Backcountry Pilot

[willyb offline]

Split from "Cool ski pic" -Z.
----------------------------

Oh, yeah, bring BIG snowshoes--sooner or later, you'll need em to pack down a track to takeoff....

MTV

Mike,speaking of snowshoes do you favor a particular type/brand?I have no knowledge on them at all.

bill

[denalipilot offline]

Mike,speaking of snowshoes do you favor a particular type/brand?I have no knowledge on them at all.

bill

I'll jump in if you don't mind. I have owned about a dozen different models, Borrowed many more, and have evaluated several others for a major gear retailer.

For ruggedness and simplicity I am still partial to old-school Sherpas with the Snow Claw binding. I've managed to break a few over the years, but just barely. Plus, I respect the fact that they devised the fundamental binding/deck attachment that all the newer companies jumped on back when Sherpa's patent expired.

For mountaineering, I own a different pair of Sherpa snowshoes with a step-in binding. They have a very aggressive crampon, and a toe-bale and heel lever similar to what you find on standard step-in crampons. They can be worn with most plastic climbing and skiing boots. Overkill for carrying in an airplane.

I have also mounted a heel-loop telemark binding to an old pair of Sherpas for dedicated use with tele boots. This is a fun arrangement that can come in handy if you want to have a backup pair of snowshoes on your ski trip.

For modern, compact, lightweight and reliable, the MSR Denali lineup comes out near the top. Well-made, very easy attachment, and good traction underfoot. Some versions have add-on tails for additional floatation in deep snow. My 2-year old daughter has used a pair of MSR Denali Tykers on the Ruth Glacier with great success.

In general, wood and babiche frames look great and can be very durable if well-made, but bear paw (oval) and beavertail (tear-drop) designs tend to be more cumbersome in terms of your stride, or for stowing inside an aircraft. If you want them to look good lashed to the struts of your cub, however, they might be the only way to go.

Above all, carry something, and count on using it sooner or later.

Have fun,

-DP

[denalipilot offline]

Mike,speaking of snowshoes do you favor a particular type/brand?I have no knowledge on them at all.

bill

I'll jump in if you don't mind...
-DP

One more thing I recommend you look for is field-repairability. Where many of the newer designs (Tubbs, Atlas, Redfeather, etc...) come up short in my opinion is that they rely too much on critical points of attachment. Blow out a rivet on some of those designs and you're screwed, whereas on a pair of the old Sherpas, for instance, you can easily lace the whole thing back together with parachute cord if the need ever arose.

[mtv offline]

I bought three pairs of the old style monster Sherpa snowshoes from Dick McIntyre when he closed down Frontier Sporting goods store in Fairbanks. Paid $30 a set for them--the deal of the century. I haven't used any other snowshoes since.

None tougher, none better. I sawed halfway through one side tube on one set with a chain saw, and put a cobbled up patch on it when I got home. Still better than most.

MTV

[kevbert offline]

I like using the old-school tennis racket snowshoes. There are a bunch of places on the internets selling magnesium U.S. Army surplus snowshoes right now for about $50, but Sportsman's Guide just dropped their price to $39 plus shipping.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/new-us-military-magnesium-snowshoes-with-bindings.aspx?a=585706

I own two pair of these. My only complaint is that the bindings don't look quite as durable as the snowshoe itself (they are not the original military bindings), and they are a bit cumbersome compared to a modern binding. But, they work, they're cheap, and they seem absolutely indestructible. (Although I haven't tested them with a chainsaw! )

An oval snowshoe with the same flotation will be MUCH shorter, however, thus easier to pack.

[denalipilot offline]

Looks like these folks are making new snowshoes based on the old Sherpa design:

http://www.irl.bc.ca/Forestry%20Supplies/snowshoes.htm

-DP

[mr scout offline]

Mike,speaking of snowshoes do you favor a particular type/brand?I have no knowledge on them at all.

bill

I'll jump in if you don't mind. I have owned about a dozen different models, Borrowed many more, and have evaluated several others

For modern, compact, lightweight and reliable, the MSR Denali lineup comes out near the top. Well-made, very easy attachment, and good traction underfoot. Some versions have add-on tails for additional floatation in deep snow.

Have fun,

-DP

When I go to there website they say these work with ski boots, I don't fly with ski boots will they work with other boots as well?

[Zzz]

I don't fly with ski boots

Jeeminy Christmas! Don't ever try it.

I drove my truck from one parking lot to another up at a ski area once, wearing my ski boots. One doesn't quite realize how important ankles are to operating pedals. It was frightening.

I have a pair of Atlas 36" that are ultra lightweight. They work well, but I agree that you ought to bring your pop rivet kit along just in case.

[courierguy offline]

I always carry a half dozen of the extra long size zip ties, I think they are maybe overlooked as a safety or emergency repair item, but they are right up there with duct tape in my book. I don't leave home without them! My snowshoes quickly adjust from my snowboard boots to street shoes (?), a handy feature. I plan to carry my cross country skis AND my snowshoes as a double backup, they are both pretty light.

[denalipilot offline]

I don't fly with ski boots

Jeeminy Christmas! Don't ever try it.

I drove my truck from one parking lot to another up at a ski area once, wearing my ski boots. One doesn't quite realize how important ankles are to operating pedals. It was frightening.

Not so bad in loosened tele boots, actually. Especially if your plane is on straight skis and there's no toe-brakes involved.

[denalipilot offline]

When I go to there website they say these work with ski boots, I don't fly with ski boots will they work with other boots as well?

Any of the MSR Denali line with the rubber cross straps on the binding will work with ordinary boots. All snowshoes with straps like that, or lace-up straps like the old Sherpas, are prone to cutting off your circulation and causing cold feet if you over-tighten them or if your boots are very compressible. One plus with rigid ski boots, or with any of the step-in/ clamp on bindings (like the Sherpa Mountain Snowshoes) is that they attach to the sole of your boot mechanically, and do not compress your foot or your footwear insulation at all. Probably doesn't matter to most folks, but just FYI.

-DP

[Coyote Ugly offline]

I plan to carry my cross country skis AND my snowshoes as a double backup, they are both pretty light.

I betcha wear a belt and suspenders too.... ha ha

[mtv offline]

DP,

No problemo, just wear Bunny Boots. If you're ski flying, sooner or later you'll need em. ANy kind of binding works with them.

MTV

[willyb offline]

Thanks for all the replies.I have something to go by now.

Bill

[electricsnail offline]

I like the msr series shoes, I sell both them and the atlas shoes, really I would say the best bang for the buck is the Denali series, they have the add-on adjustable flotation. They are frickin rugged, I have been providing college outdoor programs them for years now and they really hold up well. Also their compact design makes them attractive for flying as they are much smaller than the old style shoes. I personally have the msr lightning series, definitely the best shoe on the market. They work well in all conditions and are super lightweight which leaves more room for beer. One very nice part about the msr shoes is that they are one of the only brands left made here in the USA and really are on par price wise. If you give me a pm i might be able to get you a decent deal on some of the stuff we have left in stock....

Mike

[tcj offline]

I was looking at a snowshoe add at the bottom of this page and having some fond memories when I clicked on the Alaska trail.


When this picture popped up an unpleasant memory popped into my head. Those of you who have worked off snowshoes will know how attached and protective we can get of our favorite pair.

It was about 1975, my boss and I were working off snowmobiles traversing timber sale units. I had both pairs of our wood frame snowshoes lashed cross ways across the back of my snowmobile. His were these long Alaska trails. I don't remember if the aluminum ones had been invented yet, if they had, we were too poor to afford them anyhow. I forgot about the snowshoes back there and drove between two trees that were too close together.

As you can suspect, this is not a fond memory. We have both been retired over 10 years now. We still see each other occasionally and every time that is the first subject he brings up.

[Zzz]

I have bought stuff from Electricsnail's shop and they are a good operation. I recommend them. PM him if you're looking for snowshoes.

[Juan80 offline]

I think that the bunny boots are great also.Just look funny

[twflyer offline]

I have used Northern Lites Snowshoes for about 10 years. They have been used a bunch in many different conditions. I will never own a different pair of snowshoes. They are very light, very strong, and they stow flat against each other so they take up very little space. The owner of the company is also a pilot and a very nice guy. They are made in the USA--well WI actually. After about 8 years, I finally broke one clip on them. I went to the shop and it was repaired for free in 5 minutes. The broken clip did not affect their performance at all. I used them for about 1/2 a season that way. I would recommend that you check these out before buying any other snowshoes.

http://www.northernlites.com/

[Zim offline]

I always carry a half dozen of the extra long size zip ties, I think they are maybe overlooked as a safety or emergency repair item, but they are right up there with duct tape in my book.

I agree about the zip ties being pretty useful and I carry them...but since we are talking about snowshoes, I'd be very cautious about expecting to use zip ties to repair bindings...at least when it is cold out. I find that most become very brittle in cold temperatures and just break as you zip them down. If anyone has a source for zip ties that function well in cold temps, let me know! I've tried all kinds (cheap, expensive, white, black, green, etc...). The white ones seem to be the most useful in cold temps.

I find that a length of cord and knowing how to tie a few simple knots is the most useful.

By the way...I have 2 pairs of snowshoes. A pair of MSR Denali for hiking and walking around and a big pair of Crescent Moon for packing snow. So far, both have been very reliable.