Outside of indigenous populations, however, very few of the old-fashioned snowshoes are actually used by enthusiasts anymore, although some value them for the artisanship involved in their construction. They are most commonly seen as decorations, mounted on walls, or on mantels, in ski lodges.

While recreational use of snowshoes had begun with the snowshoe clubs in Quebec, who held events where races and hikes were combined with fine food and drink, manufacture of snowshoes for recreational purposes only began in the late 19th century, when serious recreational use became more widespread.

In the late 20th century the snowshoe underwent a radical redesign. It started in the 1950s when the Vermont-based Tubbs company created the Green Mountain Bearpaw, which combined the shortness of that style with an even narrower width than had previously been used. This rapidly became one of the most popular snowshoes of its day.

Underside of a modern free-rotation binding snowshoe, showing cleats for traction on steep slopes.
[edit] The “Western” snowshoe
In 1972, experimenting with new designs in Washington’s Cascade Mountains, Gene and Bill Prater created the snowshoe as we know it today. They began using aluminum tubing and replaced the lace with neoprene and nylon decking. To make them easier to use in mountaineering, the Praters developed a hinged binding and added cleats to the bottom of the shoe.

The Sherpa Snowshoe company started manufacturing these “Western” shoes and they proved very popular. Eastern snowshoers were a bit more skeptical at first, however, believing that the style was unnecessary in the east, until the Praters demonstrated their improved effectiveness on New Hampshire’s Mount Washington. In time all users switched to the Sherpas.

MSR solid plastic snowshoesThese use an aluminum or stainless steel frame and take advantage of technical advances in plastics and injection molding to make a lighter and more durable shoe. They require little maintenance, and usually incorporate aggressive crampons.

Some, such as those made by Mountain Safety Research, use no metal at all and also come with detachable tail extenders. Newer models have heel-lifters, called “ascenders”, that flip up to facilitate hill climbing.

The use of solid decking in place of the standard latticework of lacing came as a surprise to many enthusiasts, since it challenged a long-held belief that the lattice was necessary to prevent snow from accumulating on the shoe. In practice, however, it seems that very little snow comes through the openings in either type of shoe.

Neoprene/nylon decks also displayed superior water resistance, neither stretching as rawhide will when wet nor requiring annual treatment with shellac, features that were immediately appreciated. Eventually they were replaced with even lighter materials such as polypropylene.

These more athletic designs have helped the sport enjoy a renaissance after a period of eclipse when winter recreationists showed more interest in skiing. In the U.S., the number of snowshoers tripled during the 1990s.

In fact, ski resorts with available land are beginning to offer snowshoe trails to visitors, and some popular hiking areas are almost as busy in the colder months as they are on warm summer weekends.
This article was supplied by Wikipedia.org

Bookmark to: