snowshoe advice

“I'm staying with family in Reno for four days this weekend. I've never been to Tahoe before. I'm hoping to go on a few snowshoeing daytrips. I'm looking to take nice photos but be back to the car before dark. Can you please give me some advice of where to hike this weekend?”

“buy mine-lol”

“Hey vmax, there's lots of cool spots off I-80 to snowshoe. A pretty popular area is around Castle Peak, across from Boreal ski resort. From there you can snowshoe into Round Valley and even check out Peter Grub Hut. If you have a few days to check out various areas via snowshoe, I'd pop into the REI in Reno and get the book "Snowshoe Trails of Tahoe" by Michael White. There are lots of trips described in this book for the Tahoe area. Have fun!”

“Alright, this isn't really advice on showshoeing but more about a snowshoe trail - I figure posting here will get the same type of attention, Just a general question, this is for a class so if it doesn't make any sense, don't worry 'cause it doesn't make sense to me either:

What would you look for in a snowshoe specific trail, such as guidelines/rules regarding the building or maintenance of the trail, ie. length, width, grooming, shelters, location (views? natural history?) etc.?”

“The trails I snowshoe on are the same trials I hike on in the summer, and for most of the same reasons. Although there are a few mountains I want to specifically climb in winter, because with 3+’ of snow on top puts you above the trees giving 360* views were in other seasons are only 180* at best.”

“Exactly... which is why I don't quite understand this assignment, why should snowshoeing trails be any different from hiking trails...”

“Double post?...
last edited: 12/14/04 4:42:43 PM”

“I don't think grooming matters a bit. If they're groomed why snowshoe? Just go where you wanna go.”

“Again... exactly my thoughts, why the hell would you groom a snowshoe trail?...”

“In my area we have ski trails in the backcountry that are just for skiing. Typically the grades are a little gentler (not always) and the turns are a little wider than regular hiking trails. These trails are off limits to hikers in the warmer months in an effort to prevent erosion. I can't really think of a good reason for a snowshoe only trail though.”

“i have 2 pair brand new atlas snowshoes that i have never used... i hope i get to use at least one pair real soon.

maybe i should sell the other pair on ebay....”

“ok, we're not thinking practicality of a snowshoe trail... now you see why I don't understand the assignment...”

“Bring 'em out here Gemini! Opportunities galore await!

I was looking at the MSR Denali Ascents tonight, a little heavy compared to the high end MSR shoes, but half the price.”

“yeah...i should fly over there huh and hike... lol...i betcha it wouldn't cost more then the gas i use lately to hike in this area.

well...not that bad, but close. lol
i really would love to hike in WA though...”

“Gemini, you should make another trip to the ADKs sometime this winter. There is already a lot of snow on the peaks.”

“sometime this winter I may just do that...but right now..it's a little difficult for me.”

“Come on it can't be much more than 900 miles to get there. What's so difficult about that? lol”

“Watch out, Gem, Zac's a bag o' charm.”

“BTW, do you make Schnitzel with pork or veal?”

““Watch out, Gem, Zac's a bag o' charm.”
Gremlin
8:51:54 AM

Hey, you can take me out of Upstate New York, but you can't take the Upstate New York out of me.”