Is Snowshoeing the same as hiking?

Question

What kind of boots? Can I use my gortex hiking boots?

Is there any new skills to learn or just go?

Answer 1

Essentially there is no big difference. You gan use your regular hiking boots with most modern snowshoes.

MSR, Tubbs, and Atlas snowshoes have bindings that will fit just about any shoe style from snow clogs to Sorel style boots.

There are a bunch of snowshoe designs. They all are essentially the same, but "Mountaineering" snowshoes usually have added traction devices to deal with ice and they have beefier decks to handle rocks and other obstacles.

You will notice your quads get a better workout with snowshoes than just hiking. Navigating over rough terrain and obstacles isn't particularly difficult, just remember not to step on your snowshoe tails when you step over something. Use poles to help with balance and for probing the snow ahead of you. Poles also come in handy if you fall down or hita pocket of deep snow...it is possible to post-hole in snowshoes. Use the poles to help get yourself out.

If you plan to go high into the mountains, you might want to brush up on your alpine hiking skills, but there's nothing specific about using the snowshoes. Some people have a problem trusting the traction on slippery slopes, but that's mostly in their head. Good snowshoes have excellent traction and I've never encountered any problems going up or down on icy trails.

If you just plan to stick to flat or moderate trails, all you need to know is how to put on the snowshoes, so go for it!

Have Fun!