Snowshoe

Snowshoes are an aid to locomotion in snow conditions that were common from time immemorial in many snowy areas. Distribute the weight of the person who wears them, so that your feet sink over a larger area less in the snow. Snowshoeing has become a popular winter sport as an alternative to ski touring.

• 4.1 Originals
• 4.2 Classics
• 4.3 Moderns

History

The origin and age of snowshoes are unknown. The Greek historian and philosopher Strabo (ca. 63 BC - ca 24 BC) wrote that the inhabitants of the Caucasus used flat leather surfaces in order not to sink into the snow, and that Armenians used round wooden surfaces. It is certain that people in snowy areas used very long ago snowshoes.

Almost every American Indian tribe had its own kind of snowshoe, the simplest and most primitive type was invented in the far north. The Inuit have two different kinds: One kind is triangular in shape and about 45 cm long, the other type is round. Further south, the snowshoes are narrower and longer; the longest ones, can be found next to the Indian people of the Cree, they are almost two meters long. The normal snowshoe resembles a tennis racket.

Snow shoes were only very slowly adopted by Europeans in America. From lumberjacks worn snowshoes are about a meter long and relatively wide, while shoes of trackers are about five feet long and very narrow. This form was adopted by the Canadian snowshoe clubs, but shortened to about a meter and widened to 40-45 cm. These snowshoes were there directed forward slightly and had a kind of rear tail. This design makes the shoes especially easy for racing, but more difficult for hunting or hiking. The tail keeps the shoe when walking straight.

Traditional snow shoes (usually white ash ) made ​​from a single hardwood bar that is bent into an oval ring, attached to the ends and is stabilized by a cross bar in the middle. The gap in the so- generated frame is filled with a dense network of strips of leather of reindeer or cattle. Directly behind the cross brace only a small opening for the toe of, dressed in moccasins foot is left open. The snow shoes are usually rare fastened with leather straps with buckles on the moccasin. Such shoes are still manufactured and sold by Native Americans.

Snowshoe and Ski

Even skis were formerly known as " snowshoes ". For example, Fridtjof Nansen in the book " On snowshoes through Greenland " (1891 translated from Norwegian ) or in Arnold Fanck's film " The white noise - new wonders of the snowshoe " ( 1931).

Snowshoeing

Nowadays, the snowshoe is regarded rather as sports equipment. Since the mid- 1990s, running and walking has become a popular craze with snowshoes. It offers itself primarily for people who do not want to go skiing or can and that do not depend on fast descents. Most alpine peaks that can be climbed with skis in winter, can be equally well accessible by snowshoes. In the French Alps Snowshoeing is operated as a national sport for years. Tourist resorts and gastronomy have set up accordingly, many mountain guide, alpine club sections and commercial tour operators offer guided tours and advise on equipment issues. There are also special guidebooks for snowshoe goers.

Benefits of snowshoeing

• Snowshoeing knows no age limit; thus are intergenerational winter experiences possible.
• Snowshoeing can be operated from the recreational sport to high-performance sports - depending on speed and terrain
• The art of snowshoeing requires almost no prior knowledge; who can run, can also snowshoeing.
• Snowshoeing is an attractive addition to cross-country skiers, as it is an endurance sport as well and is suitable for steeper terrain where there are no trails.
• Already a snow cover of 15 cm is sufficient upward there is no limit; of powder snow to snow verharschtem many types of snow can be committed, just as shallow as well as steep terrain. This one is less dependent on the external conditions, and the ski areas can do without the necessary in the alpine skiing expenses for the preparation of slopes.
• Snowshoeing is the complement of the other winter sports and requires only a small investment because the rest of accessories such as trekking poles, hiking boots, etc. often already exists.
• Snowshoeing is a Nordic Snowshoeing increasingly popular with Nordic walkers who can thus carry out their training throughout the year.

Preparing a tour

Similar to skiing, away from the slopes and trails, hikers should always pay attention to the conservation, forest areas to avoid, to abide by committing prohibitions and be able to decide when a trip must be canceled in time (for example, avalanche danger, exhaustion, orientation problems in poor visibility, or time delay). In order to minimize risks as far as possible, all snow shoeing must be carefully prepared. This includes especially:

• Information about avalanche levels and weather, seek, then align the tour
• The capacity of participants to correctly assess,
• Detailed map by studying the optimal, that is, safest route set,
• The time required for breaks, rest stop and calculate reserves (in winter the days are short), often takes the difficult descent longer than the ascent,
• Control of the avalanche and emergency equipment,
• Prepare alternative activities for bad weather.

Equipment

For a snowshoe hike alongside the snowshoes themselves as well as two ski poles with large snow shoes are a number of other pieces of equipment recommended .. These include:

• A backpack with a fastening device for snowshoes
• Climbing shoes and gaiters
• Weatherproof winter clothes ( breathable)
• An avalanche equipment consisting of an avalanche transceiver, a shovel and an avalanche probe. Optionally, an airbag backpack, an avalanche ball and a Avalung can be carried additionally.
• Emergency equipment consists of a first aid kit, a cell phone for transmission of emergency calls, a survival blanket, and a bivy bag

Types of snowshoes

Especially with their use in winter sports snowshoes have evolved over time and are designed for special applications. Today snowshoes are usually divided into three types. In the selection of snowshoes use, snow texture (powder snow, hard snow) and body weight must be considered.

Originals

The original snowshoe of trapper consisting of a bent back and tied piece of wood that is covered with net-like harzummanteltem leather. Due to their extremely large tread area they are particularly suitable for shallow and deep snow areas.

Classics

From the shape similar to the original, however, consisting of an aluminum frame and covered with a plastic skin. This type of snow boots is durable and mainly used depending on the size on easy terrain and deep snow. Enter at crossings steeper slopes, such as those found in European terrain, little support because of the aluminum frame with the plastic skin has too strong a sliding surface.

Moderns

These modern snowshoes are Alpine Snow and adapted to ground conditions and are made entirely of hard plastic, are temperature resistant down to -40 ° C and mostly smaller and more agile than the original or Classics. They are characterized by a lower tread and are with sharp steel pins, harsh iron type side rails, as well as sharp, at the binding rotatably mounted crampon -like front teeth are fitted. This makes them suitable for high alpine tours with highly inclined crossings or hard Firn. By special frame forms the crossing Steeper slopes is quite possible.

For common snowshoes no specific binding shoes like during skiing are necessary, the belt ties are suitable for all snow -grade solid hiking boots.

It is important that the contact surface of the snowshoe is the total weight of the rotor ( plus rucksack body ), and the snow conditions. At strong forces consuming sinking can be avoided with snowshoe extensions of different lengths with the expensive models. Otherwise, there are several snowshoe sizes depending on body weight.

Accessories

• Climbing aid for ascents: A strap that can be folded under the heel ( like a high heel ), so that the foot is approximately horizontally on the snow shoe when you walk uphill. Thus, a significant power saving is up to 30% felt. The folding and unfolding is done mostly with the help of the tour Stocks.
• Harsch claws and steel spikes for optimal grip even on icy snow
• Shock absorber for silent and gentle on the joints running
• Freely bond axis a natural rolling movement of the foot and guidance for fatigue-free bands and joint-gentle running
• Some models can be customized with an extension piece in deep snow or higher weights.