SNOWSHOEING – GETTING STARTED Bruce Easton

Snowshoes enable you to visit places otherwise inaccessible except on skis, giving a new perspective into winter snow walking and the mountains. Snow blankets the higher alps, so features you normally know are different in winter, some- times unrecognisable. PUTTING YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD

Whether you are an adventure racer, interest- factor. A variety of sizes are usually available, ed in multi-sport events, a bushwalker happy with staff at local stores probably familiar with to take a stroll into the wider outdoors for a the places where you intend to use the snow- change of scenery or simply to the top of a shoes. Local knowledge from experienced ridge line for the view, snowshoeing can offer snowshoers is often helpful. Overseas web- a new adventure and a way to take in the sites may be misleading and Google is not scenery in winter. your friend. The days where snowshoes were like a tennis Aside from size the next most important con- racket with a wooden frame and gut lacing sideration is the ease of use of the binding. are gone. Now, just like modern bushwalking They can be either fabric, which sometimes gear; technology has made snowshoes more stretches when wet and need adjustment, or functional, light and easy to use. rubber, which gives a better ft and a simple adjustment. Snowshoe materials are interest- If you are ftter and have good stamina you ing as they tend to be a bit lighter and cushion can travel further more easily. It is recom- in harder icy conditions, and permit a quieter mended that you go your own pace, as to and generally more natural gait. Many newer attempt to keep up with a faster person will plastic models are slightly more affordable not work in the long term. With bushwalking and price pointed though they do have various experience it is likely that your clothing will be issues as price pointed. viable for snowshoeing. It’s all about layers. A less expensive snowshoe is a good way It is all about layers. to get into the recreation is like the AntiCorp, which comes in two sizes, small and medium. So let us take a look at clothing. Softshell is It is a traditional “western” shape and made great for travelling and excellent to snowshoe of alloy with a hypalon material decking. The in as it is water repellant as well as breath- binding has ratchets that are simple and very able and wind proof. A thermal whether wool, adjustable for a range of footwear, including polypropylene or other microfbre works as a snowboard boots. The AntiCorp does not ft base layer. Next should be something to keep smaller feet without some modifcation and is you warm, adjustable according to the level a little heavier than other brands. The AntiCorp of activity or weather. On top of this you can is priced around $200. have either hard or soft shell garments for the fnal layer to protect from either cold winds or inclement weather. Footwear is quite important. A full grain leather boot offers best insulation as well as warmth and waterproofng. Fabric boots are generally Anticorp acceptable if you have good wool socks or Snowshoes perhaps Seal Skinz waterproof socks. Plastic snowshoes such as those available in Snowshoes and what to look for like Tubbs and MSR are a common rental snowshoe. They are fairly simple but Snowshoes come in a number of shapes and tend to be a little heavier and are often clunky. sizes and given our frm and more maritime They offer good traction and able to ft onto snowpack you can often choose a smaller packs. Sometimes the plastic models are a snowshoe size as fotation is not so critical a little small for larger and heavier people. These models are better suited to day trips and icier Trekking poles are almost essential as they snow conditions where fotation is usually not enable you to use your upper body for power a requirement but traction is. Prices range or balance. When not needed on shorter walks from around $280 to $400. or fat terrain you can store them in your pack. Black Diamond Z link range are even more compact than standard hiking poles, and offer more versatility.

Tubbs Xpedition Snowshoe Fabric snowshoes tend to be the more tech- nical irrespective of brands. They have more features such as lighter weights, improved Black Diamond bindings that are easier to adjust and have Ultra Mountain FL Z-Poles better retention of various footwear, and gen- It is pretty important to ensure you have a first erally a shape that ensures an easier and more aid kit and ensure you have adequate knowl- natural gait. The model selected will depend edge to make use of it, Map and compass on the intended use, with aluminium which is and some knowledge to interpret the map and lighter, or stainless steel which is more robust some practice using a compass, PLB (hire and durable. Prices range from around $400 or buy), space blanket, sunscreen, sunhat or to $550. warm hat, spare gloves, handwarmers, Hydration bladder or water bottle (minimum of 1 litre), a thermos of hot liquid. Snowshoeing in NSW – Where There are lots of excellent trails that make it safe and enjoyable. The Perisher area is the most ideal with a number of marked and ded- icated trails. WildWalks.com has a section in Crescent Moon Composite Kilo Run Snowshoe the walking book Best River and Walks. See Chapter 8 with as listing of 4 dedicated snow- Useful accessories for snowshoeing shoe trails. One essential A new trail is being developed for 2014 to item is a day discover an easy but interesting walk around pack. You should the older lodges in Perisher Creek that offer an carry a map, interpretive Trail. compass, maybe a PLB and GPS, Guthega offers some more challenging hikes sunglasses or beyond the resort that can be as simple as goggles; sun- following the Creek and shelter of the valley, screen, clothing, or head beyond Illawong onto the upper and water, maybe a more exposed slopes towards Mount Twynam thermos, food, and Blue Lake. frst aid kit, a Thredbo has challenging areas – more of them bivvy bag and a and arguably harder. small bivvy mat. Ideally the pack Access from Mount Selwyn and Cabramurra will be such that offers a number of tours, with many to historic your snowshoes features like the old gold mining felds around can be attached. Osprey Ariel 55 L Pack Kiandra and historic huts like Four Mile Hut. has a number of locations where guide to Kosciuszko from Thredbo and many snowshoes are very handy, notably the other places in the Park. , , and . The more ambitious You can also book tours and limited hire at and better prepared can head onto Mount Thredbo with the resort thredbo.com.au. Bogong, Jagamartha Range, or the Howitt Limited hire is available in Victorian outlets region. and resorts with good options at Lake Tasmania also can offer some very good Mountain, Stirling and Mount Buller. You snowshoeing though the conditions are very should call ahead. unpredictable and the seasons not very reli- Weather and Snow able. You can keep an eye on Weather and Snow Good books to read and available Updates for NSW on wildernesssports.com.au Snowshoeing by Willliam Prater or give the Shop a call. Completely revised, the Events ffth edition (published in 2002) of Snowshoe- A number of Demo Days and “come and try” ing teaches you how to Snowshoe days at Perisher are in planning. navigate through snow- clad woods, compete Races are being planned for recreation as well in raves, and climb to as a bit more competitive distances so keep new summits with eas- an eye out for that. ily-learned techniques. This classic how-to manual has all the latest Bruce started guiding back in the early 80’s information on snowshoeing equipment, from travelling the world and working with World various types of snowshoes to bindings and Expeditions. He has over 25 years of Telemark clothing. Discover techniques for all types of teaching ski experience as a trainer with the terrain and snow conditions, plus information Australian Professional Ski Instructors (APSI). on conditioning, cross-training, and racing. Snowshoeing also includes a chapter on the Over the last 25 years Bruce has built Wilder- history of snowshoeing, information on nav- ness Sports into Australia’s largest backcoun- igation and route fnding, camping, gauging try hire and guiding business. Led by Bruce, snow conditions, and winter safety, with Wilderness has become known as an outdoor emphasis on the dangers of avalanches. sports hub attracting passionate and knowl- edgeable staff, who have helped to build the Tours blossoming Snowshoe, AT and mountaineer- Wilderness Sports are the most experienced ing industry. and long-established operators in Kosciuszko If you’ve ever met Bruce on the snow or in the National Park, offering half and full day tours store you’ll fnd he’s a great talker. He simply as well as overnight snow camps. These loves the mountains and the sports which oc- assist you learn how to be safe and comfort- cur in them. Bruce is a walking encyclopedia. able in the snow, and give a basic introduction He can tell you lots about the ski and outdoor for mountaineering or trekking in snowy industry over the last couple of decades, the places. equipment they used and the future direction They also have a retail and hire outlet in and future of the mountain sports. He has Jindabyne, and the only hire outlet in Perisher decades of practical experience and profes- where tours are based. sionalism to back up his stories. Retail and hire snowshoes are also available, Bruce is online with Wilderness Sports store as well as an extensive on-snow Demo Pro- all year round whilst also advocating to im- gram is to help you fnd your preferred snow- prove snowshoeing facilities in NSW. shoe. Our licence with NPWS enables us to