Is snowshoeing difficult?

[Wag]

Anyone done this before? I joined the audobon society this year and they offer snow shoeing at my local park.

It looks like good excercise, but I have a bad back.

 

[HN]

snowshoeing in snow is easier than walking in snow without snow shoes. is that what you mean?

 

[nakedfrog]

I've never done it, but yes.

 

[DrPizza]

Show shoeing is walking. You walk on top of the snow. It's a little harder than walking on a sidewalk, but a heck of a lot easier than attempting to walk through waist deep snow. From what I've heard, you can run down deer with snowshoes on, if the snow is deep enough.

 

[Kelemvor]

It's a very good workout. You still sink into the snow, just not as far as you would if you just had on boots. It's great to just go off wandering through the woods though.

 

[Scarpozzi]

In Soviet Russia, the snow shoes YOU!

 

[Patt]

Once you learn the technique, it isn't a big deal. And no, you won't be able to run down a deer in snowshoes unless the snow is hugely deep.

 

[Wag]

Originally posted by: DrPizzaFrom what I've heard, you can run down deer with snowshoes on, if the snow is deep enough.

That's cool, because if I get hungry I can just run up to a fawn and bite out its jugular.😀

 

[illusion88]

It's a workout. Harder then hiking. I would do it though, it's so much fun to go out into the woods when there is snow on the ground.

 

[sandorski]

Takes awhile to get used to it, but in time it becomes easy. Also works muscles differently, so it takes time for the appropriate muscles to get in shape.

 

[Bolvangar]

Pretty easy in my opinion... I had a 60lb pack on the first time on snowshoes and really had no problem with it.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: Wag
Anyone done this before? I joined the audobon society this year and they offer snow shoeing at my local park.

It looks like good excercise, but I have a bad back.

Not difficult. Try it.

 

[AdamSnow]

Snowshoeing is fun!

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: Patt
Once you learn the technique, it isn't a big deal. And no, you won't be able to run down a deer in snowshoes unless the snow is hugely deep.

All it takes is snow that's about 2 feet deep (roughly up to the belly of deer). I wouldn't call that "hugely deep." Of course, 1 inch is "hugely deep" to the residents of any state south of Pennsylvania, hence all their schools close at the suggestion of snow. (We just had 1 to 2 feet of snow the night before last in part of our school district; our busses weren't even late.)

Then again, you wouldn't use snowshoes in 1 inch of snow. But, yes, you *can* run down deer, given 2 feet, and being in decent shape. Deer become exhausted quite easily. It would be like running down a handicapped olympic sprinter, rather than an olympic marathon runner. You're not going to catch them in a 50 yard sprint, they'll blow you away, at first. (and the deeper the snow is, the slower they run) But, a little perseverance, and you'll catch up to them. I discussed this with one of my friends in the past. He claims to have done this as a kid; my level of belief that he actually did (without snow shoes) is about 50%. I searched for more information on this, and it appears the Penebscot Indians used snow shoes and had someone in their tribes who would run down deer. And, I've watched deer struggle to run in 3 feet of snow; they move far slower then without snow. Of course, I was also struggling each time. (I've since learned that deer love large stands of pine trees when the snow is deep like that. Makes it much easier to locate them in hunting season (but harder to sneak up on them.)

One afternoon, while hunting for deer, I turned down a deer that was near me (mainly because I realized that I'd kill myself attempting to get the deer back to the truck). It was my opinion at that time that I'd have easily outrun the deer in 100 yard sprint, if I had snowshoes on, which I unfortunately I didn't. As I had to make my way through 6-7 foot deep snow drifts on my way back, I was especially glad I didn't shoot. (most of the snow was 2 1/2 to 3 feet of freshly fallen snow)

 

[leftyman]

i bought a pair this summer..with any luck i should be able to try them out this weekend!