Ok, I know that snowshoes must have come up sometime over the years in the past. I could not find any discussion of them more than a small amount. I can only assume that Muzzleloader does not have a 30 tetrabite storage computer... Hummmm!! So, as today,2008, in the state of Washington, in the Cascades and all the way down south to Northern Calif., we are having RECORD snow fall. How to travel in it. How big should a traditional snow shoe be? How long, how much weight,etc.,? Are they still made, or are the only ones available are the new Space Age ones.

I like the "Ojibwa" style, they're traditional and very functional. The pointed toes snake through the brush easier than the round nosed types. As for size, it depends on how much you weigh, most snowshoes are weight rated.

This pair is over sized for an over sized guy.

Michael,
I don't know much about the technical end, and have only used them once. But I was in Washington at the time. Four of us rented snowshoes, rode the chair lift to the top of Crystal Mountain, and puttered around on the flats. We had the round toed, long snowshoes (I called them Algonquin snowshoes, but not sure if that's right). IIRC I was sinking past my knees, but the powder was bottomless (like the Cascades now). There isn't a whole lot of brush on top of Crystal in the dead of winter. There might be in the warmer months, but it is all covered with snow in winter. I was pretty light then, weighing under 150 for sure...but I was with a couple of people who were way bigger/heavier--I'd say at least 200...and they didn't seem to have problems. Go with someone else in case you fall down. One of the party carried a ski pole.

Unlike skiing, snowshoeing is intuitive. Just put them on your feet and walk. You will learn to not step on your shoes and then try to lift the bottom one. One advantage of the style we used is they were somewhat narrow so we never had problems trying to avoid stepping on the other snowshoe.

Michael J, contact The Snowshoe Store, it is on line from Ontario Canada. They make good traditional ones out of white ash and they use rawhide. You need big long ones if you are over 225 pounds. Tubbs, one of the companies that makes the new space age shoes, also makes a traditional wooden type, but the bindings are not traditional or period correct. Tubbs also has a chart on line and can tell you what size shoe you need depending on your wieght. However, that chart is for the modern type of snowshoe, but it may give you an idea.
I don't know if you all needed the snow up there. We sure needed it here in Modoc County, and we hope to get more. Take care

Here's a source for traditional shoeshoes.
http://www.northwoodsoutfitters.com/Pages/AdvStore/Snowshoes.htm

Here's the Northwoods Ojibwa style, 12X58" rated for up to 290# I've got the Super Strap binding on my shoes and I like them a lot, quick and easy off and on.

Some brothers from our club and I went
snowshoeing. I found a new pair of Objibway
style at Goodwill for 5-bucks (actually 2-pair)
When on the trail you run at a shuffle always
lifting your toes. We went in about three miles
and made a day camp. WHen I put my snowshoes on
I couldn't hold my toes up. My shin muscles were
completely shot, and i couldn't hold the toes
up on my shoes. I had to drag my feet.
Later on the way home those shin muscles became
so stiff and sore i couldn't walk.
Point: If your not in snowshoe shape better
do toes lifts on a board or take little walks
with the shoes on to build up and condition
those shin muscles. Your in for a surprise if
you don't.

Great topic seems that everyone has been getting a great amount of snow out here this year. I have two types one pair is a bear paw type which is short and wide. Great for in brush where you need a short shoe for turning. The other pair is the Heron type or Alaskan, these are 10x58 much like the Objibwa type but have a rounded tip not the pointed. Just as good in deep snow in open country.

For a traditional type binding I use 2" wide by 6 foot long pillow ticking material. Works much better than any type of leather bindings I have used. The leather swells up when wet making it hard to adjust as needed, which seems to be often. The cloth bindings have less need for that when you snug them up on your feet.

We did a winter quarters camp a few weeks back and had about 3 feet of snow to scout around in and -10 below temps at night. I used my bear paw type for a little but found that even in the trail broken by the others it was still like breaking new trail my self due to mine were much wider. When on a trail we change out breaking trail about every 10 minutes or so. The lead person stands to the side and the next in line breaks. This person waits and falls in to the back.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bufflerub1880,

My son and I just went on a snowshoe a couple of weeks ago and there was a mad rush to find him a pair of shoes....went on ebay and there were at least 3hundred pairs up for grabs. Some super cheap and some very expensive. I bought my last pair from Cabelas and they haven't gone up much in price of the 15 years.

Have fun out there!

Regards, stump.

Bufflerrub,
Nice pic! But you must have taken the picture, as I don't see your likeness in the snow.

Stump, thanks for the tip.
Sparks

Michel J!! Snowshoes are decided on by just what and where you will be using them and what ever else you will be carrying.Here in Maine we do get snow most every winter some more than others.This year we have had new tracking snow just about every week.got 4" yesterday,6" last night and its snowing this morning,should give us about 5' so far for the year.I have one pair of BEAR PAWS and one Michigan and one modified Beaver tails,they all have their own purpose.If I am going into the pucker brush,alders cedar swales I can use anyone of them,I prefer the bear paws,easy to get around in the bushes.If I am carrying a pack the extra weight requires I use the Michicans,more surface area and they tail drag a little better,easier walking.If I am just out wandering the trails and watching nature then I go with the Modified Beavers,little lighter dont tail drag as much so if your in the lead the trail breaking can be alittle more tiring.The Ojibwa look as if they would be alittle heavier and hard to get around in the pucker brush, if I had a pair I might use them for long trecks with gear to carry,never owned any so can say how they travel.I ve been on some woods walks with some who swear by their Canadian Racers lot like the Ojibwa,long and thin, but with a rounded toe.Anyone you go with as has been pointed out will wear you out if you are not use to them.One BIG advantage the Ojibwa have is you dont need to steam bend them like other shoes if you make your own and you dont need streight grain ash,just about any wood could be used I believe.They do look some nice though them that MWTF pictured are very nice.Bufflerub,was you fellas lost or just coming back,looks as if that trail crosses itself once or twice HAW HAW CANT GET LOST ON SNOWSHOES JUST FOLLOW THE TRACKS.HAW HAW OH!!! when you fall and you will,do not put your arm out to catch yourself, all it does is fill your sleeve and neck with snow,try to flop over on your back as gracefull as possable.Good luck and good shoeing,once you make a trail more often that not the animals will use it,hard pack is easier for them to travel on.If you come back on the same trail you went out on step on the ridges in the trail next time it will be smooth traveling.See you up the trail.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Walking Crow,

I to use the bearpaws the places that winter beaver trap are hard to get to any other way.going up an down hills its easier to control your movements with the smaller bearpaws then with the long ones.you may sink down a bit more with them but for me thats ok because i set sners on my trails that i make.in my state we have to be so many inches from the ground to set the snares so works well for me.