A Wet Walk

We've had a few small snowfalls this past week that have added up. There's enough fresh snow in the woods and on the trails nearby to erase most of my previous walks.

So I headed out this afternoon for a walk. It was overcast, but the light reflecting from the snow made it fairly bright out. The sunglasses that I wore would offer protection from branches and the glare. It was warm enough and I had dressed lightly because I knew that I wouldn't need many layers.

I strapped on my snowshoes while sitting on my back steps and headed out through the gate onto the trail that leads from my house. I set out west and soon encountered a couple of riders on horseback. I wouldn't really call them horses; they were more like ponies. A young girl was waiting ahead on the path for her mother, who was fixing the saddle on her pony a little further down the path. The pony almost looked to small for her. I've often seen the tracks the horses make in the snow and at times hear them whinny at the farm. 

 At little further down the path I met a couple who were cross country skiing. They stepped from the path to let me by. I jokingly told the man in the lead that it would have been easier for me to step off the path than them, but he said he need the break. When I reached the end of the path, I turned left and followed the snowmobile tracks along the side of the highway. But only for a short distance. I was going to try to follow the small creek that crossed under the road. 

When I reached the creek, I turned left toward the fence. There is a fence crossing over the creek, but the bottom is cut away and I was able to crawl underneath without much difficulty. The creek follows a fairly straight path through the woods, but sometimes trees and branches are too thick to walk over or crawl under. For these I find a short path around the obstruction. There is evidence that some of the trees have been brought down by beavers. At one point, I noticed a stump under the snow that looked fairly freshly chewed. There was no sign of the tree however. 

I nearly lost the trail once when I was walking around a series of trees that were blocking the creek. I didn't realize that the creek had taken a sharp right turn. Once back on track, I was able to continue following the "path". The ice was solid, especially after a recent cold snap of -27 degrees Celsius. Understand that the creek is only about four or five feet across at the widest spot and the bank is always within reach. At one point the creek ran through a culvert and I had to walk over the obstruction. I had to wonder if a path or road once crossed the creek there. If it did, there was no other sign of the path as trees had grown up everywhere there. 

I have heard them called "idiot makers." It's the one thing I hate about walking in the woods after a snowfall. When I have to walk through a tangle of bushes or trees the loose snow falls from above and invariably finds the back of my neck. I began to whack the trees with my poles before walking under any of them. At one point, the small creek meets up with a larger creek. When I look to my right down the larger creek, I can see cars on the highway. This creek and the one that I started out on run parallel to each other. But my little creeks veers to the right and intersects the big creek. I choose to go to the left down the larger creek following tracks of another animal that was there before me. It was probably a deer, but it's hard to tell in because the tracks are obscured in the deep snow. This creek is about twenty feet wide and to be safe I decide to stay close to one bank. Ice freezes first and freezes more solid along the edge of a body of water. And if the ice breaks, I should be able to reach out for the bank. 

Just a short trek along the creek I pass a beaver lodge. It's covered in snow, but some small animal has disturbed the snow on the top. A little further along, I'm forced to circumvent a downed tree. It's too big to walk over and the gap under it is not high enough to crawl under. I find a short detour through some cattails. I'm still following the dear tracks although I see another set that are spaced further apart like it's been bounding along. The creek is solid and I've decide that it's safe to walk the middle. 

I've walked a long way when the clearing of the creek seems to disappear. Now it looks to be small trees and cattails everywhere. As I reach the end and prepare to leave the ice of the creek, I step around a small thicket. One of my snowshoes breaks through. I get my other foot on something more solid while I pull my wet foot out. But there are several problems. My foot has sunken into the muck and decay at the bottom of the creek. The water wasn't deep because I was near shore where the creek was dwindling. When I pull my foot up, the same property  that keeps a snowshoe on top of the snow, prevented me from just pulling it up quickly when in went in. And when I pulled up, the toe of my snowshoe snagged under the lip of the ice. I had to pull my foot backwards and then up and out. My first thought was how my foot was going to be wet, cold and freezing before I could get home. I had a decision to make - press on and hope that I can find my way out the other side or turn back the way I'd come. I'd hoped to blaze a path through to the Trans Canada Trail that I suspected wasn't far away. I decided to continue forward. The water had soaked in to my boot, but after the initial cold my circulation seemed to keep my foot warm despite the wet feeling. 

As I continued to walk along, I tried to follow gaps in the reeds where it looked like the remnants of the creek meandered along. When I began to hear the occasional cracking sound, I decided to walk on or near areas where there were trees or reeds, thinking these areas had to be more solid ground. But then I broke through again. This time the water was a little deeper. I purposely turned and fell so my chest and arms would be on what seemed like a bank. Between the muck, the pressure of the snowshoe through the water, and catching my toe on the ice, I had even more difficulty in getting my feet out this time. I was even a little worried and really had to wrestle to get free. Now my feet were really soaked. I found out later, that my gators had kept my legs from getting completely soaked. When I was free and on my feet again, my heart was racing and my breathing was rapid. I was exhausted and scared that it was so tiring. Again I had to make a decision. 

Though the tops of the trees ahead there appeared to be an opening that I was hoping would be the final clearing that led to the trail. But as I proceeded again, I heard cracking and before I could get to a more "solid" area I went through for the third time. This time there was no real bank to sprawl across but I thought that spreading out my body on the ice would help to distribute the weight and keep me on top. It worked and I was able to stay on top. But again I had even more difficulty getting out of the water and now whenever I tried, I broke more ice. I tried pulling while holding onto some reeds, but they tore free in my hands, offering no help. I put my poles under me and across my chest to help with the weight. I manged to free my feet and legs by rolling over onto my side while I bent my legs. When I got back on my feet, I was breathing like I had just been running and again my heart raced. My feet were completely soaked now and cold. The smell of rotting vegetation from the creek bottom filled the air. It was time to go back the way I had come. 

A short ways along, I passed my second hole, then my first. I was back on more solid ice. As I walked, I notice a shape in the distance. At first I thought it was a tree down. It was dark with some white on it that I presumed was snow. The thought crossed my mind that it could be a deer or even a bear. Something nagged at me to take out my camera and zoom in on it, but I was too tired now and anxious to get home so I continued walking instead. Then it moved. I was a huge deer. It bounded over the creek and into the woods. I continued along the larger creek, past my tributary and on to where it met the highway. A couple of snowmobiles passed as I made my way along the highway. I turned onto the trail that passed my house. A short distance along, I passed a man out for walk. I passed through the gate and into my yard; I was home. 

Now to clean up. My socks - wet, filthy and stinking like a swamp - went straight into the garbage. My wife washed my pants which were wet with muck, my gators, which stunk and my shirt. I took the laces out of my boots, filled the sink with water and washed my boots inside and out. I used laundry soap and Febreeze to rid them of the smell. They're drying over the heat register. 

 I don't think I'll try that path again. I guess I'll stick to solid ground with the occasional creek crossing.

My Gear Part 2: Dressing

It rained all day yesterday. It finally got cold enough to snow, but it only amounted to less than 1 centimetre. On the bright side, everything is frozen now.

In this blog, I thought I'd describe how I would dress for my walks. Of course, it's understood that your weather conditions will vary and you'll have to adjust to it accordingly. Snowshoeing is a great way to get outdoors and get some fresh air and exercise. No matter what weather you face, dressing properly can make all the difference in an enjoyable walk or a miserable outing. In this blog post I'll outline they way I dress for my walks.

You've heard the message before that layering is the way to go. Layers offer a way to add or subtract slightly to achieve the best balance for the cold presented. I start with a pair of long johns or thermal underwear and tuck a long sleeve dry fit shirt into my undies to help wick away any sweat. The underwear should come over your warm socks. I have a pair of socks that I wear for skiing. So now you should be covered from the neck down with everything tucked in.

I wear a pair of sweat pants or other long, comfortable pants. If it's really cold, a pair of lined athletic pants like the ones that I wear when running hockey practices is great for cold days. A loose, long-sleeve shirt works for most days, but I go with a sweat shirt if the weather is really cold. I don't recommend wearing jeans. Jean can be confining, they don't insulate well and they don't handle water or sweat well.

For outerwear, I have a three-in-one jacket from Mark's Work Warehouse that serves the purpose well. On most days I leave the outer shell and inner fleece together. If it's snowing or if there is snow or ice on the trees, I leave the hood on. The hood keeps the snow and ice from going down my back when I pass under the trees. I have a pair of snow pants that I like to wear. They are not fancy and they're not particularly well insulated. They are light, I can move freely in them, and they fit over my tall Sorel boots.

If it's cold or really snowy, I wear my Sorel boots. If it's warmer and I'm not expecting to blaze trails, I have a shorter pair of winter boots that I wear. I learned the hard way though, that the tongue on these boots is only fastened at the bottom and not at the sides. If I'm in deep snow or if I go through the ice on the creek and into the water with these short boots on, I'm filling my boots.

I have a pair gloves that are light enough to keep my hands warm most days. If it's really cold, I can fit a pair of knit gloves under them. If it's REALLY cold, I use some of those chemical hand warmers between the layers. I know that mittens keep your hands warmer than gloves, but I'm still looking for a light enough pair that I can fit those knit gloves under.

I have a warm head and when I'm active, it gets warmer and sweats. I have a beanie-type of hat that's designed to be worn under a ski helmet. It cover my ears and is very thin. If I get too hot, it comes off. Too cold and I use my hood or switch to a toque. For those really cold or windy days, I have a covering for my face that has a peaked opening for my nose and vent holes for my mouth. It wraps around and fastens at the back with velcro and the bottom tucks into my jacket. Add goggles and there is complete coverage from head to toe with no skin showing. If it's sunny and warm with little or no wind, you might not need the full face covering, but at least consider a pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun reflecting off the snow. Plastic frames will not get as cold as metal frames.

Keep in mind that besides weather conditions, where you snowshoe impacts how you dress. If you're walking through open, windswept fields, you'll have to account for the additional chilling effects of the wind or the warmth of the sun. On the other hand, if most of your trek is through huge pine stands of forest, the wind won't be a problem, but you won't have sun to warm you.

My Gear Part 1: Snowshoes

I really want to get out there. The snow, rain and freezing rain that was forecast for today began sometime early this morning. I've yet to see what it has amounted to so far.

Now that I'm having a look at my snowshoes, I thought I would describe what I use for my walks.

My wife asked me to pick out the pair that I wanted. I didn't know anything about snowshoes. I like to think that I have an eye for quality, so I thought that I could pick out a pair merely by looking at them. I figured they would  be produced offshore, but that's not always the case.

Our local Costco sells snowshoes beginning every autumn - long before snow is on anybody's mind. I looked at the model they were selling and decided they were good enough. My wife purchased them, wrapped them and put them under the tree for me to unwrap on Christmas morning. Don't think I forgot about them in the meantime, but with the recent snow that had fallen I was excited to try them out - an excitement that might have passed for surprise in the dim light of the Christmas tree.

I had looked at lots of snowshoes before looking at the Costco brand, and I've compared many more since. I decided to buy them because of one major factor - the bindings. The frames are aluminum, like almost every other brand. They all seem sturdy enough. I worried that the plastic that forms the "webbing" that makes you "float" on the snow wouldn't hold up to Canadian winter conditions. I worried that it would crack at low temperatures. But I also didn't see much difference between any of the brands. All of the snowshoes that I examined had decent cleats for gripping icy surfaces. That meant that the one single difference that I could easily see, was the binding.

Snowshoes can be used with almost any winter boot. I say almost any winter boot because I'm sure women's stilleto boots would be problematic. The Snow Mountain model of snowshoes from Costco has three straps securing the binding to your boot. Two straps cross the front of the foot to form the toe box. These straps use the same clamps as most snowboard bindings. The straps can be pushed into the buckle and then ratcheted to tighten the strap further. Pulling the part in the centre of the buckle releases it. This is a superior form of buckle and one I would recommend. Other arrangements seem cumbersome and time consuming, and remember that you may have to handle these buckles in the cold without gloves.

The third strap on a snowshoe binding holds the back of the boot into the snowshoe. I've seen snowshoes that have snowboard buckles on the toe straps and then use a completely different arrangement on the heel and I'm truly baffled by this. The same ease of use logic applies to the heel strap as to the toe straps. When I'm done walking, I usually just loosen my toe straps enough to loosen the toes of my boot, undo the heel strap completely, and then just step out,  On the next outing, I just step into the toe box and ratchet them until the binding feels just snug. Then I slip the rear strap through the buckle, tighten and go.

The heel strap also has a thick rubber pad that cups the heel of the boot, something that is missing on many other brands. The strap is plenty long enough and has a slider arrangement for a coarse adjustment. But once you've determined and adjusted the strap length for your first outing, you only need to connect and adjust with the ratcheting buckle on subsequent walks.

Finally, when you're looking for snowshoes, be sure to check out the weight restrictions. The whole idea behind snowshoes is to walk on top of the snow and not have to trudge through it. My snowshoes are 29 inches long and 9 inches wide. They have no problem keeping my 200 pounds afloat on the snow. Check the box or the label for the rating.

Embossed on the bottom of my snowshoes, is a small inscription that reads, "Made in Canada." It makes sense that a product ideally suited for Canadian winters would be made here in Canada, but quite frankly I'm surprised. It seems most manufacturing is performed offshore, so it follows that I expected to see these were made in Singapore or China. Now I'll have to look for that when I check out other brands.

In doing some research, I discovered that the snowshoes sold at Costco under the Snow Mountain brand are made by Faber. Faber is a family business in Québec City, Québec, Canada. They've been making snowshoes since 1883. It seems fitting then that their manufacturing facility is located next to a Huron reserve.

My Gear Part 2 - Dressing is next.

My Introduction to Snowshoeing

"I'm looking forward to winter."
My wife scoffed when I said that today. She would be happy if it never snowed and the temperature never went below zero celcius again. Ever.
Last year for Christmas, I asked for, and she gave me a pair of snowshoes. I had never snowshoed before. I'm not particularly athletic - anymore. But I'm fairly coordinated and it looked relatively easy. It was easy. I figure if you can walk, you can snowshoe.
All you need are snowshoes. OK, snowshoes and some warm winter clothing. But if you live where it's cold enough to snow, you probably have the clothing already. I find poles helpful, but they're not essential.
Of course, you need somewhere to walk in your snowshoes. You don't need groomed trails, but you you do need somewhere covered in snow. The more snow, the better. Trails for walking, hiking and cycling in summer months, are great for snowshoeing. You'll probably have to share these trails with walkers and cross country skiers. Open fields, golf courses and wooded areas are good too. But make sure you have permission to use these areas.
I live in a suburb on the outskirts of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. I'm fortunate that there are trails right outside my backdoor. Literally. I fasten my snowshoes while I sit on my back porch, walk through my gate and I'm on a trail system that stretches for miles in both directions. I have access to trails, fields and wooded areas without having to drive to a wilderness area.
I'm the only one in our household that snowshoes. No one else has expressed interest. I'm OK with that. It's time that I can be alone with my thoughts. I enjoy nature. I watch for tracks when I walk in the woods. I see rabbit tracks and deer tracks mostly. I sometimes see tracks that may belong to dogs, but there are no human tracks anywhere nearby and I'm too far off the beaten track to believe it could be a wandering dog or cat. We hear coyotes at night in the summer. We've seen wolves and foxes in the area. Bear are spotted just often enough to make us realize that we do need to be careful.

I used to snowshoe with my iPod playing my favourite music. But I wanted to hear the sounds of nature - sounds like the cheery chirping of birds. I also want to hear warning sounds like the sound of ice cracking under me and the sound of an approaching snowmobile (some of my trails are shared use trails).
Today is December 11, 2010. We've had a little snow and a little freezing rain so far this winter. This past week, temperatures were between -5 celcius and -16 celcius. I was getting excited because the weather forecasters were calling for 35 to 45 centimetres of snow tomorrow. But as often happens, they lowered their expectations. Now we expect only 5 centimetres of snow and some rain or freezing rain.
I guess it's a good time to check my gear and make sure it's ready for the first snowfall. I've put a few snowshoe accessories on my Christmas list this year. I'm looking for other places to snowshoe in the area. I'd like to try some new trails and some new terrain, but nothing too far away. I might even try some trails in my hometown in the Kawartha lakes area when we head back there for Christmas. Weather permitting, of course.

The waiting is the hardest part.