Snow Skills

There is more news about the risks of using Nalgene bottles for drinking fluids. The concern is that bisphenol-a (a.k.a. BPA) is a material which is widely used in the manufacturing of polycarbonate, which is the plastic typically used in hard plastic bottles. Previous studies have demonstrated that BPA can leach from polycarbonate into food and fluids, but the cancer risk associated with this action is uncertain. To date, the most significant risk appears to be to children and pregnant women, as exposure to smaller human beings has the most effect.

The National Toxicology Program of the Department of Health and Human Services recently published a draft report that states that there is no direct evidence that human exposure to BPA harms reproduction or infant development. “A recent article in the New York Times sums up this draft report and provides additional information that the issue continues to be unsettled.

Consistent with our previous posts on this issue, there is no definitive information that the use of a Nalgene bottle has a clear health risk. If you’re concerned, previous studies indicate that higher temperatures are more likely to leach BPA, so you could only use cold fluids in your Nalgene and replace it periodically.

The use of trekking poles with powder baskets will help maintain your balance with whatever you have on your feet. Get the adjustable type of poles to adjust for various snow conditions; the length will depend on the snow’s density and hardness. You’ll also find that shortening your poles will make it easier to climb in fresh snow while shortening them will make it easier to descend. Powder baskets are usually $5 to 8, from the manufacturer.

Trekking poles are essential for winter trekking and powder baskets for those poles are, too!

“I’ve only made this mistake once and I’ll never do it again!” I’m referring to heading out for that first snowshoe trek of the winter season, grabbing the backpack, the snowshoes, and the trekking poles on the way out the door. Upon arrival at the trailhead, I noticed that the trekking poles had the small baskets that had served me so well through the summer. Well, they’ll be fine in snow, right? “I’ve only made this mistake once and I’ll never do it again!”
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The Black Diamond Sabretooth Crampons are an excellent crampon choice for winter climbing and hiking. Read the rest of this entry »

The shape of snowshoes is probably the most important factor for selecting snowshoes and its your planned use that will dictate what you choose.

FOR CLIMBING: A relatively short, wide snowshoe is generally more versatile and maneuverable. They are generally best for climbing situations and hiking in forested areas. I prefer molded plastic snowshoes such as the MSR Denali as they are light, indestructable and easy to strap onto the outside of your pack. The Denali is an excellent choice for winter trekking in mountains and wooded trails.

FOR HIKING: A relatively long, narrower snowshoe is generally more efficient and promotes a faster pace. They are generally best for flatter, more open areas when one’s path is straighter. The Tubbs Couloir Backcountry Snowshoe is a good example of a snowshoe that is perfect for tromping around fields.

FOR WOMEN: The Atlas Women’s 923 Elektra 9 Series Snowshoe is designed for a woman’s biomechanics including a narrower stance and stride. It uses a lightweight aluminum frame and is sized for a total weight of 200 lbs or less.

The use of a gliding wax like Swix F4 Glidewax will protect your gear and improve your sliding fun!

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The Rayzar Hat is an excellent headgear choice for aerobic activities in very cold conditions.
The weather in Maine this time of year is typically in the single digits during the day and most light hats intended for aerobic workout don’t hold enough heat for temperatures below 10 degrees. Read the rest of this entry »

In the world of outdoor recreation clothing, it’s not uncommon that the best performing clothes and gear are also an expensive choice. There are some items that this situation can’t be avoided; for example, we strongly recommend you do not buy a disounted, low quality water filter. ’nuff said.

But not all gear that will meet your needs well will be the most expensive choice. A good example of a good value in down jackets is the EMS Men’s Glacier Down Jacket from Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS). Read the rest of this entry »

The use of foot powder in your winter boots of all kinds will help keep your feet drier and warmer during your adventures.
Use any kind of anti-bacterial foot powder in your sock to help absorb excess sweat and pull moisture away from your feet.

It will help keep your foot warm, by absorbing normal moisture expelled from the foot. It also helps to keep the boot smelling okay; be aware that no foot powder can completely remove foot odor from well-used boots, but at least some will help keep the odor manageable.

Note that foot powder in itself will not overcome poor choices of footwear or socks: there’s no substitute for investing in quality insulated boots to enjoy the outside in the winter. For socks, wool or synthetic materials are best and absolutely, positively never use cotton socks in the winter!

Cotton will not provide any insulation once it gets wet and just your normal perspiration is enough moisture to make you cold and wet.

Smartwool’s Lightweight Next-To-Skin Base Layers are a great solution for an all-conditions base clothing for winter outdoor recreation.

These base layer garments are made of 100 percent Merino wool, which is soft on your skin while the moisture-wicking properties help keep you dry in all weather conditions. With less moisture against your skin, dry means warmer, especially in extreme temperatures and winds.
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