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2 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2010 : 07:07 AM
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Hi all,
I was wondering if anyone has done the Spearhead on snowshoes before or has an opinion about the idea. My partner and I have a solid background in mountaineering (avalanche knowledge, crevasse rescue, navigation etc) but we're weak skiers so ski touring is not an option for us unfortunately. We were planning on roping up for most of the way. I was just wondering whether you think some of the traverses and/or steep sections might be tricky on snowshoes. Cheers, Al. |
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 | LeeL
Advanced Member
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 Extreme ski tourin, mountain bikin addict who hikes at least once a year
2509 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2010 : 07:45 AM
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| It'd be horrible. I couldn't think of a worst thing to do to yourself except maybe a longer traverse with more icy sidehilling. Maybe bring anti-depressants with you & a good long audiobook as you'll be spending a long time out there trudging along mindlessly. |
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| LeeL
Advanced Member
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Extreme ski tourin, mountain bikin addict who hikes at least once a year
2509 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2010 : 3:10 PM
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That sounded actually pretty bad the way I described it and perhaps reflects my perception of snowshoeing as a way to ruin a good tour. Let me be more realistic.
There's a lot of glacier travel with slight gradients (either uphill or downhill) approaching peaks. One look at a map will tell you how much terrain is like this - hint, there's a lot of this.
There's not too many sun-exposed sidehills (terrain where snowshoes also suck) but there tends to be some terrain where theres windslab (terrain where snowshoes also suck). Where the windslab occurs will depend on wind direction - but you will find it.
So in short, being on snowshoes probably won't kill or injure you assuming you know how to travel on glaciers and assuming you have some avalanche awareness. However, it will result in tediously slow travel.
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Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
797 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2010 : 9:19 PM
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| I preferred the first answer. It was a good one. |
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Whistler, BC
Canada
631 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2010 : 2:35 PM
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I agree with LeeL. I'd rather learn to ski (I'm a boarder and really suck at skiing) than go on a long tour with my snowshoes. Even short tours on them make me hate life.
Snowshoes are for going on a romantic stroll through the woods with your girlfriend on the north shore, and make me utterly miserable in the backcountry. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3830 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2010 : 8:58 PM
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^Maybe you really suck at snowshoeing?
Do you hate hiking as well? Snowshoeing is really winter walking.. |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
959 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2010 : 9:42 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Rachelo
^Maybe you really suck at snowshoeing?
Do you hate hiking as well? Snowshoeing is really winter walking..
HA!  |
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Whistler, BC
Canada
631 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2010 : 10:29 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Rachelo
^Maybe you really suck at snowshoeing?
Do you hate hiking as well? Snowshoeing is really winter walking..
Compared to skinning? It's slower, requires more effort, and going downhill sucks. I see nothing to like.
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| gyppo
Intermediate Member
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Edmonton, AB
Canada
753 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2010 : 10:35 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Andrew Strain
quote:
Originally posted by Rachelo
^Maybe you really suck at snowshoeing?
Do you hate hiking as well? Snowshoeing is really winter walking..
Compared to skinning? It's slower, requires more effort, and going downhill sucks. I see nothing to like.
How about the price? Not everyone can afford a touring set-up and several lift tickets a year for practice. |
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Whistler, BC
Canada
631 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2010 : 10:45 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by gyppo
How about the price? Not everyone can afford a touring set-up and several lift tickets a year for practice.
Theres a reason I own a pair - theres also a reason I don't use them anymore. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3830 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2010 : 11:52 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Andrew Strain
quote:
Originally posted by Rachelo
^Maybe you really suck at snowshoeing?
Do you hate hiking as well? Snowshoeing is really winter walking..
Compared to skinning? It's slower, requires more effort, and going downhill sucks. I see nothing to like.
Boots are a lot more comfortable in snowshoes.
But yes, I can see why someone might enjoy and prefer skiing. But to disregard it as merely for wee strolls seems overkill. It's hiking - going up hills and down hills is as easy and as hard as when hiking.
Then again, if you find that downhill really sucks, you have apparently not yet discovered the awesomeness of crazy carpetting... :D
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Whistler, BC
Canada
631 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2010 : 12:37 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Rachelo
Boots are a lot more comfortable in snowshoes.
But yes, I can see why someone might enjoy and prefer skiing. But to disregard it as merely for wee strolls seems overkill. It's hiking - going up hills and down hills is as easy and as hard as when hiking.
Then again, if you find that downhill really sucks, you have apparently not yet discovered the awesomeness of crazy carpetting... :D
I snowboard - my boots are always comfy and the downhill... well, theres no better way to get down a mountain than on a shred. 
I've done full day tours on slowshoes, and trying to keep up with my ski buddies isn't possible unless the skin track is packed down really well. Climbing in powder is nothing like hiking - it expends significantly more energy than skinning on similar slope or hiking/snowshoeing on hardpack.
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| Dru
Mountain Grammar Police
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Sardonic sandbagging scoundrel, Cascade Climbers lobotomized spraymeister, space blanket flyer, new millennium vulgarian betaboy and friend to all squids
Climbing, a mountain
Canada
∞ Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2010 : 08:22 AM
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Doing the Spearhead Traverse on snowshoes sounds about like doing the Tour de France on foot.  |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2010 : 10:53 AM
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If you want to carry a heavy load a long way, snowshoes work well. Think hunting - a trapper trying to drag a deer out of the bush would get killed on skis. They're slower than skiing, but they're not supposed to be fast. And besides, they require no special training and less expense, meaning even newbies can jump right in the minute the snow hits.
Rachello's right - just hiking, but in the snow. You skiers are such snobs! |
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| Dru
Mountain Grammar Police
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Sardonic sandbagging scoundrel, Cascade Climbers lobotomized spraymeister, space blanket flyer, new millennium vulgarian betaboy and friend to all squids
Climbing, a mountain
Canada
∞ Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2010 : 11:15 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by peter1955
If you want to carry a heavy load a long way, snowshoes work well. Think hunting - a trapper trying to drag a deer out of the bush would get killed on skis.
Keep the unintentional comedy coming |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3830 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2010 : 9:57 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by peter1955
If you want to carry a heavy load a long way, snowshoes work well.
I will not claim that snowshoeing is superior to skiing in any way except price. I absolutely understand why someone would prefer skiing, if able. I just argue with the complete dismissal of snowshoeing as worthless.
Only reasons I can see to choose snowshoeing:
-it's massively cheaper.
-it's much simpler, for those who don't already know how to downhill ski, and don't want to learn the technical stuff.
-The boots are much more comfortable if you're going to have long walking sections. Or just in general. If you're splitboarding, the boots might be understandably much better. And theoretically, I'm sure there are comfy boots out there - but I have not yet tried them. |
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521 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2010 : 10:49 PM
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I find snowshoeing to be slow and boring compared to skiing, as other skiers are alluding to. On a positive note, you will have plenty more time to take in the incredible views if the weather is clear when you do the route.
I have only limited snowshoe experience, but have found that traveling along a side hill with snowshoes is very awkward compared to skiing. If you can travel more or less straight up or down a slope then not so bad, which could add even more distance and time to the traverse. Good luck, but I would recommend taking up skiing if possible. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
877 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2010 : 12:22 AM
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Snowshoes have their place.
* They are much safer in steep icy bushy conditions (ie "Coast Mountain powder").
* They are a much better choice if you need to take a bunch of beginners up a steep trail where a fall could be problematic.
* They are convenient during shoulder seasons when the trail has numerous bare patches.
In any of these scenarios, skis can be a nightmare.
That being said I always prefer skis if conditions permit. If the poster is not an experienced skier, he may want to try the Spearhead traverse in the summer - lots of people hike it.
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Finally stopping that crazy suffering that is ice, climbing to concentrate on great ski tours!
3523 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2010 : 12:25 AM
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I know nothing about the traverse, but ask the question, "how much skiing skill do you need for it?"
Some of my regular climbing chums are novice skiers, and overestimate the skill required for some trips, so don't come. Last year on the Columbia Icefields, we did little more than snowplow skiing.
But, the traverse in question might require higher skill. Just wonderin'... |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
877 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2010 : 12:38 AM
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The Columbia Icefields are quite different from Coast Mountains.
* Skiing in the Coast Mountains requires more experience because the mountains are steeper and the climate is more moderate (read 'wetter').
* Breakable crust, suncrust, rain-crust, death-cookies, avalanche crud, etc. are all normal - even in mid-winter.
* When you fall with a heavy pack, it takes a lot of time and energy to get back up (and novices fall a lot).
* On the Spearhead traverse there are places where it would be better not to fall (ex near crevasses, cliffs).
* And lastly, it is just more enjoyable to quickly ski over the gnarly bits rather than bog down in them, fall after fall.
The Spearhead traverse is a great trip. But in my experience it requires at least intermediate skiing ability.
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Edited by - weedWhacker on 03/16/2010 02:07 AM |
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Alberta-based choss climbin', flame throwin', rappel lovin', ass talkin' hater who doesn't like "Gumby" for a descriptor
6302 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2010 : 07:08 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by weedWhacker
* Skiing in the Coast Mountains requires more experience because the mountains are steeper and the climate is more moderate (read 'wetter').
Requires more experience compared to the rockies? Nice generalizations...that's probably one of the funniest things i've heard for a while.
quote:
And lastly, it is just more enjoyable to quickly ski over the gnarly bits rather than bog down in them, fall after fall
If your falling down alot, don't blame the area, blame the skill level.
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When you fall with a heavy pack, it takes a lot of time and energy to get back up
How the hell is that a comparison by areas? |
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Spearhead Traverse.... on snowshoes
