Snowshoeing dans les Alpes

[Lord Camomile]

Reading this article in the Guardian the other day reignited my interest in mooching around the Alps, and snowshoeing sounds like my way of doing it, given I'm very impatient and can't be doing with spending a load of time learning how to ski or climb ice or what-have-you.

Does anyone have any experience of such matters or recommendations beyond that article? I have to say, striding forth from a monastery does have its appeal, but it's my genes to shop around and see what else there is.

On a "grand plan that will never actually occur" level, I have notions about combining it with a wider tour of Europe, but that's a whole other thread...

 

[TruXta]

Don't do it. It's a right pain wearing snowshoes. Learn to ski instead.

 

[Lord Camomile]

But I already know how to walk!

Plus, I do actually genuinely prefer the idea of walking at a more scene-friendly pace in a less populated area, than zipping around on skis with a load of other tourists.

I mean, who likes tourists, eh?

 

[weltweit]

Snowshoing it sounds far too slow.

If you are not in favour of learning to ski, what about learning to langlauf.. it is similar to skiiing but you keep going under your own steam when there is no hill. I think you need to be fit.

 

[Lord Camomile]

I think you need to be fit.

How fit...?

 

[weltweit]

How fit...?

Probably not more than you would need for walking in snowshoes.

 

[Lord Camomile]

Hmm, I shall investigate further then

I have to say, quite a lot of the appeal is going somewhere relatively crowd free, which is why I thought snowshoeing, being seemingly less popular, might be more my thing. Langlauf...ing(?) might work too though.

 

[weltweit]

Hmm, I shall investigate further then

I have to say, quite a lot of the appeal is going somewhere relatively crowd free, which is why I thought snowshoeing, being seemingly less popular, might be more my thing. Langlauf...ing(?) might work too though.

I think langlaufers do go "off piste" as it were. I know someone who does it and loves it.

 

[newme]

*waits for im stuck in a hole somewhere in the alps thread*

 

[chilango]

Snowshoeing is hard work. It's not quite normal walking. Hopefully will do a few little trips this Winter in the Alps. Needs to be quite a bit of snow to be worthwhile. There are marked trails in many places. If you wander off by yourself you must be avalanche savvy.

 

[Lord Camomile]

I fear this

If you wander off by yourself you must be avalanche savvy.

would lead to this...

*waits for im stuck in a hole somewhere in the alps thread*

Turns out the Alps cover, like, a really big area Gonna have to do a lot more research to find the best place/time to go, and the best way to see it.

Can even do hot air balloon rides

 

[chilango]

An avalanche would lead to being stuck in a hole if you were lucky. Plenty people killed every year.

 

[Lord Camomile]

Aye, fair point, it was more the wandering off by myself aspect. Don't think I'll be doing that any time soon

 

[chilango]

That said. There are plenty of well marked, safe trails. Trails in the Italian Alps at least are very good.