Expensive Blog Post

Can you identify these tracks?

That's right, you guessed it, a full grown human in SNOWSHOES!

That's me standing in my back yard, looking like a dork. I bought these on the way home from work and was walking around out there in my dress pants, which by this time weighed about 10 lbs per pant leg. I was too excited to try them to bother putting on something more reasonable first.

My husband's comment was that this was going to be a very expensive blog post. Let's just say I didn't get the cheapest snowshoes available because I wanted durability and some versatility to be able to do climbing in them. They're MSRs, which I have had several people recommend (including some of my faithful blog followers - thanks!). Based on the recommendations and a whole lot of reading of reviews, they seem to get consistently high ratings for all the categories I was most concerned about. And so far, so good.

I did not pick up tails for them, but I'm clearly going to need some since I sank a lot into the fluffy stuff that's outside at the moment. Looking at the weight ratings on them, I technically squeak into the range for walking in them without tails... so long as I'm naked and the snow isn't fluffy and over 30" deep. If I ever plan on carrying a pack with them I'll likely need the extra length. More than 30" of fluffy snow isn't terribly common around Syracuse, but perhaps up on Tug Hill I'll find some snow that's that delicious.

I also do not yet have proper snowshoeing boots. I could barely bring myself to buy the shoes and poles, despite all the generous contributions toward the snowshoe fund. I'll try a short trip this weekend in my heaviest duty hiking boots and warm wooly socks to see how it goes. The insulated boots are still on the wish list, and will have to remain there for a few more pay periods, anyway.

Here are Wednesday and Lucy sniffing warily at my new toys:

Okay weather - do your worst. I need some snow!!!

5 comments:

Carolyn H December 30, 2009 at 11:08 AM: Don't forget hiking poles! I can't 'shoe without them. I guess I'm just too klutzy.

Carolyn H.
Holly December 30, 2009 at 11:14 AM: C - Definitely good advice! I did invest in some good hiking poles - I didn't dare try to snowshoe without them because I am singularly lacking in coordination. I figured I needed a pair for high peaking, anyway, where I am also singularly lacking in coordination...
Kimberly Aardal December 31, 2009 at 12:21 PM: Way to go, I think you're going to love snowshoeing. It looks like you enjoy hiking so this is a natural progression. If you're going to go in hiking boots, I would get some gaiters and that will help prevent snow from getting inside your boots. They're not as expensive as new boots. Have fun and have a Happy New Year.
Ellen Rathbone January 4, 2010 at 11:59 AM: In fluffy snow, no snowshoe is really going to work, unless you have those giantic round bearpaws the natives used to use for just such occasions. They are like wearing dustbin lids on each foot.

I love the MSR bindings and find them the fastest and easiest to use. Just pull up hard on the straps (they are rubber and have give); aim the hole for the little peg and relax the strap - the hole should pop right over the peg. The key is in the tension! Good luck!
squirrel January 7, 2010 at 9:58 PM: Cool, I would love to get snowshoes but we just don't have enough snow to justify them. I'm sure you will have fun.