Final questions before snow shoeing trip

[DGoggins]

A few final questions before I set out on a few winter trips this year. Which…are snowshoeing overnighters fairly close to home to gain experience for multiday trips. Forecast, high 20*, overnight low 0*.

1. In the winter, do I still need to hang my food? Man…as I type that it seems like a dumb question but nevertheless…I'm throwing it out there.

2. Thanks to the Gear swap….I now have 2 different systems to test over the standard "winter trail runner" setup (liner sock, VBL (or not), wool sock, trail runner…currently nonGTX).
a. NEOS Trekker overboots with 6mm crescent moon neoprene overboots for insulation. 19.8oz per foot. Completely waterproof plus has a real "sole".

b. 40below TR light energy shorty overboot with 40below simple slippers (both 3mm neoprene). 11.4 oz. (though, need to wear gaiter as well possibly)

How waterproof, or not, are the 40below overboots? Obviously the zipper and seams are not waterproof, but what about the neoprene itself? I read here ->

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/lightweight_footwear_systems_for_snow_travel_part_2.html

that they absorb water, but …does the water get through the overboot to the shoe?

I like the 40belows b/c they are lighter…and modular (don't have to wear simple slippers if my feet get too warm). Though I haven't decided which route to go…

3. What about sections of dirt or rock? Lets say that as I'm going along snowshoeing, there just happens to be…100 yards of exposed dirt or rock…for..whatever reason. Each time that happens, do I need to take off my snowshoes, go down to trail runners, and then put the snowshoes back on? I.e, am I correct that you do not ever want to wear snowshoes on dirt and rock?

With the NEOS overboots…I could take off the snowshoes and still walk around in the trekkers, but can't do that with the 40belows…

[Stephen M]

I would still hang food in winter if below treeline and remove
snow shoes if on rock or dirt as the they can get damaged, also they can be a trip hazard.

[Eric Blumensaadt]

Be sure to wear thin poly liner sox under your neoprene sox/booties. Then replace them with clean liner sox every night before bed.

Try to turn neoprene sox/booties inside out to dry, if possible. Put neoprene booties inside your bag to stay warm and finish drying the lining. There will be little sweat left on the thin knit lining.

As Stephen said, remove snowshoes when on rocky ground.

>BTW, snowshoes stuck side-by-side in the snow make a great windbreak for your stove.

>If you carry no avy shovel keep your 'shoes right at your tent door to use as a shovel if snowed in overnight.

[DGoggins]

Thank you for your replies. Though…sorry for the confusion Eric, I'm not wearing any neoprene inside my trail runners…the 40below overboots and crescent moon neoprene overboots both go over the trail runners.

So it would be -> liner sock, VBL (or not), Wool sock, trail runner, neoprene overboots.

[Stephen M]

You can also use your snow shoes as snow anchors for your tent, but then you may not be able to stray too far from your tent. Thats also why like I don't like Mids in winter as I may need my poles if straying away from my tent.

[Doug L]

Don't know what the local fauna looks like in your neighborhood, but Pine Martens can be a problem here in the ADK's. Have only seen them once in summer, but many times in winter around leantos' and popular winter campsites. They've never gotten to my food, but sure have looked interested; and I have heard reports of them stealing food bags. A bit weird for sure, as I always thought they were solely carnivorous.

If you're planning on using those Northern Lites I sold you, I would highly recommend taking them off for rock and dirt. You'd have a better chance getting away with it in plastic decked MSR's, but the ultralight tubing and aluminum crampons of the Northern Lites are not as robust.

[Paul McLaughlin]

Don't know where you are planning to go, so hard to tell whether you should hang food or not.
In the Sierra, I would not bother in the winter. Never had any issues in the snowy months.

[Bob Gross]

When you reach your proposed camp site, look around on the snow for animal tracks. If you see lots of little tracks, like maybe 1", then keep moving. If you see lots of 3" or 4" tracks, then keep moving for sure.

I've never had any of my food actually stolen by animals in winter, but they've come close. I left a plastic tube full of instant coffee out one time, and it snowed overnight. In the morning, there were all of these coyote tracks, and the coyote chomped down on the tube's black plastic cap and broke it.

–B.G.–

[DGoggins]

I'll be in the Idaho and Utah mountain ranges…boise national forest, sawtooths, and uintas. I'll probably just hang my food…if most of the rodents are still out in winter then I'll definitely hang.

And yes, …and no to the northern lites. I have both a brand new set of MSR revo explorers, and the northern lite elites you sold me. Those will be for my wife..though I'll also test them out for myself.

I'm still not sure on whether I should use the 40belows or the neos trekkers, but I guess I'll just try out both systems. With the Neos, I can just take off the snowshoes and keep walking. With the 40belows…I would have to take them off (and lose the insulation) and go down to trail runners.

[BlackHatGuy]

"With the 40belows…I would have to take them off (and lose the insulation) and go down to trail runners."

That depends. They're not made for walking by themselves, no, but I think very short distances would be okay.

Or, you could also bring along a set of microspikes. That's what I did for my trek in Michigan's UP. Used both the microspikes and the snowshoes.

Edit to add, you could also just use the tyvek booties over the 40Below overboots for short distances.

[DGoggins]

I have a set of microspikes (though….sized for my trail runners or goretex boots…so I would have to buy another pair of microspikes), but if I'm taking off my snowshoes for a patch of rock or dirt, then I wouldn't be able to wear the microspikes either, right? Otherwise that would just damage the microspikes?

[Stephen M]

Microspikes are fine on rock and dirt as the points
are far less aggressive that on snow shoes, as I posted earlier the biggest issue with snow shoes shoes on rock and dirt is they are trip hazard (they can catch on things)

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