Snowshoeing - Tips for Beginners

Discover everything you need to get started with snowshoeing: from advice on equipment and clothing to the best techniques for moving safely in the snow.

As you might have gathered from the article on how to prepare for a winter hike, organizing a snowshoe outing requires a certain level of preparation and a combination of suitable weather conditions.
If we're lucky with the weather forecast, a snowshoe hike is a true delight for hiking enthusiasts and nature lovers in general.

With snowshoes, you can reach valleys without ski resorts that manage to preserve the concept of "mountain" far from the mass tourism.

A feature that is dear to me and, I’m sure, to many of you. The trick, as explained in the previous article, is to visit areas frequented by willing hikers. Once the snow has been "packed" by the determined snowshoer, it will likely freeze overnight, creating a "path" that is harder to sink into.

It is also assumed that this hiker won’t be attacked by a yeti once they reach their destination! It’s therefore advisable to retrace one’s steps, creating a solid track for those who wish to tackle the ascent after them.

However, this only holds true if another of the variables discussed in the previous article doesn’t come into play. With winds exceeding 40 km/h, the snow moves easily, and tracks can disappear in no time.

It's not uncommon to encounter snowstorms in the mountains, with winds exceeding 90 km/h, making walking extremely difficult.

The wind lifts the snow, creating "clouds" of powdery snow, which can get into every nook and cranny, with snowflakes that aren’t particularly pleasant when they hit your face at high speed. Beware of the wind! Watch out for the wind, especially in winter.