Eli Burakian - Basic Illustrated Snowshoeing

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FALCON GUIDES

Copyright 2012 Morris Book Publishing, LLC

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Globe Pequot Press, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437.

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Falcon, FalconGuides, and Outfit Your Mind are registered trademarks of Morris Book Publishing, LLC.

Photos by Eli Burakian except for the following: pages 44, 48 by Carl Burak; page 65 (bottom) by Jevan Stubits; page 76 powerofforever/IStock.com; and those licensed by Shutterstock.com: page 61 Maridav; page 72 scattoselvaggio; page 88 fstockfoto

Text design: Karen Williams (intudesign.net)

Project editor: Julie Marsh

Layout: Sue Murray

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data is available on file.

ISBN 978-0-7627-7765-5

Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

The author and Globe Pequot Press assume no liability for accidents happening to, or injuries sustained by, readers who engage in the activities described in this book.

This book would not have been possible without the help from these wonderful people: Julia Burakian, Carl Burak, Sadie Martiesian, Jason Martiesian, Lisa Martiesian, Jennifer Martiesian, Bernardino Ramos, Dorothy Martiesian, Terrance Martiesian, Jevan Stubits, Brian Kunz, Kestrel Kunz, Daniel Wainberg, and Katherine McWalters. I'd also like to thank Kahtoola for providing sample snowshoes.

Boy, have you got some fun in store! You are now taking the first steps through a door, beyond which lie infinite possibilities in snow-based enjoyment. Snowshoes, quite simply, make it much more efficient to travel through snow-covered terrain. The winter world is your oyster, and now you have the means to explore nature in locations and environments that may have previously seemed inaccessible.

By no means is snowshoeing easy, however. It takes a lot of work to move through snow, especially in hilly and mountainous terrain. This book does not cover everything that you need to know to travel in the winter, but by learning, practicing, and absorbing the information that lies within, you will be well on your way to boatloads of fun.

Snowshoeing is a meaningful family activity. Here, Brian shows daughter Kestral fox tracks in the snow.

I first discovered snow-shoeing while living in New Hampshire during college. After exploring the local trails, I began to take my snowshoe adventures farther away from my home. Although I loved backcountry skiing, snowshoes enabled me to move in terrain that was often thick with undergrowth, saplings, rocks, and ice, common impediments in the northeastern United States.

When I finally had the opportunity to create my first book on photography, about Mount Moosilauke, an above tree-line mountain located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, snowshoes became a necessity. The perfect photograph is never in the most accessible spot, and by using small, maneuverable snowshoes, I was able to get myself to snow-covered vantage points, from which few other photographs had ever been taken.

There is something truly special about walking up a mountain on a beautiful, sunny midwinter day.

One of the most appealing aspects of snowshoeing is its accessibility. First, snowshoeing is a relatively inexpensive way to enjoy the winter. Skiing requires not only proper winter attire, but also boots, bindings, skis, poles, helmets, and other important pieces of gear. Snowshoeing, at a bare minimum, requires only the proper footwear and a pair of snowshoes. (As mentioned later in this book, a pair of hiking poles will make your snowshoe adventures much more enjoyable.) Snowshoes can often be rented as well.

Second, snowshoeing is very easy to learn. There are plenty of tips that will make your snowshoe experience more enjoyable, safe, and efficient, but in essence, snowshoeing is just walking with big paddles on your feet to distribute your weight. If you can walk, you can snowshoe.

Use this book as a reference. You may not find it necessary to read every word verbatim, but by becoming familiar with the content and using the images as references, your introduction to snowshoeing will be relatively painless. Soon you'll be looking at any place covered in snow as prime terrain for your exploring.

Enjoy the book, give snowshoeing a try, have fun, and stay safe!

Before embarking on any outing, it is important to have the right equipment, and snowshoeing is no different. Snowshoes come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials, and choosing the correct snowshoe may mean the difference between a pleasant outdoor adventure or a frustrating time flailing through the snow.

Regardless of what advertisers may tell you, snowshoes are used for one main purpose: to make it easier to walk on snow. If a snowshoe is not making it easier to walk on snow, it is not serving its purpose. Simply, a snowshoe is meant to distribute your weight over a larger surface area, thus decreasing the depth to which your foot sinks. Snowshoes are practical when it would otherwise take too much energy, or would even be unsafe, to travel over snow in regular footwear. Additionally, snowshoes can provide a certain amount of traction when the snow is slippery or there is ice, and they can also help keep your feet dry.

Many factors go into choosing the proper pair of snowshoes. Snow conditions can vary from fresh light powder to heavy slush to wind-crusted snow and even ice. Snow depth plays a big role as well. Will you be traveling on untracked deep snow, or will the path already be completely packed down? Weight also plays an important factor, as the heavier the person, the larger the snowshoe will need to be in order to provide an ample amount of flotation. If you plan on carrying a heavy backpack, keep in mind that your total weight will be increased.

Jump into snowshoeing. You won't regret it!

Another important factor in choosing a snowshoe is the type of terrain on which the snowshoe will be used. Will you be traveling on flat open ground, moving over hilly rolling terrain, or scaling steep mountains? Less important, but also a factor, is the user's height. A shorter person may prefer shorter snowshoes. Other factors to keep in mind are affordability, ease of use, and durability.