If you don't like skiing... go for it with your rackets
FROM PAST TO PRESENT
snowshoes They have always accompanied human beings who needed a simple, cheap and effective means of transportation to travel through areas with a lot of snow. Its history as an invention goes back tens of centuries.
Then the long bones of arctic ruminants substituted for wood depending on the place . But in any case, they already fulfilled their primary function: to distribute the pressure exerted on the ground by the weight of the user on a larger surface than the feet.
However, in the early 1980s, the snow sports industry decided to “reinvent” them with wasp-shaped designs and high-resistance thermoplastic materials; all for greater ease of walking with this design that narrows at the sole of the boot and widens at the heel and toe. More flexibility per square centimeter and therefore more buoyancy in the snow. And more safety in areas with hard snow by incorporating small crampons that dig into the ground.
Snowshoes have always accompanied human beings
SIZE GOES WITH WEIGHT
When putting on some snowshoes, the main thing is to know our weight . The greater the number of kilos, the greater the length and width of the rackets. There is no need to worry because the manufacturers already have it planned with 2 or 3 sizes per model.
Its placement is almost always done with straps and plastic tensioners, so they adapt to any mountain or trekking boot.
Mandatory use of leggings to prevent the entry of snow in each stride through the heel. And required too the use of a pair of canes –better if they are telescopic- to stabilize the march and generate a good cadence in the ascent by obtaining with them four support points.
size goes with weight
ALWAYS IN A GROUP AND ATTENTIVE TO THE ENVIRONMENT
Snowshoes, known in the Anglo-Saxon world as snowshoeing , are a high mountain activity. And much more in Spain, where only from 1,500-2,000 meters of altitude we found enough depth of snow to be effective.
That's why you always have to move in a group because we will be far from the winter centers and only a group guided by experts can go into areas with very strong snowfall. It will be magical to discover how we float on meters of the white element , how we move steadily to our destination.
If we face a steep ascent, we will find that snowshoes incorporate risers that facilitate our progression uphill with less caloric expenditure and therefore, with less fatigue.
Perfect starting point for a day on snowshoes
SOME AREAS TO START AND ENJOY
The Pyrenees is the mountain range where we find more possibilities to practice snowshoeing .And a relatively easy itinerary but with excellent views is the one that starts from the Astun ski resort located in the Jacetan valley of the Aragón river.
From this alpine installation we are going to go towards the French peak of the Midi d'Ossau passing one of the most beautiful high mountain lakes in the entire mountain range: Ibon of Trouts . Ibones are accumulations of liquid water at a high altitude.
Our ultimate goal is the French lake of Lake Chasterau , located at 1,950 meters of altitude. the awesome Pic du Midi It will accompany us throughout the march, as long as the day is clear.
If we want to save ourselves the initial ascent from the Astún station we can buy a ticket for the Truchas chairlift and thus we avoid having to travel through slopes full of skiers.
*The journalist Alfonso Ojea is the Director of the program of Chain BE specializing in snow, white tracks , which has been on the air for 20 years.
Follow @alfojea
Located in the Jacetan valley of the Aragón river
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