EasternSlopes.com » Snowshoeing

Active Seniors: Get Your Kicks On Route 108!

Edie & Warner Shedd — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 23:16:13 +0000

Huh? Isn’t that supposed to be Route 66? Well, yes, if you’re driving a car, but what if you’re going for a snowshoe adventure at Smugglers’ Notch? Now that’s a journey of a different color!

David has recently written quite eloquently about the pleasures of a skiing vacation at “Smuggs”, as the Smugglers Notch Resort is commonly and affectionately known. That inspired us to think about a snowshoe hike (or “swike,” as they like to call it at Smuggs) there, so when we heard that Tim & Marilyn were going to be up there, it seemed like a perfect time to combine a hike and a visit! We met Tim and a couple of very friendly and helpful employees in the rental shop. One of them, generally known as just PK, was to have led a nature trip that morning, but it was snowing enough that most people canceled. Thus it was our good fortune to have him as our very affable and knowledgeable guide.

PK helps Edie figure out a new binding system (Tim Jones photo)

We were outfitted with TSL snowshoes which, it turns out, are actually manufactured in Vermont. These proved to be just a bit narrower than the Tubbs snowshoes that we used at the Trapp Family Lodge, and the binding system was different. Incidentally, we were interested to learn that more people rent snowshoes than skis at Smuggs. There are probably two reasons for this. First, there are likely a lot of people who are reluctant to try skis, which they regard as riskier and more difficult to use than snowshoes. Second, skiers are more likely to own their skis than are the more casual snowshoers.

We were told that, because of snow conditions, we would travel up Route 108, rather than on some of the other trails. That may seem a bit strange to the uninitiated, so a bit of explanation is in order. Route 108 goes up from Jeffersonville, Vermont, through Smuggler’s Notch, and down into Stowe. The road is closed in the winter for reasons that are readily apparent to anyone who has ever traveled this route! While the Jeffersonville side, where Smuggs is located, is a steady, moderate upgrade, the Stowe side is very steep, with incredibly sharp turns, often between massive boulders. In fact, it’s this area that gave Smugglers’ Notch its name, because smugglers were reputed to hide their goods (probably mostly illegal liquor) in the so-called caves in the notch. These are not true caves in the limestone tradition, but rather great jumbles of boulders left by the glacier, some of which form cavelike structures (a fun place to visit in the summer!).

A shuttle bus brought us up to the point where the road was closed, and we donned our snowshoes there. Then, with a moderate amount of wet snow falling, we set out up Route 108. The trail was wide and had been groomed occasionally, so it was well packed and easy going. However, we appreciated the excellent set of metal claws on the underside of our snowshoes, as the packed trail might otherwise have been rather slippery.

Intrepid explorers enjoying a snowy day at Smuggs (Tim Jones photo)

As already noted, the uphill slope was quite moderate – in fact more moderate than we remembered from having last driven the road quite a few years ago. As we snowshoed along, PK pointed out the long, extremely steep slope to our right; this led down to a fairly wide, flat valley floor. This marshy area, PK told us, has a beaver lodge, and he sometimes takes snowshoers down there on nature walks. We were surprised that snowshoes would hold on such a steep slope, but the TSL snowshoes have an exceptional set of metal claws underneath – well able to provide non-slip traction under those conditions. We were unable to see the beaver lodge through the snowflakes and the trees, but we elected not to attempt such a steep slope, good traction or not! Instead, we chose to continue getting our kicks on Route 108, and proceeded upward.

The scenery, though partially obscured by the snow, was lovely, with a steep, wooded slope rising to our left, and a steep, high slope to our right beyond the marshy valley. As we progressed, the steep slopes began to turn into impressive cliffs, which showed that we were drawing close to the Notch itself. At that point, we decided that we had had enough, so we turned around and headed back. As we descended, PK regaled us with various stories and bits of interesting information. One of these tales was particularly bizarre.

One night, a group having a torchlight ski were headed back down the Route 108 trail toward Smuggs, when, to their astonishment, they saw a set of automobile headlights coming up in their direction. They soon reached a car, driven by a young woman, that was firmly stuck in the snow. She had ignored a large “Road Closed” sign and managed to drive around a long, horizontal bar similar to those at railroad crossings. When asked why she had ignored such very obvious warnings, she said, “Well, because my GPS told me to go this way.” GPS systems were presumably designed to be used with at least a modicum of common sense, including recognizing when a road is closed for the winter! Incidentally, it required a trail groomer to pull the hapless woman’s car back down to the pavement. Well worth it for the crew, though, as they got a great story that they’ll be able to tell for decades!

On the descent, Warner’s right foot twice came out of the harness, due to slippage in the heel strap. This had also happened at Trapp Family Lodge, and clearly indicated that his rubber bottom L.L. Bean Maine Hunting Shoe, although great for most purposes, aren’t the best choice for snowshoeing. Instead, something with a firmer structure is required – a deficiency that will soon be remedied.

Edie really enjoyed the TSL snowshoes because they were a little narrower than the Tubbs snowshoes that she had previously used. Warner, more accustomed to snowshoes, didn’t notice any difference. We both appreciated the excellent traction provided by the metal claws underneath the shoes, but we agreed that we found the harnesses on the Tubbs snowshoes easier to use. It was yet another reminder to really pay attention to the details if you’re shopping for snowshoes of your own.

A seed is planted; a late winter waterfall provides an idea for more walks! (Tim Jones photo)

Once again, we found that snowshoeing on a packed trail is a great way to get out and enjoy the winter weather. It reaffirmed our interest in either putting new harnesses on our own (long unused) snowshoes, or buying new snowshoes, so that we can do some off – trail snowshoeing in the woods around our home. The snow has now vanished, however, due to the unseasonably early spring. That means we’re now setting our sights on other adventures that appeal to us, and might offer you good opportunities to get some exercise and enjoy the natural world, as well. Hmmm, perhaps hikes to scenic waterfalls might be a lot of fun; in early spring, some of the small ones may be spectacular with the snowmelt. Stay tuned!

“Little Hotties” Insoles–A Quantum Leap In Foot Warmth!

David Shedd — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 21:35:16 +0000

I suffer from cold feet, and no, I don’t mean that I chicken out of things. I mean that my feet get cold, with a capital C, and stay that way, even when other people around me are comfortable. The theory is that frostbite when I was a kid damaged my circulation; that’s certainly possible. But, regardless of the cause, the fact is that I really have to pay attention to keeping warm, or I’m utterly miserable.

One of the things that I’ve found useful for years is disposable toe warmers with adhesive on one side. They’re easily available from several manufacturers, they’re inexpensive, and they work for hours. Whether I’m cycling, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, whatever, they add warmth to the toe area of my boots. Unfortunately, though, they have a problem. If you put them UNDER your feet, so the warmth is rising, they’re miserably uncomfortable when you’re walking. So, we all put them on top of our feet, where they’re a whole heck of a lot better than nothing, but not as useful as they could be.

Can something this simple really make your feet comfortable for hours in cold weather? The answer is a resounding "yes!" (David Shedd photo)

Enter the Little Hotties Cushion Insoles. On the face of it, they look like a typical decent quality insole, shaped to fit a typical foot, with the usual arch support and heel cup. A little thicker than typical, so probably a bit warmer. Nice, but nothing special…until you turn them over, and that’s when the “aha” moment comes. Right directly under the ball of your foot is a little plug that just HAPPENS to be the same size and shape as, you guessed it, a Little Hotties toe warmer! Pull the plug out, take a warmer, stick it in adhesive side first, and slide it into your shoe; voila, instant heat!

The insoles happened to arrive the day before I did one of the Saturday morning bike rides, which has me leaving my house at 6:30 and riding about 14 miles in to meet the group for some serious pain. And, when I got up, it was 30 degrees. Not a great temperature for my feet, but perfect for testing the insoles. Into my race shoes they went, and rather than putting on heavy booties as I typically would for that temperature, I wore my Sugoi Ti booties, which are wonderful, windproof, and remarkably warm for their thickness and weight, but are NOT designed for subfreezing temps. And…on the way in, during the ride, and on the way home, my feet stayed comfortable! Because the heat source is by the ball of my foot and not the toes, the very tips of my two middle toes felt a little cool for a while, but that was it. No discomfort, and 4 hours later, they were still producing useful heat.

Insoles, toe warmers, and light booties make even lightweight racing shoes comfortable below freezing. (David Shedd photo)

That by itself would be enough of a test, but Mother Nature wasn’t through with me. April 9th, I did a bicycle race called the Tour of the Battenkill in upstate New York…62 miles of hell. But, at least the weather forecast was good; temperatures at race time were supposed to be in the low 40s, not a lot of wind…great racing conditions. And, I was fully prepared for them, which of course means that when I woke up at the Mount Snow Grand Summit hotel in the morning, it was snowing. And at race time, it was 34 degrees and a 15 mph wind. And, you guessed it…no, I didn’t have clothes, and particularly footwear, for those conditions. I had the Sugoi booties mentioned above, perfect for the conditions I was supposed to be riding in. But, I’d thrown the Little Hotties in, and a set of toe warmers, almost as a joke; I really hadn’t expected to need them. Into my shoes they went, onto my bike I got, and throughout the race, at least my feet wore comfortable (the rest of me was in pain, but that’s what I get for doing a race like that early in the season!). The race was miserable enough without any help; with cold feet, it would have been sheer torture.

Basically, these are, to me, a “no-brainer” for anyone who cycles in cold weather. There’s no downside to them, period. But that’s not all they’re good for. Anyone who expects to stand around in cold conditions watching kids playing football, or goes to watch an XC ski race, or is an ice fisherman, should have them. If you can imagine a time that your feet are going to be cold for an extended period, you should own them. The price is so low for the performance that there’s just no good reason not to get them. The only thing you need to be aware of is that they’re likely to be a little thicker than your current insole, so make sure you don’t have a tight shoe. Or wear a slightly thinner sock than you usually would…you’ll MORE than make up the difference with the heat from the toe warmers. The little plugs go back in, so if you want to use the insoles without the toe warmers, you can do that; keep a pair of warmers in your pocket, and if you unexpectedly find yourself in a situation where you’re stuck standing around in the cold, you’re all set! It really is that easy, and they really do work that well. My feet will never be as cold again!

Active Seniors: Snowshoeing At Trapp Family Lodge

Edie & Warner Shedd — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:22:23 +0000

The Trapp Family Lodge brings European charm to Vermont (Warner Shedd photo)

Thanks, at least in part, to The Sound of Music, everyone in this part of the world – and a lot of the rest of the world, too – knows about the Trapp family. And, it happens that the Trapp Family Lodge is in Stowe, Vermont, which is less than an hour’s drive from us. The family, their lodge, and things such as their network of cross country ski trails have assumed iconic status. When a very good friend told us how much fun she had cross country skiing there, it planted an idea in our heads.

We – and Warner in particular – used to do some cross country skiing in the woods around our home, but it became tough slogging for us, since we constantly had to break trail, usually in soft, deep snow. The idea of groomed trails appealed, except that Edie was too afraid that she’d fall and break a bone. Skiing was not the only option, though: what about snowshoes, particularly with poles?

At one time, Warner did a ton of snowshoeing while working as a forester. These were with old wooden-frame shoes with varnished rawhide webbing. He always used the long, narrow variety with a substantial upturn on the front, variously known as Alaska or pickerel snowshoes. They served him very well, but there was no denying that the all-leather harnesses were often a royal pain. Going up a steep grade, for example, the heel strap would stretch as his foot slipped backwards. Then, as his foot shifted forward going downhill, the loosened heel strap would frequently come off, necessitating a halt to tighten everything up again! Fast forward a great many years, and we purchased modern, aluminum frame snowshoes with plastic decking. These performed admirably except for one thing; despite a distinct improvement in the harnesses, they were still a pain to put on and take off. Edie, in particular had great difficulty in properly adjusting her harnesses each time, and the snowshoes gradually languished in our storage shed.

A new era had dawned, however, as we read about the ease of using the latest versions of snowshoe harnesses. Well, we thought, why not head for Trapp Family Lodge, where snowshoe rentals are available, and try the new wonders on groomed trails? And so, on a beautiful sunny morning, we found ourselves en route. On the way, we were treated to some gorgeous views of Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak. With its upper reaches gleaming a brilliant, white, Mansfield was in its most resplendent finery.

Modern snowshoes are much smaller and easier to use than older styles! (Warner Shedd photo)

We chose to arrive at mid-morning on a weekday, on the theory that the trails were likely to be less crowded then. When we pulled into the parking lot by the Trapp Outdoor Center, our theory was proven correct, for it was only half full. Inside the Center, we were directed downstairs to the area where rental snowshoes and skis were available. A young lady greeted us, and we told her what we were looking for. She proved to be not only extremely friendly and helpful, but also knowledgeable and professional. In short order she outfitted us with Tubbs Venture 25 snowshoes equipped with React bindings. Along with these went Rossignol ski poles for Edie and Leki poles for Warner. Then she showed us how to work the bindings, which proved to be a revelation. All we needed to do was push a foot all the way forward in the binding, pull on two straps on the top of the boot, flip a little plastic lever on each to lock the straps, and then put a strap around the heel and fasten it tightly. This can be done almost as fast as you can read this paragraph!

We then inquired about relatively flat trails that we could navigate easily, and were directed to go out on the Fox Track Trail, then back on the Sugar Road Trail. An excellent map was also provided for our guidance. With that, we went outside and put on the snowshoes. They went on as easily as they had in the shop, and we set forth. After about a hundred yards, the heel strap slipped off on Warner’s right boot. This was likely due to the fact that he was wearing “Bean boots”. The heel area of these is soft, which meant that the heel strap simply needed to be tightened an extra notch; a firmer boot, like Edie’s, would make it a little easier to use the snowshoe bindings. After that one glitch, though, the harnesses were perfectly secure.

Getting lost at the Trapp Family Lodge just isn't an option, thanks to excellent signage (Warner Shedd photo)

This trail was in the open for the first two or three hundred yards, then entered the woods – a pretty area of maples and birches. Occasionally someone on skis came up from behind and passed us, or we met skiers heading back toward the Visitor Center. The groomed trail was about 14 feet wide, so there was plenty of room for us without interfering in any way with the skiers. The terrain was quite flat, with only occasional small rises or descents. This made the walking easy and pleasant, and we took our time in order to enjoy the scenery and the experience…perfect for beginners! The land sloped downhill to our left, and we could catch occasional glimpses of skiers – and a fellow snowshoer – below us on the Sugar Road.

Along the trail we encountered something that we had never seen before – skiers towing tiny sleds that contained a baby or very young child, snugly enclosed in its own little cabin. Why, we asked each other, hadn’t someone thought of such a clever arrangement when our children were little? Apparently, it’s not just snowshoes that have improved!

"Maria's Bench" welcomes you to relax. Notice the sap buckets on the trees behind! (Warner Shedd photo)

When we reached the junction of the Sugar Road, it was perfect timing for turning around; unaccustomed to snowshoes, Edie was beginning to feel a little leg strain, and didn’t want to push too hard at this early stage in our adventures. As we turned back along the Sugar Road, the reason for the name became obvious: here there were some larger sugar maples, and these were hung with buckets to collect the sap for making that delectable golden syrup. Near one of them was a bench and a sign that read “Maria Plaza.” This, we realized, was the spot where Maria, the matriarch of the von Trapp family, used to come during her later years to enjoy the peace, quiet, and beauty of nature. That inspired us to stop for a few moments to do the same.

Snowshoers and XC skiers share the beauty of the day (Warner Shedd photo)

As we emerged from the woods and approached the Visitor Center, we could see that the parking lot had filled up greatly in the short while that we had been absent. Already there were many more skiers headed out, and we were glad we’d decided to come mid-morning on a weekday. One of the advantages of being retired; we can do what we want when we want! While there was no conflict with the skiers, it was certainly easier to snowshoe the trails when we didn’t have to be concerned about getting in their way.

The snowshoes and poles had performed admirably. The Tubbs Venture 25s are small snowshoes, making them easy to walk in and ideal for a groomed trail. One particularly nice feature of these snowshoes (and larger models, as well) is a set of toothed metal grippers on the underside, which keeps the snowshoes from slipping in all sorts of going. Warner, remembering all too well the days of slipping and sliding on steep slopes with the old-fashioned snowshoes, thought that these were an enormous improvement! If you’re thinking about getting snowshoes for yourself, you might want to read EasternSlopes.com’s snowshoe test.

It’s difficult to tell how far we traveled; maybe we should get pedometers! However, the round trip on the two trails probably amounted to something like three-quarters of a mile. As it turned out, Edie was wise to limit the distance on this first outing with snowshoes; that night she developed a cramp on the inside of one thigh – the product, no doubt, of walking a bit differently while wearing the unfamiliar snowshoes. Lesson learned…don’t push too much too soon while you’re getting back into shape, or trying something new!

After returning the snowshoes, we decide that we deserved a little treat, so we took ourselves off to the Trapp’s Tea House. There we enjoyed some excellent coffee, delicious roast beef sandwiches, and very friendly service. Warner ended up by sinning greatly: he simply couldn’t resist a piece of the wonderful Black Forest cake! It was nice to learn that the food at the Trapp Family Lodge lives up to everything else we encountered there.

Looking back on the trip, we agreed that snowshoes on a groomed trail are an excellent way to get out and enjoy the winter scenery. This can be as easy or as physically challenging as you wish, depending on the trail(s). Going to the Trapp Family Lodge, or some place that rents snowshoes and can show you how to use them, is a great way to see how it will work for you. It also led us to think about snowshoeing off-trail near our home. We’re going to look into the possibility of replacing the present bindings on our own snowshoes with a set of the React bindings, or simply getting new ’shoes. Then, with the much greater ease of putting them on and taking them off , we’ll be a lot more apt to get out and exercise in the winter woods. It’s amazing how, after only a couple of little trips, we’re starting to see all sorts of possibilities for both exercise and fun, even in the winter!

Resort Review: Jackson XC

Tim Jones — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:02:49 +0000

Snow covered bridge! You can ski right over the Ellis River on this beautiful covered bridge in Jackson, NH on the network of trails maintained by Jackson XC. (Tim Jones photo)

My sweetheart Marilyn and I were up in Jackson, NH, recently with our friends David and Susan to celebrate the 75th birthday of the venerable Black Mountain ski area(1-800-475-4669) one of our favorite alpine ski hills. Jackson NH is certainly a wonderful destination for Active Outdoors types. In addition to Black Mountain (read our resort review here) for alpine skiers there’s also Jackson XC (1-800-927-6697) for cross country buffs.

Jackson also has some wonderful places to stay and eat. On this trip, we’d all comfortably settled into the historic Eagle Mountain House (1-800-966-5799; ) which has cozy rooms, very comfortable beds, a hot tub, great breakfasts and warming libations and comfort food in the Highfields Tavern. This lovely old hotel is perfectly positioned close to Jackson Village with a view of the summit of Black Mountain. They’ve got sledding, skating, snowshoe and ski trails right on the property, and ski-and-stay package deals. What more could you ask for?

Other places we’ve stayed in Jackson include the Snowflake Inn, the Wentworth Country Inn (which we’ve reviewed here) and the Inn at Jackson.

This particular weekend was cold, clear and very windy—does that sound familiar? We’d skied hard on Saturday (Black Mountain faces south so there was little wind and lots of sun). Saturday night we partied and danced to the Swingtones, a 14-piece big band playing great 40s-era music. On Sunday morning with the temperature hovering just above zero and the wind rattling the windows, Marilyn and Susan decided to cocoon in the warm hotel while David and I got active outdoors.

A torrential rain a few days before our visit had somewhat limited our options. While the groomed snowmaking trails at the mountain had been in great shape, natural snow cover was crusty everywhere and thin (or non-existent!) in spots. We had snowshoes with us and there are many beautiful trails to explore, but we’d both been doing a lot of snowshoeing recently for the great snowshoe test, and not much cross-country skiing. So we called Jackson XC to see what they had to offer. Jackson is so big, with so many varied trails that you can almost always find what you want–even if the weather hasn’t been particularly cooperative.

Thom Perkins, the director of the non-profit foundation which runs Jackson XC, who was answering the phone that morning, told us that the “core” trails in the valley near their touring center were generally in better shape than the ones farther out on their system. He strongly recommended we come down to the valley and ski the Ellis River Trail. When in doubt, trust the people with local knowledge. Thom knows every inch of the Jackson trail system and he certainly gave good information this day.

Jackson XC delivers sunshine, blues skies, and some healthy exercise. What more could you ask for on a cold winter morning! (Tim Jones photo)

We started out from their touring center across the windy, mostly flat golf course, Snowcover twas thin in spots, but perfectly groomed and very skiable. We crossed a covered bridge over the Ellis River and skied through a tunnel under busy Route 16, then skied more open golf course trail until we had to take off our skis and cross Green Hill Road to reach the Ellis River Trail. Good warmup for the real thing!

This was never meant to be a major excursion, just a chance to get out on skis on a beautiful cold, bright morning and burn off a few more calories before lunch. If the womenfolk had come with us, we could have made a wonderful day of it with a picnic lunch at the Ellis River Cabin. But the point is to get out when and where you can. If you can only go for an hour or two, that’s time well spent that no one can ever take away from you.

The whole experience changed when we left the open golf course behind and hit the wooded trail along the river. This is one of Jackson’s most popular trails—for good reason. The entire trail is over 7 km in each direction, green circle (easier) all the way with only a few little rolling up-and-down sections. It still had plenty of snow and was beautifully groomed with a wide, flat path for skate skiing and double-tracks for classic technique.

David was on touring gear, lighter and faster than the Alpina Discovery backcountry gear I always have with me for whatever the conditons offer, so he flew out ahead and flew back while I puttered along at my slow-but-steady pace. We both got a good workout, he just saw more of the trail than I did! In retrospect, I should have taken my skate skis—maybe I could have kept up!

The Riverbank Loop diverts from the Ellis River Trail and runs for a full kilometer along–you guessed it!– the riverbank. This narrower trail is double tracked for classic skiers only, and we explored its twisting undulations, hearing only the soft swish of our skis, the wind in the trees and the soft murmurs of the ice-bound river. Lovely!

Even if you’ve never, ever been on cross-country skis before, this is a trail you could enjoy on any winter day. We never planned on doing the whole trail and the six or seven kilometers I traveled was just enough.

Cross country skiing at Jackson XC isn’t just for super-athletes! Whatever your fitness level, you can improve it with a winter morning on cross-country skis. (Tim Jones photo)

Of course Jackson XC offers a whole lot more than just flat and easy green circles across golf courses and through the woods along rivers. They’ve got groomed black diamonds like the 12 kilometer Hall Trail and the East Pasture Trail (near the Black Mountain Cabin) and the Wildcat valley Trail that are going to be a challenge for anyone on backcountry gear. Then there are the steep, twisty, ungroomed black diamonds such as the Black Mountain Cabin Trail and the Doublehead Ski Trail that are probably better tackled on Tele or AT gear with skins.

When Mother Nature is being uncooperative, Jackson XC almost always has something worth skiing. And when she’s being generous, this is a playground you could explore for a week without even beginning to see all of it.

Snowshoes Put To The Test

Tim Jones — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:29:33 +0000

Testing snowshoes is a tough job, but someoner has to do it! (Tim Jones photo)

After my recent story on choosing snowshoes, so many of you wrote asking for the results of the EasternSlopes.com snowshoe tests that we’re sharing them with everyone before the test is complete.

We aren’t writing about every snowshoe on the market. Not even close! That’s because we haven’t actually tried all the snowshoes on the market, and we won’t write about anything we haven’t actually used.

We have put in a lot of miles on some of these snowshoes. These are real miles, on packed trails, icy crust, and untracked powder on flats, steeps and sidehills, with packs on and without.

We deliberately try to break snowshoes. So far, we’ve (mostly) failed . . .

Here’s a look specific snowshoe models we’ve actually used. In some cases, the tests are still incomplete and we’ll be adding info and opinions as the winter progresses. We also hope to be testing additional shoes this winter. So stay tuned! If you agree or disagree with any of our assessments, please feel free to post a comment, we’d love to hear about your experiences.

Tubbs Couloir 30 ($200-250), 5.5 lbs/pair; 9×32 inches

Tubbs Couloir 30 (Tim Jones photo)

My everyday go-to snowshoe is the Tubbs Couloir 30. I used my first pair so often the plastic decking began cracking where it wrapped around the frame. Tubbs replaced them without questions and I’ve had no issues since. The Couloir is wider (9 inches) than some other snowshoes which provides more flotation, though some people might find it too wide.

The binding on this shoe is as good as I’ve ever tried–very easy to get into and out of even with mittens on—just be careful to keep the flip-up catch that secures the heel strap clear of ice. The binding pivots easily so the tail of the shoe drags as it should and any snow on it slides off as you lift. The binding also flexes slightly side-to-side which may help the shoe stay flatter on the snow for better traction when sidehilling. An easy-to-use flip-up wire heel riser makes long climbs less tiring on your calves. Nice touch. The aggressive steel claws stay sharp and traction is excellent in all conditions.

For several years now, My sweetheart, Marilyn, has used the Tubbs Odyssey 25 (9×25 inches) Women’s which has since been replaced by the upgraded Women’s Couloir model. She simply loves the shoes, has no trouble at all handling the bindings with mittens on. She’s happy, I’m happy.

TSL Over The Top 30 ($220) 6 lbs/pair; 8×31 inches

TSL Over The Top 30 (Tim Jones photo)

These aluminum-frame snowshoes are made in Vermont. They are slightly heavier than some other snowshoes, but bombproof–you couldn’t break them if you tried, and I’ve tried. The 8-inch width makes for more natural walking but a little less flotation.

The bindings are solid, very positive, comfortable but take some tinkering to fit. Once set up they are easy to use even with mittens. The heel lift is awkward to engage and disengage without removing mittens, but there when you need it. The steel traction cleats are long, sharp and aggressive. These are my favorite snowshoes for hard crusted snow.

TSL 227 Escape ($150) 4.8 lbs/pair; 9×29 inches

TSL 227 Escape (David Shedd photo)

These lightweight composite snowshoes look like they’ll break instantly. Three seasons later and many miles with heavy packs in tough conditions, they’re still going strong. The plate-style bindings are easy to use once set to your boot, comfortable, supportive and have a flip-up heel lift. The ribbed composite deck grips well on softer snow while six stainless-steel spikes and a traction claw grip on hard snow. A little “keel” hanging off the back end helps the shoes to track straight. David’s sweetheart Susan loves these shoes.

LL Bean/Tubbs Pathfinder (159) 4.6 lbs/pair, 9 x 31 inches

LL Bean/Tubbs Pathfinder 30 (David Shedd photo)

I haven’t given these a full test, but they cost much less than the top-of the line Tubbs and even less that the (nearly?) identical Ventures. With a lighter, less expensive shoe you give up some features such as the heel lift. The binding allows a little more random foot movement and the heel strap is harder to tighten, but it works with mittens on. If you only occasionally head up steeper mountains with a pack on, it appears these will do just fine and you’ll appreciate the lighter weight on the easier trails.

Yukon Charlie’s Guide 825 ($125) 4.8 lbs/pair, 8×27 inches

Yukon Charlie's Guide 25 (Tim Jones photo)

Yukon Charlie’s shoes have been redesigned since I got these but the basics remain the same. For inexpensive snowshoes, the quality is surprisingly good, though they are relatively heavy overall,. The bindings are solid and easy to use with two ratcheting buckles over the boot and a simple heel strap adjustable for length. The traction claws are aluminum and dull easily but work fine on crusted snow. Worth a look if you are walking on easy terrain and don’t want to pop for bells and whistles you don’t need.

LL Bean Winter Walker 30 ($119) 5.25 lbs/pair, 9 x 30 inches

LL Bean Wilderness 30 (David Shedd photo)

Impressive in early testing, these look to be a genuine a bargain for a recreationalsnowshoe. Lighter than some other inexpensive shoes. Bindings are fairly simple to use with some practice. We lent them to novice snowshoer Matt Marean and he had some difficulty figuring out the bindings initially, but no trouble once he’d used them a bit. We’ll have a lot more later when they’ve seen more miles on varying snow conditions.

Kahtoola Flight Deck TS24 ($274), 4 lbs/pair, 9×24 inches

Kahtoola TS 24 (David Shedd photo)

Unique, dual-purpose snowshoes. A separate cleat system straps to your boot, serves as an aggressive traction creeper when you don’t need the flotation of the snowshoe. Cleats snap onto the aluminum-frame snowshoe deck (three sizes available). Neat, simple, works extremely well when the deck is on a firm surface, harder in deep snow. A pull tab releases binding easily. The decks are low profile, easy to carry on a pack. The ONLY flaw is the tight toe cords which don’t allow the deck to pivot freely. You pick up weight of the entire snowshoe and any snow on it with each step and it flips snow onto your legs and back. . . Annoying.

LL Bean Trailblazer 30 ($220 includes special winter boots with step-in binding), 3.2 lbs/pair, 8 x 30 inches

LL Bean Trailblazer Step-In (David Shedd photo)

Another intriguing step-in snowshoe binding concept, this one free-pivoting so decks shed snow. Spring-loaded steel pins snap into metal detents built into very comfortable winter boots that you could wear anytime you are out in snow. The connection point looks flimsy, but neither David nor I have been able to break or twist out of them—not even wearing a 50-pound pack! The step-in feature works easiest on a firm surface—more difficult in deep snow. Simply push with the tip of a ski pole to release. Much more testing needed this winter!

MSR Lightning Ascent 30 ($250), 4.4 Lbs/pair, 8×30 inches.

We tested these serious snowshoes on on a variety of snow conditions from wind-drifted powder to frozen crust to rotting corn snow and they passed all tests with flying colors. Strong, stable lightweight aluminum frame, excellent grip and flotation in all snow conditions, even with a heavy pack. Heel riser flips up easily for climbing. Like all snowshoe bindings, this one has a (short) learning curve but there is absolutely nothing bad to be said about these shoes.

MSR Denali EVO Ascent, ($170), 4 lbs/Pair, 8×22 inches,

MSR Denali EVO Ascents with Flotation tails (Tim Jones photo)

We tested these on a variety of snow conditions from wind-drifted powder to frozen crust to rotting corn snow. They are excellent lightweight “emergency” shoes and ideal for use by a smaller person without a pack. They have an excellent and secure binding that’s easy to use with mittens. They are, however, simply too small and too flexible for regular use on steep or sidehill terrain with a winter backpack. An optional “flotation tail” is beautifully engineered to fit securely to the tail of the shoe. Unfortunately, it provided no useful added flotation that we could determine in any of the snow conditions we encountered. In fact, the lengthened tail combined with the short tip of these shoes causes the shoe to tilt down and dig in deeper at the tip, making walking awkward, especially in soft snow or on breakable wind crust. Based on our experience, we recommend the shoes but NOT the flotation tails.

How To: Winterfest, A Place To Learn Winter Fun

Tim Jones — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:22:44 +0000

This way to family winter fun at the Hulbert Outdoor Center in Fairlee, Vermont. (Tim Jones photo)

For some people in New England, cabin fever is already setting in by mid-January. The other day, I actually heard someone say “I can’t wait for Spring!” Good Grief! This is New England! Winter stays here at least until the end of March–mid April if we’re lucky!

There are lots of opportunities for winter grumblers to become winter lovers. You just have to get out and try new things. Who knows, you might actually find yourself sorry to see the snow melt away.

There weren’t any Spring wishers in evidence up in Fairlee, Vermont last

The skis are a little long and feel strange at first, but the Winterfest is a wonderful place to try something new for winter. (Tim Jones photo)

weekend. Instead there were just a whole lot of smiling, happy people—some experienced outdoors types, others clearly not—out playing in the snow or on the ice. Sure, it was cold and the wind was blowing. So what? This is January in New England—it’s supposed to be cold.

The Upper Valley Trails Alliance an impressively-active trails advocacy organization has joined forces the past several years with the Hulbert Outdoor Center (802-333-3405) and several local businesses including the Lake Morey Resort (800-423-1211), Nordic Skater, TSL Snowshoes (which makes excellent aluminum-framed snowshoes right in Vermont) and others to create the wonderful Lake Morey Winter Weekend. My sweetheart Marilyn have gone twice in the past three years and you can bet we’ll go again.

Your first adventure on Nordic skates feels awkward, but smiles are almost guaranteed. (Tim Jones photo)

We drove up early on Saturday morning with Nordic Skating on our minds. It’s something we both have enjoyed doing in the past, but don’t get to do often enough. The Skate-a-thon is the perfect way to try Nordic Skating—skating on long-bladed skates which attach to warm, comfy cross-country ski boots. It’s by far the best way to skate on a frozen pond, lake or river. Lake Morey is the epicenter of Nordic skating in America with the longest plowed skating trail in the country. The admission fee ($25 for adults, $15 for kids) included free skate rentals, lunch, skating instruction, and warm drinks.

Neither Marilyn nor I are particularly good at Nordic skating. Not enough practice. When we started out this cold, windy day, she joked that she was moving like an 90-year-old lady. I wasn’t doing much better. But we soon got back into it and where the ice was smooth, we cruised along at a pretty good clip. Nordic skates are designed to glide easily over rough ice, but we aren’t good enough yet to do that easily. Still we had a wonderful time on the ice, covered a couple of miles (my thighs felt it for sure . . .) and we can’t wait to go back.

While out on the ice I talked to a family visiting from North Carolina. They’d never skated on natural ice before . . . and they were having a wonderful time

The view out the window of the Lake Morey Resort shows how close the longest maintained ice skating trail in the U.S. really is. (Tim Jones photo)

That night we stayed at the Lake Morey Resort, ate a very nice dinner in their dining room, slept the sleep of the well-exercised a. The Resort is, literally, right on the skating trail, and they have reasonably priced packages available for the rest of the winter. If you want to try Nordic skating this winter, this is the place to do it.

The next morning (after breakfast, of course!) we headed for the 7th annual

Trying snowshoes for the first time at the Hulbert Center on lake Morey in Vermont. (Tim Jones photo)

WinterFest at the Hulbert Center. This is a very family-friendly, novice-friendly opportunity to try includes snowshoe hikes, cross country skiing, Nordic skating, and sledding. You could also learn about safe winter travel skills, igloo ice fishing, dog sledding, ski joring and take a hay ride. Imagine, a whole day of winter fun for just $5 per person or $15 per family and a chance to try sports that get you outdoors and having fun all winter long! Why would anyone want spring to come? Life isn’t a spectator sport. Get out and enjoy!

How To: Snowshoes 101

Tim Jones — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:25:57 +0000

Slow-but-steady, snowshoes will take you step by step into a winter wonderland. (Tim Jones photo)

Gliding on cross-country skis is elegant (and exhausting). Carving turns on open slopes and through the woods on Telemark and alpine skis is exhilarating. Sledding is simple joy. But if I had to choose one piece of equipment to enjoy snow with, it would probably be a good pair of modern snowshoes.

Slow-but-steady snowshoes are the All Terrain Vehicles of winter. Pick the right pair for you and you can go almost anywhere from the highest summits to the gentlest valley, through deep snow or over slippery ice.

If you don’t already own snowshoes, I’d strongly recommend renting and/or borrowing (ask your friends!) as many different pairs as you possibly can to try out before you buy. Most cross-country ski areas rent snowshoes; so do outdoor shops and many snow-country lodges.

Each brand and each model has slightly different characteristics, different bindings, different price tags. The more you’ve tried, the more likely you are to find the right pair for you.

Frame, filler, binding and cleats, the four major components of a modern snowshoe. (Tim Jones photo)

A snowshoe, has four main components: the frame, the decking which fills the frame (in the case of plastic snowshoes, frame and decking are one), bindings, and traction cleats. Each of these components has its impact on how the snowshoes will perform for you.

Most modern snowshoes have a lightweight aluminum frame which (except among traditionalists) has replaced the bent ash of yesteryear. The decking of modern shoes is plastic instead of rawhide. This combination is strong, lightweight and essentially maintenance free.

The other modern standard is a stiff plastic deck that does away with the need for a frame. They look like they’d break easily. They don’t .

Bindings are especially important. They should be easy for you to put on and take off, preferably with mittens on. More than one pair of snowshoes sits unused in an attic or garage because the bindings are hard to use.

One thing to look for in the binding: does it allow the snowshoe to pivot freely when you lift your foot so the tail of the snowshoe stays on the snow with each step? Some snowshoes have a tight connection (called a toe cord) that forces you to pick up the entire weight of the shoe and any snow that’s on it. Snowshoes with a tight toe cord can flip snow up your back (and down your neck) with each step. Yes, that’s as unpleasant as it sounds. . ..

Sherpa made the very first "modern" aluminum framed snowshoe more than 30 years ago. Not how wimpy the cleats are compared to newer designs--but they still work. (Tim Jones photo)

The final component of modern shoes is traction cleats. These were pioneered more than three decades ago by a defunct company called Sherpa. I still have a pair of the original Sherpa’s and the “teeth” under the foot are tiny compared to today’s crampon-like designs. In fact, many of today’s snowshoe claws are so aggressive, they’ll take you some places you used to need full crampons.

In addition to the claws directly under your foot, most modern snowshoes also have additional cleats or spikes back under your heel area. These allow extra traction on steep downhill terrain if you put a bit of weight on your heel. Trust me, the last thing you want to do is go glissading down a steep slope on your snowshoes—especially if you are wearing a pack.

Any snowshoes are better than no snowshoes, but good ones that you like and find easy to use are the best of all. Snowshoes give you infinite opportunities to enjoy winter at a safe and friendly pace, uphill and down, across the snowcovered landscape. Try some out today. Life isn’t a spectator sport. Get out and enjoy!

Size Matters

The sizing charts companies provide to help you choose snowshoes only tell part of the story. Most only tell you to choose by your weight. But is that weight with or without winter boots, clothes, and the pack you need to carry your winter safety gear? See the problem?

There’s also the matter of flotation. Bigger snowshoes generally float you higher on softer, untracked snow than small shoes do. Some of the tiniest snowshoes today are made for running on packed and groomed trails—but they’re about useless anywhere else. They look tempting, but be careful.

The plus side of smaller shoes is that they are lighter and, perhaps a bit more maneuverable

Personally, I generally pick snowshoes a size larger than the sizing chart recommends—I’d rather go too big than too small, have a little more flotation than too little.

Snowshoe Testing Notes

Alas, in all the years I’ve tramped the trails on snowshoes, I’ve never found the perfect pair for all terrain and conditions. But some are awfully close . . .

In recent years I’ve extensively tested aluminum-frame shoes from TSL, Tubbs, Yukon Charlie’s and Kahtoola. Each has had its pros and cons .

I have less experience with the composite plastic shoes. I tried pre-production prototypes of the first plastic shoes nearly two decades ago when Bill Forrest of Forrest Mountaineering and Patrick Smith of Mountainsmith were making them out of blue plastic barrels. MSR now markets the direct descendents but I’ve never tried the production models. Tubbs and GV Snowshoes also have new composite shoes. I have, however, extensively tested an excellent pair of composite shoes from TSL and will happily give my impressions.

You can occasionally find surplus Canadian military issue snowshoes with magnesium frames and wire fillings for sale, particularly in northern New England. They are bombproof but weigh a ton.

And then of course there are still wood framed snowshoes filled with either traditional rawhide or neoprene. Beautiful to look at and perfectly wonderful on soft snow, they require more care to use and maintain than the knockabout modern models.

Merck Forest: A New Year’s Cabin Adventure

Tim Jones — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:02:47 +0000

There’s nothing quite as inviting as a snug cabin on wintry day. (Tim Jones photo)

For the past three years, Marilyn and I have celebrated New Year’s by hiking into a remote cabin with friends. Two winters ago, seven of us hiked into the AMC’s Cardigan High Cabin (www.outdoors.org) for an overnight. Last year, four of us ventured to the Black Mountain Cabin, on the White Mountain National Forest in Jackson, New Hampshire. We were scheduled for two nights but only stayed one because we couldn’t get the cabin even slightly warm.

This year our friends David and Susan joined us for an adventure which lasted three days and two nights right after Christmas. Our haven was “Nenorod,” the most remote of seven cabins (which rent for $45-$75/night) at Merck Forest (802 394-7836) in Rupert, Vermont, right on the New York border. Nenorod supposedly sleeps eight—it was perfect for four people with winter gear.

We met in Manchester Center, Vermont, for a hearty breakfast at the appropriately-named “Up For Breakfast” (802-362-4204). Climbing the long, steep stairs to this eatery was a good warmup for what was coming. As we ate, we watched the cold rain pouring down. Not exactly the weather we’d hoped for.

As we drove into Rupert, the snow disappeared. All that was left was heavily crusted patches in the woods. We’d planned on testing a Nordic Cab pulk as part of a pack and pulk combo, pulling some of our gear behind us as we hiked in on snowshoes. The lack of snow forced us to spend an hour sorting and repacking to leave the pulk behind. The good news: the rain slackened a bit as we adjusted.

The ground had been cold when the barely-above-freezing rain had started, so the trail we had to walk on was a slanted skating rink. Instead of wearing our snowshoes, we strapped them to our packs (there was snow in the forecast) and put on creepers. Without the creepers, we’d have had to wear the snowshoes for traction. I don’t believe we could have walked safely with backpacks without some traction assistance.

Nenorod is 2.5 miles, mostly uphill, from the Merck Forest Visitor’s Center, and it took us about two hours to hike it with heavy packs. Along the way, we passed several spots that were supposed to offer spectacular views, but all we could see was fog. This is intensively managed forest, and we did see evidence of their sugaring operation—tubing, collection tanks and well-cared-for sugarbush.

Just about the time the packs started feeling REALLY HEAVY, we saw the cabin looking cozy through the fog. Hallelujah!

The cabin appearing suddenly through the fog and rain as we trudged up hill with heavy packs was a welcome sight.

We divided up chores naturally. David carried in firewood from the supply on the porch while I split kindling with the Gerber Axe I’d packed in. Marilyn and Susan emptied packs, laid out pads and sleeping bags on bunks and organized the kitchen. A few minutes later, we had a fire blazing in the woodstove, the cabin was warming nicely, and it was time for lunch and an afternoon nap—one of the many joys of cabin camping.

Later, we watched the weather clear in time for a spectacular sunset, then we sat and drank wine and talked. Dinner was a hearty stew (no freeze-dried glop on these trips!) and pre-cooked rice eaten by the soft yellow light of a Coleman backpack lantern. From the cabin porch, the only electric light visible was a beacon on a faraway ridge.

Bed time came very early; we let the stove go out allowed the cabin to cool and reveled in the coziness of warm mummy sleeping bags through the long night.

It’s amazing how fast you can decompress and let the stresses of civilization melt away in a remote cabin—especially when you are warm, well fed and completely comfortable. Life isn’t a spectator sport. Get out and enjoy!

The Fun Continues

A few minutes of unpacking and starting the woodstove turns an empty cabin into a warm and inviting refuge

The next morning we were up before the sun (which seemingly slept in with a blanket of clouds and falling snow). The woodstove quickly warmed the cabin and we lingered over a breakfast of Eggbeaters (easier to carry than eggs), scrambled with fixin’s. The wind was up, the snow was starting to fall heavily and Marilyn and Susan decided to keep the woodstove company while David and I trekked back out for more water (there wasn’t enough snow to melt) and some food we had left behind.

Taking a longer trail, we made it down to the cars in 50 minutes, grabbed what we needed. As we headed up, the snow was starting to build up just enough to clog our creeper cleats and prevent them from digging into the ice, which made the walking even more treacherous.

We arrived at the cabin famished, just in time for a hearty lunch of leftover stew. Then we read, talked, played a spirited game of Parcheesi on a tiny game board and enjoyed another afternoon nap. A perfectly relaxing day . . . Outside the temperature continued dropping and the wind picked up as the snow fell sidewise.

After appetizers (smoked salmon, cream cheese and capers) and another spectacular dinner (sautéed chicken breasts and sweet potatoes), we sipped wine and listened to the wind trying valiantly to hurl the cabin off the ridge. Then we built up the fire for the night and headed once again for snug sleeping bags.

All Good Things Must End

The thermometer read five below zero the next morning, with a howling wind. Some of the snow drifts were waist deep.

Though packing in snowshoes in the rain had seemed silly, they made the walk out much easier. The views were indeed spectacular, but it was too cold to linger–it would have been brutal without proper clothing. We were chilled by the time we reached the cars, but had more warm clothes available if we’d needed them for safety or comfort.

On the way home the radio weather weenies were blathering about staying home in the dangerous cold. We laughed. We’ve already reserved the cabin for next year.

How To: Trail Traction Devices In Action

Tim Jones — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:01:24 +0000

Clockwise from top are serious mountaineering crampons, less weighty and cumbersome are the modern, flexible Kahtoola KTS steel crampons, and, most versatile for trail hiking, Kahtoola MICROspike creepers.

Here in the northeast, most of us—especially those of us who like to get out and enjoy winter—put snow tires on our vehicles in October and take them off in April. Snow tires help get you where you are going safely and easily on slick roads. The only thing worse than not being able to get moving because you have no traction is not being able to stop for the same reason!

It’s the same out on the trails in winter, where not having the traction you need can range from being slightly annoying to dangerous to deadly. If you are going to hike when there’s snow around, you need to be prepared to deal with traction issues. It all depends on the conditions you encounter. When the snow’s deep you need snowshoes. But what about when it isn’t deep yet?

Trail conditions can vary widely not only from day to day, but from hour to hour and, sometimes, moment to moment. What you find in one place may be very different only a few feet away. Some of the variables that can affect your footing on a winter trail include the recent weather, the steepness of the trail, what’s underneath the snow (rock, dirt, etc.), the sun and wind exposure that particular section of trail experiences, and the amount of traffic. It’s hard to know exactly what you are going to encounter.

Most hiking boots these days have rubber lug soles that can provide adequate traction on settled snow conditions. They are kind of like “all season” tires, better than slicks but inadequate when the going gets rough. When snow gets rained on or melts and then re-freezes into heavy crust or ice, it gets too hard for even hard rubber soles to “bite.” You start to slip, and slips mean falls and falls mean injury. That’s when traction aids are necessary.

For simplicity sake, let’s divide traction aids into two general categories: creepers and crampons. Most modern snowshoes have traction cleats built in, too, but that’s a subject for another time.

Creepers are designed to give traction for walking or running on relatively flat ice—a frozen lake, a city sidewalk or an ice-covered hiking trail. They generally attach to your boots quickly with a rubber or nylon harness, or even overboots, and have some sort of metal cleats, studs, spikes or chains to bite into the surface of the ice and keep you from slipping.

Creepers like these MICROspikes from Kahtoola are sometime necessary for traction on icy winter trails (or even icy sidewalks and driveways).

My favorite creepers by far (and I think I’ve tried most of them) are “MICROspikes” from Kahtoola. At this time of year they run about $60 (about twice the price of other creepers) and are worth every penny; in the spring I’ve seen them for 40 percent off. They slip on quickly and securely with a heavy-duty polymer harness and have 3/8-inch spikes on chains which provide serious traction. Mine have lasted three long seasons so far and show no sign of giving up. I’ve used them on flat ice and even some steep trails where I could probably have justified using crampons and they performed admirably. This is a GREAT product. If you don’t believe me, check the reviews at rei.com.

Creepers in general are relatively compact, lightweight, and easy to carry. And when you need them, you need them. Get a set that fits your winter hiking boots, throw them in your pack whenever you head out on the trail. If you turn a corner and suddenly find your only route covered in slippery ice or hard crust, stop and put them on and travel safely.

Life isn’t a spectator sport. Get out and enjoy!

Do You NEED Crampons?

Beautiful to look at, and still very functional on steep terrain, these hand-made vintage crampons are really overkill for most winter trail hiking.

Crampons, on the other hand, are long, sharp spikes designed to get you safely up and down steeply slanted (or even vertical!) ice and heavily crusted snow.

Here’s a fact: Crampons are serious mountaineering gear; you never need them on any normal trail. Most hikers never need them

In fact, crampons are a two-edged sword: when you need them, you need them; they can let you travel in comparative safety in conditions that could otherwise hurt or even kill you.

But having crampons can also get you into places you maybe shouldn’t go. If you don’t own an ice axe and don’t absolutely know how to use it for self-arrest if you fall on a steep slope, you have no business going where crampons are needed.

Another fact: crampons are tricky things. They can bite you. More than one intrepid mountaineer has been seriously hurt or killed because they tripped on their own crampons and fell where they shouldn’t have fallen. If you are going to use crampons, you have to practice with them someplace safe before you need to rely on them on potentially hazardous terrain.

I admit I have a couple of pairs or crampons in my gear closet. Last year I purchased an elegant (but still functional) pair of older, hand-made crampons with leather straps. They are beautiful to look at but I haven’t used them yet.

I also have a pair of very lightweight, flexible, easy-to-use KTS Steel crampons from Kahtoola to use when the MICROspikes aren’t adequate or, more often, when Marilyn is using the MICROspikes and I need something else.

But remember, if you think you need crampons, you probably don’t. When you need crampons, you’ll know, and you should know how to use them.

Worst Case Scenarios

If you want to see what can go wrong when your traction aids fail you on steep terrain, I’d suggest taking some time to read the accident reports on the Mount Washington Avalanche Center’s website.
Mount Washington isn’t the only place accidents happen, but it is a place where they get reported. Spend some time reading: it might keep you from making a rookie mistake that gets you into trouble.

How To: Plan A Winter Adventure

Tim Jones — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:23:59 +0000

The AMC cabin on Cardigan Mountain in New Hampshire was the scene of the first annual New Year’s Cabin Getaway. Though the location changes each year, the Getaway has become an annual tradition. (David Shedd photo)

Three rules for having fun outdoors in winter:

1) Snow changes everything.

2) Ice changes everything.

3) Cold changes everything.

4) As a result of rules 1, 2, and 3, winter adventures require more careful planning than summer excursions of equal duration.

Personally, I think everything is more fun in the winter—which is why I’m rejoicing at the snow in my yard (and almost everywhere else across New England and New York). Winter’s finally here for most of us.

Every New Year’s, my sweetheart Marilyn and I do a winter cabin adventure with my buddy David and his sweetheart Susan. It’s become an annual tradition. We invite other people along but they are always “too busy” around the holidays. Their loss.

Two winters ago, seven of us hiked into the AMC’s High Cabin on New Hampshire’s Mount Cardigan on New Year’s Day. We planned the trip meticulously and had a wonderful time. The worst things that happened were we got a late start when two people showed up without having packed the night before (trying to organize a group is like trying to herd cats), and one of our coffee addicts forgot to bring creamer. Oh, and we had too much food.

The Black Mountain Cabin on the White Mountain National Forest is another option for a winter cabin getaway—just be prepared for it to be as cold inside as it is outside. (Tim Jones photo)

Last year, however, the AMC stopped providing firewood at the High Cabin, so four of us ventured to the Black Mountain Cabin, on the White Mountain National Forest in Jackson, New Hampshire. There, our meticulous planning didn’t go quite as well. We’d assumed that firewood supply would be the major problem and we solved that handily. But we’d never imagined a woefully inadequate woodstove. We still had a wonderful time, but we decided to stay only one night instead of the two we’d planned.

This year our adventure is scheduled for the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after Christmas, and we’re off to explore “Nenorod,” one of seven cabins ($45-$75/night) at Merck Forest (802 394-7836) in Rupert, Vermont, right on the New York border.

We’ve never been there, never seen the place, which means we need to ask a lot of questions and do a lot of planning to make sure we are comfortable and safe (remember the four rules?). We have to plan on snow, ice and cold.

The website provides a brief description of the cabin and a summer-oriented checklist but it left many questions unanswered. So we asked . . .

One of our main questions was about firewood and the wood stove. After ll the warmth of the woodstove after a long day outdoors is the main reason for renting a cabin.

The nice folks at Merck Forest were quick to answer. It turns out there’s plenty of the former and, apparently, a very adequate woodstove to burn it in. All we need to worry about is kindling, which isn’t supplied. So we’ll bring a Sven saw and a Gerber hatchet which should solve the kindling issue (neither saw nor axe is supplied at the cabin).

Can you imagine arriving at a cold cabin and not being able to start a fire for lack of kindling? We’ll have plenty of clothing and winter sleeping bags so safety isn’t an issue. But comfort is . . .

Remember, snow, ice and cold changes everything, and if you want to be comfortable and safe outdoors in the winter, you need plan ahead. Life isn’t a spectator sport. Get out and enjoy!

Making a list, Checking It Twice

Setting off for an unfamiliar destination in the winter is always a bit of a leap into the unknown. All you can do is ask as many questions as you can, learn as much as you can, and go on past experience in similar situations. If you don’t have experience to draw on, do your first adventure in a class situation such as the programs offered at the AMC New Hampshire Chapter’s Winter Workshops (www.amc-nh.org). Either that or try camping out in your own back yard or someplace else with an easy escape route if something goes wrong.

The website told us that the cabin is about 2.5 miles from the parking area. But by asking questions we learned that there are a couple of very steep sections of trail, so we’re better off with snowshoes than skis on this trek.

The website told us there’s no convenient, safe water supply for this cabin in the winter—so we’ll bring a filter and plenty of containers and hike to the nearest water supply. Only people who have never done it think it’s easy to melt enough snow for a winter water supply (though icicles hanging off a cabin rood are fair game . . .)

We also asked about cabin equipment and now know to bring our own mattresses, sleeping bags cooking gear, camp chairs, lights, and that very critical item: toilet paper for the outhouse.

We’ve got the clothing we need to be warm in extreme weather, and the proven gear that’ll keep us safe and comfortable. We’ve got good backpacks to carry most of it in and we’ll be testing a nifty new pulk from Norway for some And we’ve got a list to make the gear, clothing and food we need gets into the backpacks and the pulk so we have it when we need it.

Think Microclimate

One of the more useful tools for planning any winter adventure is the NOAA Snow Depth Map. It’ll give you some clue about what you are likely to encounter anywhere you go out to play.

But it doesn’t tell the whole story. For example, we had a BIG snowstorm yesterday. The snow depth map for today has my house squarely in a broad band of 4- to 6 inches of snow. Drive a few miles from my house and that’s absolutely accurate.

But my house is on top of a hill, in the wind shadow of a higher hill, and I shoveled 13 inches of new snow off my deck and walkways last night. Even after settling overnight, there’s still 10 inches of snow everywhere I measured.

Just something to pay attention to—snowdepths can change rapidly over a few miles—or even a few feet and you need to be prepared to handle the worst you encounter.