If the (snow) shoe fits…

Often used by fur trappers and whoever else needed to get around for survival in areas where deep snowfall had occurred, snowshoeing has turned into a popular winter sport for those still wishing to get out in Mother Nature during the late calendar months.

“Some people just like to get out and wander around,” said Rich Dethman, a sales staff member at Mountain Gear. “If you can walk, you can snowshoe.”

 

Examples of early snowshoes date back to 4,000 to 6,000 years ago in Central Asia, and some Native Americans used snowshoes to hunt buffalo in the winter. When Europeans came to North America, they quickly followed suit as they played a key role in some battles of the French and Indian war.

While somewhat awkward-looking, giving people a duck-like waddling appearance (not to be confused with Oregon Duck fans – who can be spotted by the abundance of Nike gear they have on), the frame and webbing of snowshoes allows for a person’s weight to be distributed evenly over a wide area and prevents their feet from sinking deeply into the snow. This is commonly referred to as “flotation.” This allows people to access areas where snowfall is so deep that even motorized vehicles cannot reach.

Wooden snowshoes are generally not used anymore as most people favor modern aluminum ones. However, some people still stick with the wooden ones because they tend to have more flotation qualities and are lighter and quieter.

Regardless of the style, hikers find snowshoes to be invaluable for upward climbs and some runners even use them to continue their routine in the winter months. Along with that, many skiers and snowboarders use snowshoes for Alpine treks in areas that aren’t the groomed grounds of ski hills.

“It’s kind of a cheap man’s helicopter,” said Dethman.

And snowshoes are still used by forest rangers, linemen, loggers and even law enforcement when a situation calls for it.

However, unlike the compartmentalized and numerous expenses that a sport like skiing or snowboarding present, snowshoeing is a one-time expense.

“Shoes can cost around $100,” said Dethman. “That’s basically the bulk of your buy.”

What? No resort passes? Boots? Ski poles? Trendy ski jacket to fit in at the lodge?

“It’s pretty straightforward compared to any other winter sport,” said Dethman.

And there’s plenty of areas around here to try it out. Dethman said that two particular areas where people tend to flock to is Mount Spokane and Selkirk. The price range for snowshoes range between $100 and $260, with the more expensive snowshoes offering better binding, lighter materials and better decking material (webbing).

Story by Brandon Hansen. You can reach him at brandon@htsports.org.