Snowshoeing Techniques - Part 3

Ascending:
(Part 3 of 10)

Going up a grade and across hills requires some skill.

• Stepping or Stepping-up (easy/moderate slopes):  Face directly uphill and make the first step into the snow with some weight on your toes as you secure the front claws into the slope.Follow with the trailing snowshoe securing the claws comfortably above the first.

• Herringbone stepping (moderate slopes):  Face uphill with snowshoes facing out at a 45-degree angle.  Place your weight on the outside of each snowshoe as you climb to maintain traction.
• Scrambling (moderate slopes):  This is an aggressive method of stepping in a fast paced pattern.  Keep weight on your toes for traction.
• Side stepping (steep slopes):  Turn your body sideways to the slope and take sideward steps up grade.  With your lead snowshoe, step to the up side of the hill making a shelf in the snow.  Bring the trailing snowshoe to the step your other snowshoe just vacated.
• Kick Stepping (Deep snow and steep mountains):  Facing the slope, kick the toe of one snowshoe into the slope, pause, then stamp to pack the snow.  Do the same with the other snowshoe.  Continue the same pattern to build solid snow steps.

Tips:

• When going up, longer strides are needed because its necessary to step far enough that the new step is not undermined by the previous one.