Stepping out…
Today is the first day of the start of my uncertainty…
The good folks at Adventure Central gave me these awesome snowshoes as a leaving present, and today I put them to the test on the Snowshow Hare Trail of Golden Gate State Park.
Fully dressed for the weather, backpacked up, and in steady snow with two impatient dogs, the quick-tighten bindings weren’t as out-of-the-box trivial as I’d hoped, but I’m sure I’ll get them pre-adjusted and learn. I appreciated the agressive tread, and how it bit into the snow, allowing me to climb steep hills. They shed snow well, and surfaced from deep powder with-out great difficultly.
The length (perhaps feeling a little long at 30 inches) didn’t overtly bother me, but one hike in I was surprized how scratched/scraped/beaten-up the paint-work became, front and back, top and bottom. Oh well, they are meant to work well, not look pretty. I hope this isn’t a sign the aggressive tread, combined with my (apparently) insufficently manly gait, isn’t going to be these shoes own worst enemy.
It snowed pretty solid the hours we were out. The dusted treescapes were phenomenal. Tranquil and inspiring. All in all, a good pair of shoes, and a great day’s hike. The dogs and I will sleep well tonight…
One Comment on “Stepping out…”
It sounds like you had a great time. I bought some snowshoes for the winter ahead and I’ve already had a similar experience in Whistler. Snowshoeing is a surprisingly “Zen” sport.
Violeta