Suite101 spoke with Julia Tregaskis-Allen and Lindsay Cannon of Track and Trail, a company that offer snowshoeing trips based in Chamonix in the French Alps.
Hazards of Snowshoeing
Lindsay Cannon gave the following advice when asked by Suite101 about the hazards of snowshoeing for first timers heading out on their own.
Avalanche awareness, a working knowledge of winter navigation, understanding winter weather, terrain interpretation were some of the skills required to venture into the winter backcountry. A map of the area, compass, appropriate clothing, transceiver, shovel and probe and the know how to use them are among technical equipment that is advisably carried.
Groomed and marked snowshoe tracks in many villages provide beginners with typically very low key trails to follow. Often a disclaimer will be found at the start of the trail outlining the risks of the winter mountain environment. Winter walking enthusiasts seeking a more adventurous snowshoe outing are advised to hire the services of a guide.
Benefits of Hiring a Snowshoe Guide
Snowshoe guides are well equipped with route finding, communication and safety equipment, the expertise to use it and a thorough knowledge of the area.
Tregaskis-Allen and Cannon, the guides for the co-owned winter trekking company specialize in bespoke journeys, off the beaten track giving their clients an adventurous outing in a remote winter landscape. They provide their clients on most trips with avalanche safety equipment consisting of transceiver, shovel and probe. Trips include a briefing on avalanche hazard and a hands-on exercise on the use of this emergency equipment.
Snowshoeing in the European Alps
Track and Trail is based on the doorstep of the French, Swiss and Italian Alps an area offering countless snowshoeing itineraries. As Tregaskis-Allen describes in challenging weather or snow conditions, “there’s always ten A-plans”. As well as tailored outings, trips offered by Track and Trail are typically divided into introductory and intermediate excursions based on the fitness and experience of the group. They are also categorised as ‘center based’ or hotel to hotel journeys.
The Mont Blanc Snowshoe (8-day) week is an example of a center based trip suited to moderately fit but beginner snowshoers. Accommodation at the Yeti Lodge in Argentiere includes the luxury of a Jacuzzi and local Savoyard meals. From this comfortable base the group explores various locations in the Mont Blanc Massif.
The daily ascent ranges from 500 meters to 900 meters. A trek with a planned overnight stay at the Grand St Bernard Monastery in Switzerland is a likely highlight of the week. The monastery offers a perfect first-time hut experience. Tregaskis-Allen describes this as “A wonderful winter mountain hut experience.”
Snowshoeing For Fitness
Traverse of the Chablis through the Porte de Soleil (a new trip introduced for the 2011 season) is an example of an intermediate trip that will likely appeal to hard core hill workers who are keen on summits. The 6 day journey climbs over peaks, summits and traverses plateaus visiting a new valley each day.
An ability to walk for 6 or 7 hours – similar to people taking on the popular Tour du Mont Blanc is required. The difference in winter is the necessity to manage the cold.
This trip is suited for the fitness minded. Tregaskis-Allen explains, “Depending on your fitness level, if you want to do a 1000 metres or more per day you can easily drop dress sizes. If people want to use it as a fitness thing. In 6 days of snow shoeing you can burn a lot of energy.”
Other snowshoe activities on offer from Trek and Trail are multi-activity weeks for corporate groups and night time head torch ascents. The routes chosen are low on distance but high on ambience and destinations typically local restaurants. “Once people have had a few glasses of wine,” Tregaskis-Allen points out “their snowshoes are less controllable.”
Lindsay Cannon explains the great advantages of a snowshoe holiday. “You are effectively booking on a winter walking holiday. You are walking but you're using snowshoes. If there are bad snow conditions then your ski holiday can be in serious trouble. However, if the snow conditions aren't great and there's been a lot of melt, people still have their snowshoeing holiday. It's just that for the first half hour they might have their snowshoes on their backpack while they walk uphill. So actually the snow conditions don't affect a winter walking holiday”.
