Beginner Snowshoe Clinic - Northern Colorado

A week before the course I will send out particulars on meeting time/place and our destination.

What we will cover in this workshop:

Equipment

Types of snowshoes/ poles with snow baskets

Poles - A must-have accessory.  With baskets.  Good for stability and extraction from tree wells, rock wells, and mishaps on thin ice.  Good for probing the snow ahead of you, for example, on a snow bridge over a creek.  Adjust straps properly especially for gloved hands.

Snowshoes

• Heel Lifts - A useful feature on any snowshoe that they may purchase.
• Binding Snowshoes to Boots -pull the straps tight enough.  People walk out of snowshoes or one person keeps losing a shoe due to inadequate binding tightening. MSRs are especially prone to this. 
• Some snowshoes flip up in back (Atlas) and some stay flat (MSR)
• Women centric snowshoes
• Snow Shoe Length More length needed for more weight and deeper powder snow.

MicroSpikes - Often used on icy trails in lieu of snowshoes.  Spikes also tend to work better on long frozen-lake crossings.  One person without spikes can slow the whole group down.

Backpack - Review options for attaching snowshoes to a backpack.  Winter packs tend to be larger than standard summer daypack.

Trail Etiquette and Safety

• Trail Tracks Stay in SS tracks or break trail, If possible, stay off XC ski tracks.
• Pace Line/Breaking Trail - First person breaks trail, second person walks where first person didn't thereby creating a trench, third person neatens it all up.  Everyone else in the line won't even know they are in fresh snow unless you cycle through giving each person a shot at the lead.  Ask for volunteers if the trail-breaking gets tough.
• Hidden Obstacles - Tree wells, rock wells, fallen trees, rocks, etc. that are lurking under the snow and hidden from view.  Probe with their poles if unsure. 
• Thin Ice - The creeks in RMNP don't freeze solid.  Water is always running underneath.  It is possible to break through and get wet. Bring spare socks for winter outings that cross a lot of creeks.  If you do break through, get your foot out ASAP as the water will instantly freeze to the snowshoe making it that much harder to extract.
• Getting up from a fall – snowshoes on downhill side, weight over feet, put weight on crossed poles if necessary
• Steep ascents – dig toes firmly into the snow
• Don't Walk Backwards - Doesn't works in snowshoes!

Clothing

• Dress in layers – easy to add or subtract layers as you warm up/cool down
• Cotton Kills - No cotton (especially when wet, doesn't insulate)– Wool, polyester, synthetics best
• Warm hiking boots
• Gaiters – especially for deep snow
• Toe and hand warmers
• Sunglasses/sunscreen

Winter safety

• 10 essentials
• Avalanche Awareness
• Nutrition/water
• Lunch/snacks and water ( even in winter!)

Where to snowshoe in Northern Colorado

• Consistent snow in Poudre Canyon above the Big South trail head, Cameron Pass, Moose Center, etc.
• RMNP – Upper Bear Lake Road especially good above Glacier Gorge - Check with park rangers
• Other areas - Wyoming Snowy Range, Indian Peaks