[at-l] Snowshoes?

[Frank Looper]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190355274970

On Wed, Dec 22, 2010 at 8:18 PM, Tom McGinnis <sloetoe at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Well, I post-holed the Nantahalas in "the usual" 48 hours, crashing the
> downhills with 6' footsteps (that was *awesome*), and just taking my time on
> the uphills (a zen, slow-it-down-there-brother exercise, to be sure). If a
> shoe is really needed, it seems like LeeIJoe's thoughts are spot on..... (My
> vote, any whey.)
>
> sneauxtoe
>
> --- On *Wed, 12/22/10, Frank Looper <nightwalker.at at gmail.com>* wrote:
>
>
> From: Frank Looper <nightwalker.at at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [at-l] Snowshoes?
> To: "Tom McGinnis" <sloetoe at yahoo.com>
> Cc: l.clayton.parker at gmail.com, "at-l" <AT-L at backcountry.net>
> Date: Wednesday, December 22, 2010, 8:08 PM
>
>
> Not moving. Backpacking AT in January. Terribly snowy Winter in the South
> this year. Like last year. Maybe more.
>
> Heck, we're even having a white Christmas!
>
> I expect deep snow in the Smokies.
>
>
>
> On Wed, Dec 22, 2010 at 6:55 PM, Tom McGinnis <sloetoe at yahoo.com<http://mc/compose?to=sloetoe@yahoo.com>
> > wrote:
>
> That first question is a biggie, there, Frankenshoen. Shoes for down
> south?!? For *powder*?!? The last time I was able to do Fontana Dam to
> Springer, I started out wading drifts of oatmeal snow up to my hips, and
> finished in shirtsleeves on Springer. When I lived in New England, I made
> neoprene-decked jobs (they're right inside, and despite lots of Wisconsin
> use, look new at 30 years old)  You planning on a move soon?
>
>
> --- On *Wed, 12/22/10, L. Clayton Parker <l.clayton.parker at gmail.com<http://mc/compose?to=l.clayton.parker@gmail.com>
> >* wrote:
>
> It would help if you told us your intended usage. Packed vs. loose powder,
> trail vs, backcountry; walking, hiking, running, etc.
>
> That said modern snowshoes fall into four broad categories, Mountain
> Hiking, Backcountry, Trail Walking and Speed. Classic metal and older wood
> framed snowshoes fall in the first two categories while plastic and
> composite framed snowshoes can be found in all four categories. Almost all
> snowshoes (with one exception) include some sort of built-in cleat similar
> to a crampon. The sole exception is made to wear with regular crampons.
>
> Classic snowshoes are typically a bit heavier, more rugged, provide greater
> flotation and are usually more expensive.
>
> Plastic and composite snowshoes are smaller, lighter, less tiring to use
> and generally much less durable. Some trail runners cost more than classic
> snowshoes (isn't carbon fiber wonderful?), but in general they are usually
> cheaper.
>
> I own a pair of Atlas Backcountry 33s made to integrate with Black Diamond
> Sabretooth crampons. They no longer make them but you might find a pair on
> eBay. They are for serious winter mountaineers, not for casual backpacking
> and camping. Atlas snowshoes can be viewed at
> http://atlassnowshoe.com/snowshoes . At the other end of the spectrum are
> offerings from MSR  http://cascadedesigns.com/msr/snowshoes/category .
> These are good choices for the average backpacker who is going to be mostly
> on trails.
>
> That said, even the classic snowshoes can be overwhelmed in deep enough
> loose powder. If you look through the sites, you will see that the largest
> shoes are in the 24 inch range, I have postholed with the Atlas 33"
> snowshoes on the Three Sisters in the Rockies, on Mount Washington in New
> Hampshire and on Mount Mitchell in North Carolina! In each case there was
> over 6 feet of loose powder *on the trail*. If the Atlas snowshoes won't
> stay afloat, the plastic ones definitely won't.
>
> Lee I Joe
>
> On Wed, 2010-12-22 at 15:20 -0500, Frank Looper wrote:
>
> I need a recommendation for snowshoes. Light and cheap would be nice, but
> built-in crampons or similar and the ability to handle powder is more so.
>
> Alps? Ajax? MSR? I have no idea.
>
> Thanks!
> InsaneLunaticWalker
>
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