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<font face="Arial">I'd also just add that "kicking and gliding" on skis
across untracked snow of any real depth isn't much more efficient than
snowshoeing, time-wise or in terms of energy expenditure. On the
uphills, on skis, one needs specific skills or concerted effort, and
often both. Free-heel downhill skiing also requires specific skills
apart from what one may have learned as a recreational downhill skier,
even in terms of just basic maneuvering and braking. Lastly, falling
squarely and repeatedly on your tailbone while learning, all the while
with a 50lb load of marinated pork roast on back, sounds like exquisite
misery to me. Mine hurts with just me on board! ;0)</font><br>
<br>
Jonathan Ley wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:4B32CB51.1000706@phlumf.com" type="cite">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">A couple quick thoughts
on snowshoes vs. skis on the CDT…
I agree that skis would work well in many cases, and could save you
considerable effort. But, snowshoes are generally lighter and easier to
take
on/off and store/carry. Plus, you can strap snowshoes onto any type of
shoe…
whereas with skis, you need a special shoe or boot. If your path takes
you over miles
of snow, then over miles of trail, back to snow, and a mix in-between,
I think
it’d be a lot easier to manage everything with some snowshoes. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Also, snowshoes take
basically zero skill, and chance for
injury is low. If you’re faced with a steep uphill or downhill on skis,
you really need to know what you’re doing, lest you smack a tree, snap
a
knee or worse. Snowshoes also work in a greater variety of snow
conditions. If
you’re faced with a crust of jagged ice covering 5 feet of slop
underneath, or really bad suncups (not an uncommon situation in late
spring / early summer),
it can be really hard to turn on skis… <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">I’ve been really happy
with MSR snowshoes.
Their Lightning Ascent’s are lighter than their plastic ones. The nice
thing about all of them is that they hold an edge from any direction,
and are
more durable than some lighter varieties. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
<font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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Paul Magnanti wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:113961.43031.qm@web112104.mail.gq1.yahoo.com"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">In the Rockies, why not get skis? Wide open areas perfect for kicking and gliding.
A good pair of backcountry skis with fishscales (perfect for beginners) and some boots
cost less used than most snowshoes. (Harder to find used snowshoes in good condition).
Snowshoes make more sense in the heavily wooded East than the Rockies IMO.
I've hauled 50 lbs (wine and marinated pork roast add up in weight) on skis..so they
can be used for backpacking quite easily.
I plodded on snowshoes..I switched to skis and now I glide. :)
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