Snowshoe Basics

 Snowshoeing has become one of the fastest growing winter sports in recent years. It's relatively inexpensive to get into and the learning curve is pretty small. If you can walk upright, you can snowshoe.

 Snowshoe technology has also come a long way from the old wood and cat gut style snowshoes of our forefathers. Nowadays you can get recreational , traditional , technical and even racing snowshoes.

 At a store like Costco someone could purchase snowshoes and poles for under $100. These would fall into the recreational category and would be fine for shorter hikes on more level terrain.

 For those who wish to venture into more mountainous terrain a more technical snowshoe is recommended. These will cost more but feature much greater stability and traction.

 Snowshoes are basically designed for one purpose. That is flotation on the snow. They're designed to keep you from sinking into knee deep or deeper snow. Traditional and recreational snowshoes serve this purpose well but lack in traction. They're fine for flatter areas with lots of snow. Technical snowshoes have extra crampons that allow snowshoer’s to ascend and descend with relative ease. Another little feature on some of the more technical snowshoes are heel risers. These keep your calves from stretching too much on steep ascents.

 There are some companies that have gender specific snowshoes but not all snowshoe manufacturers do. Sales staff in outdoors stores are experienced in sizing depending on your weight. Also they'll suggest the correct snowshoes for the type of terrain you wish to play in.

 A good suggestion to those of you just starting out in the sport would be to rent snowshoes. If you live in a larger city, outdoors stores like MEC ( Mountain Equipment Co-op) rent snowshoes at very reasonable rates. I also have some pairs available for rent.

 Winter is long in Alberta and we have to make the most of it. Downhill skiing and Snowboarding, although great, are becoming very expensive activities for many families. Snowshoeing on the other hand is relatively inexpensive and a lot of fun.

 Snowshoeing is a great workout and you will work up a sweat even in colder temperatures. Dress in layers and avoid cotton or denim. It's best to have materials that wick moisture from the body and are quick drying. Staff at sporting and outdoors stores can help you with proper clothing suggestions too.

  Give snowshoeing a try this winter. You may be glad you did.

So have some fun this winter and give snow shoeing a try.

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Avalanche Danger Ratings

From Avalanche Canada:

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.
Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.
Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.
Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.
Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.
Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely.
Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

4 - High

Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended.
Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely.
Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas.

5 - Extreme

Avoid all avalanche terrain.
Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain.
Large to very large avalanches in many areas.

Monday

Let's Go Snowshoeing

Snowshoe Basics

 Snowshoeing has become one of the fastest growing winter sports in recent years. It's relatively inexpensive to get into and the learning curve is pretty small. If you can walk upright, you can snowshoe.

 Snowshoe technology has also come a long way from the old wood and cat gut style snowshoes of our forefathers. Nowadays you can get recreational , traditional , technical and even racing snowshoes.

 At a store like Costco someone could purchase snowshoes and poles for under $100. These would fall into the recreational category and would be fine for shorter hikes on more level terrain.

 For those who wish to venture into more mountainous terrain a more technical snowshoe is recommended. These will cost more but feature much greater stability and traction.

 Snowshoes are basically designed for one purpose. That is flotation on the snow. They're designed to keep you from sinking into knee deep or deeper snow. Traditional and recreational snowshoes serve this purpose well but lack in traction. They're fine for flatter areas with lots of snow. Technical snowshoes have extra crampons that allow snowshoe'rs to ascend and descend with relative ease. Another little feature on some of the more technical snowshoes are heel risers. These keep your calves from stretching too much on steep ascents.

 There are some companies that have gender specific snowshoes but not all snowshoe manufacturers do. Sales staff in outdoors stores are experienced in sizing depending on your weight. Also they'll suggest the correct snowshoes for the type of terrain you wish to play in.

 A good suggestion to those of you just starting out in the sport would be to rent snowshoes. If you live in a larger city, outdoors stores like MEC ( Mountain Equipment Co-op) rent snowshoes at very reasonable rates.

 Winter is long in Alberta and we have to make the most of it. Downhill skiing and Snowboarding, although great, are becoming very expensive activities for many families. Snowshoeing on the other hand is relatively inexpensive and a lot of fun.

 Snowshoeing is a great workout and you will work up a sweat even in colder temperatures. Dress in layers and avoid cotton or denim. It's best to have materials that wick moisture from the body and are quick drying. Staff at sporting and outdoors stores can help you with proper clothing suggestions too.

  Give snowshoeing a try this winter. You may be glad you did.

So have some fun this winter and give snow shoeing a try.

Avalanche

Even if it doesn't seem like it with the warm weather we've been getting Avalanche season is upon us. It is even more of an issue with the warming and cooling. Now is the time to be extra prepared when going out into the mountains. Really study where you are going. Does this trail lead into avi terrain? Does the trail cross any avalanche runouts? Am I and everyone in my group properly prepared and trained to venture into this terrain?

Regularly check conditions at Avalanche Canada. They have an amazing website and here is the link: http://www.avalanche.ca/map

A bit about Avalanche Canada from their website: 

Avalanche Canada is a non-government, not-for-profit organization dedicated to public avalanche safety. We issue daily avalanche forecasts throughout the winter for much of the mountainous regions of western Canada, providing this free information via our website and our app, Avalanche Canada Mobile. We also coordinate and deliver avalanche awareness and education programs, provide curriculum and support to instructors of Avalanche Canada training programs, act as a central point-of-contact for avalanche information, and work closely with many different avalanche research projects, both at home and abroad.

Vision

To eliminate avalanche fatalities and injuries in Canada.

Mission

To minimize public risk in avalanche terrain by providing leadership, development, communication, coordination and delivery of public avalanche safety education, warnings, products, and services.

Values

• We are committed to awareness, training, and safety for the general public and for all who travel in avalanche terrain.
• We are an inclusive and diverse organization that provides services to all winter recreation activity participants.
• We strive to ensure that all programs, services, and materials are based on accurate research and evidence.
• We engage in strategic relationships and alliances to further the reach of our programs and messages.
• We investigate to understand all factors that contribute to human incidents in avalanche terrain and support that investigation by encouraging research.
• We inspire people to safely enjoy recreation and travel in the winter backcountry environment.
• We value our staff and community’s collective strength, energy and leadership.
• We create a fun, healthy, professional, and sustainable workplace, and provide our staff with opportunities to grow and thrive.
• We anticipate and respond to challenges and changes with creativity, collaboration, courage and bold enthusiasm.

Lastly they have an online tutorial everyone who plans on winter hiking ,snowshoeing etc. should take.  Enjoy their website, it's great.

The Ten Essentials

The Ten Essentials

Packing the Ten Essentials whenever you step into the backcountry, even on day hikes, is a good habit. True, on a routine trip you may use only a few of them. Yet you’ll probably never fully appreciate the value of the Ten Essentials until you really need one of them.

The original Ten Essentials list was assembled in the 1930s by The Mountaineers, a Seattle-based organization for climbers and outdoor adventurers, to help people be prepared for emergency situations in the outdoors.

In 2003, the group updated the list to a “systems” approach rather than listing individual items (for example, map and compass now fall into the Navigation “system”.)

The updated "systems" approach made its debut in The Mountaineers’ seminal text on climbing and outdoor exploration, Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills (The Mountaineers Books), now in its eighth edition.

Updated Ten Essential "Systems"

1. Navigation (map and compass)
2. Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen)
3. Insulation (extra clothing)
4. Illumination (headlamp/flashlight)
5. First-aid supplies
6. Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles)
7. Repair kit and tools
8. Nutrition (extra food)
9. Hydration (extra water)
10. Emergency shelter

Classic Ten Essentials

1. Map
2. Compass
3. Sunglasses and sunscreen
4. Extra clothing
5. Headlamp/flashlight
6. First-aid supplies
7. Firestarter
8. Matches
9. Knife
10. Extra food

Article from REI