Snow-Shoeing

 

How to snowshoe - oops, you already know how!

There's not much technique to snowshoeing. In fact, if you know how to walk, you know how to snowshoe. Nevertheless, here are a few useful tips:

TECHNIQUE
CLIMBING To ascend a slope, kick the front of your snowshoe into the snow and press down to compact it into a step. Make sure that each new step is sufficiently above the last one to avoid collapse.

DESCENDING Heel crampons are the key to an easy descent. Keep your knees slightly bent, lean back, and keep your weight on your heels to maintain control.

EDGING To traverse a slope, kick the side of the snowshoe into the hillside, engaging the crampons. Swing your heel hard towards the uphill slope, then stomp down, securing the snowshoe edge and crampons in the slope. Poles are also very helpful for balance and support.

BREAKING TRAIL When snowshoeing in a group, walk in a single line behind the leader who is breaking the trail. When it's your turn to lead, take consistent, even steps that are easy for others to follow.
 

POLES
The benefits of using Atlas poles:

Stabilize upper body
Improve balance and stability on difficult terrain
Reduce stress on knees, ankles, and feet
Increase cardiovascular output by including upper-body movement

Adjustable poles compact for easy carrying and you can adjust the length for different uses.
How to use adjustable two or three-piece poles:
General: Adjust so pole handles touch the ground when you hold under the basket with your hand and your arm is at a right angle.
Climbing: Adjust poles shorter.
Descending: Adjust poles longer.
Traversing: Adjust the downhill pole longer.