WALK, YOU CAN SNOWSHOE; IF YOU LIKE


“IF YOU CAN SNOWSHOEING.”


WALKING, THE CHANCES ARE YOU’LL LOVE


›EXPERT Q & A


Hilary Sharp answers your snowshoeing questions.


If the shoe fi ts. Snowshoers near the summit of the Staldhorn, with the Hubschhorn and Breithorn behind.


traction under the snowshoe – some sort of crampon or spiky points to make the shoe grip, and the shoe should be a shape that allows a normal gait, rather than round or oval which requires the gait of a penguin. If you plan on doing some good mountain walks then you may appreciate the added feature of a heel lift: akin to putting on your stilettos to climb the hill, considerably reducing the slope angle. Finally, if your snowshoes are a bright colour, this will add immeasurably to the quality of your photos.


Other equipment Your boots can be your normal hiking boots, reasonably waterproof and most of all comfortable. They do not need to be rigid or crampon friendly. You’ll need trekking poles with snow baskets (bigger than the normal baskets for summer hiking) but these don’t need to be anything complicated. Gaiters can be short, lightweight and ankle height, although knee-length is fi ne, if a bit hot. Take regular hiking clothes – with lots of layers – plus gloves, mitts, hat, sunhat and sunglasses.


Avalanche dangers


Walking in the Alps in winter is inherently dangerous. Avalanche risk varies hugely from one day, and one slope, to the next. Whilst it could be argued that snowshoeing is less risky than skiing because of the nature of the sport, there are avalanches every winter involving people on


snowshoes. If you are going anywhere beyond fl at terrain with no slopes above you then you should be prepared and equipped with an avalanche beacon, a shovel and a probe. But just having the gear is not enough; you must know how to use it. If you don’t, then hire a professional to either teach you the skills or lead you.


Q. How fi t do I need to be to start snowshoeing? A. You can start snowshoeing without a high level of fi tness although, just like hill walking, the fi tter you are, the more you probably will enjoy it. There are some wonderful valley walks that are quite fl at and if the snow isn’t too deep then you’ll fi nd snowshoeing quite easy. Going uphill on snowshoes can be just like normal walking it’s pretty tiring to make the trail in deep snow. Q. Where’s a good place to try snowshoeing in the UK? A. The only place in the UK where you can reasonably expect to snowshoe is Scotland and even then conditions really change very fast. But I believe the Cairngorms might be a good bet. In the Alps you can always snowshoe in the winter. Q. What are the qualifi cations does a snowshoe guide need? A. The recognised qualifi cations to guide on snowshoes in Europe are Accompagnateur en Montagne, International Mountain Leader or IFMGA Mountain Guide. Q. Can you recommend some good snowshoe summits? A. Just plucking names out of the sky is of little use, but I’ll plug my Cicerone guidebook – Snowshoeing: Mont Blanc and the Western Alps – this lots of snowshoe summits in it, ranging from two-hour walks to multi day adventures. The tourist offi ces in most alpine resorts will offer basic information on local snowshoeing but the walks described will generally be very easy. For a more satisfying experience, it really is worth hiring the services of a guide, at least for your fi rst time out so you can learn the basics.


›FURTHER INFO


Trekking in the Alps A small, friendly company offering snowshoe trips of all levels throughout the Alps, from December to April. www.trekkinginthealps.com


Words: Hilary Sharp


Hilary Sharp has been snowshoeing for 22 years. Author of Snowshoeing: Mont Blanc and the Western Alps, published by Cicerone, she lives in the French Alps, near Chamonix. An Accompagnatrice en Montagne (International Mountain Leader), she leads snowshoe trips of all levels. See www.trekkinginthealps.com.


BMC Shop Visit the BMC shop for a full range of walking guides and maps for the Alps. www.bmcshop.co.uk


SUMMIT ONLINE ALPINE SPECIAL #01 | SUMMER 2014 | 41


PHOTO: HILARY SHARP.


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