern to adopt is a normal walking stride, where opposite arms and legs move in tandem. When walking with snowshoes, it is also a good idea to equip yourself with a pair of poles, which can be crucial for keeping your balance. Their height should be adjusted so that while walking the elbows bend to an angle of no more than 90°, and it is also a good idea to fit snow baskets on the ends to prevent them sinking into the snow.

Possible dangers

Taking a superficial approach to snow-covered terrain can have lethal results. It is essential to interpret and read the landscape in order to keep away from critical and dangerous sections by carefully analysing all the characteristics of the trail and its conditions, both during the planning stage and when you are actually on the ground. Courses in self-rescue and snow science are an excellent way to learn more about these vital aspects.

Author: Davide Canil (Kalipè Trekking)