Snowshoes technic - Rock climbing, via ferrata, hikes, ski, guide

Technical information and advice

How to wear snowshoes
Generally, to distinguish the left snowshoe from the right, check that the binding straps and the buckle always point outward. Shoes are inserted so that the tip of the foot is on top of the wedge and are then fixed by tightening the front strap. The heel of the shoe must be placed in the middle of the snowshoes and then fixed using the back strap.

There are several kinds of snowshoes, varying in size, material and prices. They should be chosen according to the activities and routes to be undertaken, the frequency in use and the body frame ratio to the equipment.
Poles similar to ski poles are usually used to ease walking, as they help you push forward and keep your balance.

Ascending
Often, especially when the snow is very compact, you must proceed with maximum inclination, so as to use the crampon applied to the bottom of the snowshoe. On difficult terrain it helps to kick the toe of your shoe and the crampon on the snowshoe to make kick steps, a kind of snow stair, before taking your next step. The front foot's hold has to be nice and stable before bringing your back leg forward. The tibia, the knee and the femur must be aligned.

The diagonal
Sometimes,  to change direction, you have to face diagonals or lateral traverses. This is not a problem in powder snow, but when the snow is compact and hard you have to take the following measures. Many snowshoes do not have lateral grips and positioning the snowshoes so they traversally intersect with the slope does not guarantee a safe grip. Not very steep slopes can be crossed normally by positioning the uphill snowshoe in the  marching direction, while the downhill snowshoe should be positioned placing the foot at an angle so that the tip of the snowshoe is turned uphill as much as possible, using the snowshoes' crampons. The steeper and more difficult the slope becomes, the more you have to direct your tip uphill, taking sidesteps in the desired direction, arms and poles first and then followed by your legs and your snowshoes.

Descending
It is essential to descend taking small steps at maximum inclination, thus positioning the crampon so that the tip of the snowshoe does not get stuck in the snow.

If the slope gets steeper and slippery, you should use a technique called telemark instead of the classic ski technique. When at maximum inclination, as soon as the snowshoe starts sliding, you lower your center of gravity with a quick and firm movement, thus obtaining more stability and balance. The movement is determined by a slight bending forward of the front knee, while the back knee moves down significantly, almost touching the snowshoe. As soon as the gliding movement has ended, you take the next step with another quick and decisive movement. Your arms, wide open in front of your body, become extremely important in keeping your balance. A right-about turn is made with small circular movements, never in a single step.

How to carry snowshoes
Style is important too, so let's learn how to correctly carry snowshoes on our shoulders: insert the poles through the front of the snowshoes and then carry them on your shoulders letting the snowshoes slide onto your back by raising the poles a little up into the air.

Apparel
When snowshoeing, you would normally dress in layers as if you were going skiing or hiking. We also suggest always carrying an extra shirt in your backpack to change into at the end of the hike.

Footwear
You can either wear snow boots or lighter hiking boots, according to the excursion's difficulty. Light boots are fine for short excursions if sufficiently waterproof.

Backpack
Before you leave for an excursion, even if it is just an easy one, always check your backpack to make sure you have all the gear needed to face a winter day in the mountains.
Your tote should preferably have special laces to tie it to your chest and waist and it should be big enough to hold:
- a windbreaker, when not being used
- a t-shirt
- a thermos flask for warm drinks
- wire, laces, tape and a pocket knife to repair snowshoes
- a first-aid kit
- a topographic map of the excursion area
- small binoculars to observe animals and plants

Poles
You can use higher-than-average ski poles for snowshoeing, but telescopic poles with larger baskets (that sink less in the snow) are preferable, as their length can be adjusted according to the snow depth (poles sink deeper in very powdery snow).

Crampons
Some excursions may require crampons. We suggest light alloy ones with a traditional lace-binding adaptable to all kinds of footwear.

Page 1 - 2