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Snowshoes #6680385
12/01/19 10:51 AM
12/01/19 10:51 AM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
A
AJE Offline OP
trapper
AJE  Offline OP
trapper
A

Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
Snowshoes and cross country skis can be nice for getting around, but do you try to avoid walking on frozen ponds with them? A person is less likely to fall through, but if one did fall through I would think it'd be extra hard getting out with skis or snowshoes on

Re: Snowshoes [Re: AJE] #6680549
12/01/19 02:17 PM
12/01/19 02:17 PM
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 744
Bush Alaska
victor#0 Offline
trapper
victor#0  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 744
Bush Alaska
I snowshoe all the time on ponds, rivers, and creeks. If it's new ice or I haven't crossed yet I cut a spruce pole and tap the ice in front of me and listen to the sound it makes, you can also sometimes hear the water gurgling underneath if it's thin. Having the spruce pole also comes in handy if you do go through, I carry it like a tight rope walker so it will catch on both sides of the ice. So far I have not gone through while using this method. There are also certain spots where the ice is usually thin like around a beaver feedpile or where a creek enters or leaves a pond etc. etc. so I avoid these spots as well.

Re: Snowshoes [Re: AJE] #6680603
12/01/19 03:39 PM
12/01/19 03:39 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 113
Tanana, Alaska
S
Stan Z Offline
trapper
Stan Z  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 113
Tanana, Alaska
I was shown how to make and use snowshoes by people in northern British Columbia almost 50 years ago. They used a single long moose hide loop for their bindings and would wrap them in a way that they went on by twisting their feet with no help from their hands. Simple and with an added benefit of being able to get them off their feet (hopefully) if falling through the ice. I used a type that tied to my feet as the straps loosened to much for me.
Anyway one thing they never did and I never do now is trust snowshoes to get me over ice that is questionable. Take your snowshoes off and check the ice with a sharp pole or chisel every step . I'll trust ice more with no snowshoes on than if I got them on. If you go down through the ice with snowshoes on you are likely history.

Re: Snowshoes [Re: AJE] #6680982
12/01/19 10:32 PM
12/01/19 10:32 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
A
AJE Offline OP
trapper
AJE  Offline OP
trapper
A

Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin

Re: Snowshoes [Re: AJE] #6681067
12/02/19 12:26 AM
12/02/19 12:26 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,514
juneau, alaska
A
alaska viking Offline
"Made it two years not being censored"
alaska viking  Offline
"Made it two years not being censored"
A

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,514
juneau, alaska
Well, there you go, then.


Made it almost 3 years without censor!

Re: Snowshoes [Re: AJE] #6681879
12/03/19 03:06 AM
12/03/19 03:06 AM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
A
AJE Offline OP
trapper
AJE  Offline OP
trapper
A

Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
victor#0, what do you mean you 'listen to the sound it makes?'

Re: Snowshoes [Re: AJE] #6682035
12/03/19 10:33 AM
12/03/19 10:33 AM
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 744
Bush Alaska
victor#0 Offline
trapper
victor#0  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 744
Bush Alaska
Solid ice has a dull thud sound, hollow ice has a hollow sound etc. etc., It takes practice but like Stan said take your snowshoes off and go slow. I take a few steps and then hit the ice, if it's good then take a few more. If at any time the ice feels questionable get off, always better safe then sorry.

Re: Snowshoes [Re: Stan Z] #6683347
12/04/19 07:04 PM
12/04/19 07:04 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 7,954
On Georgian Bay, Ontario Canad...
H
Hutchy Offline
trapper
Hutchy  Offline
trapper
H

Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 7,954
On Georgian Bay, Ontario Canad...
Originally Posted by Stan Z
I was shown how to make and use snowshoes by people in northern British Columbia almost 50 years ago. They used a single long moose hide loop for their bindings and would wrap them in a way that they went on by twisting their feet with no help from their hands. Simple and with an added benefit of being able to get them off their feet (hopefully) if falling through the ice. I used a type that tied to my feet as the straps loosened to much for me.
Anyway one thing they never did and I never do now is trust snowshoes to get me over ice that is questionable. Take your snowshoes off and check the ice with a sharp pole or chisel every step . I'll trust ice more with no snowshoes on than if I got them on. If you go down through the ice with snowshoes on you are likely history.


I use lampwick for.my bindings in the manner you described. We call it an Indian hitch

Re: Snowshoes [Re: Hutchy] #6683619
12/04/19 11:43 PM
12/04/19 11:43 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 113
Tanana, Alaska
S
Stan Z Offline
trapper
Stan Z  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 113
Tanana, Alaska
Hutchy
Your comment brought back memories. When I moved near the town I'm in now 45 years ago the general store sold lamp wick. Being a big dog mushing place back then everyone bought it for making dog harnesses and I did also. My how things have changed.

Re: Snowshoes [Re: AJE] #6684179
12/05/19 05:18 PM
12/05/19 05:18 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 7,954
On Georgian Bay, Ontario Canad...
H
Hutchy Offline
trapper
Hutchy  Offline
trapper
H

Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 7,954
On Georgian Bay, Ontario Canad...
I am 33 and even still see my own version of change. I hate how finding actual useful things is so tough. I don't usually even go into Cabelas any more. I would be pretty happy with a store that only sold canoes, axes, shotguns, lampwick and rope.

I get long lampwick from friends of mine. Not even sure where they get it.

Re: Snowshoes [Re: AJE] #6684238
12/05/19 06:16 PM
12/05/19 06:16 PM
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 744
Bush Alaska
victor#0 Offline
trapper
victor#0  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 744
Bush Alaska
I bought a whole spool of lampwick for both snowshoe's and in the kerosene lamps at wickstore.com................

Re: Snowshoes [Re: Stan Z] #6697955
12/18/19 06:24 PM
12/18/19 06:24 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,879
Central MN, sort of old
MnMan Offline
trapper
MnMan  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,879
Central MN, sort of old
Originally Posted by Stan Z
I If you go down through the ice with snowshoes on you are likely history.


Trapstickman is providing a visual of this event. Be safe out there.

[Linked Image]


I'm just happy to be here! Today I'm as young as I'll ever be and and older than I've ever been before!
Re: Snowshoes [Re: AJE] #6698081
12/18/19 08:11 PM
12/18/19 08:11 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,116
Manitoba
N
Northof50 Offline
trapper
Northof50  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,116
Manitoba
I wonder if those weaving mills in Scotland still produce the lamp wick. I remember at SIR in Winnipeg they had rolls the size of the 6 foot telephone spools full in September and by Xmas they were empty. How many 100's of thousands of feet were was on there.
The thing about lamp wick is when it gets wet it stretches and the x-over under the side and back bow tie was the exit we were taught. I had the fortune of Joe Robertson from Dauphin MB teach some fine details. his book was; From Prairie to Tundra published about 1991 a must read.

Last edited by Northof50; 12/18/19 08:20 PM. Reason: Author spelling
Re: Snowshoes [Re: AJE] #6698456
12/19/19 03:08 AM
12/19/19 03:08 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,489
Moved to Fbks, Ak.
M
martentrapper Offline
trapper
martentrapper  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,489
Moved to Fbks, Ak.
I have been somewhat successful in making the lamp wick bindings you are talking about but using hollow braid polyrope.
mt

Last edited by martentrapper; 12/19/19 03:09 AM.
Re: Snowshoes [Re: AJE] #6699052
12/19/19 06:13 PM
12/19/19 06:13 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 53
Upstate, N.Y.
C
cutter22 Offline
trapper
cutter22  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 53
Upstate, N.Y.
I got in the habit of kicking off my back strap when crossing any water way, no matter how deep it is. That way you can always kick off your shoes if you go thru. Might loose a pair of snowshoes at worst. Even a foot of water can give you problems if it grabs your snowshoe sideways.


formerly "cutter2"
T-man member since 12/25/06
Re: Snowshoes [Re: cutter22] #6699056
12/19/19 06:19 PM
12/19/19 06:19 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat Offline
trapper
bctomcat  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
Originally Posted by cutter22
I got in the habit of kicking off my back strap when crossing any water way, no matter how deep it is. That way you can always kick off your shoes if you go thru.
Me too


The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.






Re: Snowshoes [Re: AJE] #6703736
12/23/19 04:43 PM
12/23/19 04:43 PM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 92
wisconsin
B
big momma Offline
trapper
big momma  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 92
wisconsin
StanZ or Hutchy, is there a way to explain that type of binding? Or a diagram? Just curious.

Re: Snowshoes [Re: big momma] #6703801
12/23/19 06:28 PM
12/23/19 06:28 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 113
Tanana, Alaska
S
Stan Z Offline
trapper
Stan Z  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 113
Tanana, Alaska
Big Momma
I'll have to leave that up to another person as I never used that kind of binding much and all the rope/strap types I see here in Tanana are just tied on. The kind I saw used in BC Canada were put on with a twist of the foot alone except for adjusting sometimes.

Re: Snowshoes [Re: AJE] #6703826
12/23/19 06:58 PM
12/23/19 06:58 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 345
ontario
G
grampy Offline
trapper
grampy  Offline
trapper
G

Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 345
ontario
Big Momma Last year I searched utube for snowshoe bindings and found the "hookup" you are looking for. No hands, just stepped into the harness,twisted foot and they were ready to go. Just checked /one is Bushcraft traditional snowshoe binding

Re: Snowshoes [Re: big momma] #6704132
12/23/19 11:51 PM
12/23/19 11:51 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,129
McGrath, AK
W
white17 Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
white17  Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,129
McGrath, AK
Originally Posted by big momma
StanZ or Hutchy, is there a way to explain that type of binding? Or a diagram? Just curious.



One of the old Alaska Trapper magazines has a photo tutorial on how to make these.

If I recall it was George Attla


Mean As Nails
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