Snowshoes

[Boomer]

Johnn, here are my Ojibwa shoes. About identical to your picture of them. They sure were the tried and proven pattern, all over northern Canada. In north-central BC, every forest sevice worker I ever heard of, the men who used snowshoes constantly, all winter, used nothing but that pattern. So did the game department men in the bush, as well as many trappers. The only variation was size. These are 11 x 54.

We have a pair of those in the basement, and my wife like them a lot. I grew up with traditional snowshoes, and after having them break or fall to pieces in very wet snow conditions I gave up and embraced the synthetic ones. I tried the military magnesium frame style with the wire mesh, and the only thing that kept me from sinking deeper in the snow was the ground. They had a frame style similar to that of MSR, but if you got on a hard drift they were pretty slippery. They were tough and light, but if they don't keep you on top of the snow they might as well stay at home.

Last June we walked into our cabin a couple of times until we could drive in. Sometimes you luck out and can just follow a set of tire tracks.

In the spring there's enough daylight that the snow drops lots over a few days

But the big drifts last well into July

The crampons on the synthetic snow shoes make it easier to get moving when you a pulling heavy loads

Snow machines are nice, but they can break down, and then you're walking, so good snowshoes can make the difference between living and dying.

 

[CZ85Combat]

Would these make sense? I am 210 lbs
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_...older_id=2534374302726601&bmUID=1229883021139

3 Words for you: Made In China...

I am 225 Lbs, normally carrying a 30 lbs packs
I swear by my MSR lighting ascent 30, not cheap, but probably the most aggressive one on the market and very easy to use uphill
And they are made in N America

 

[pazzo]

probably the most aggressive one on the market

almost.


the Evo Ascent are a bit more aggressive, having 4 front points on the crampon instead of two, like on the Lightning ascent! and the side rails are a bit sharper/ pointier.

the lightning ascents are very light and nice to use in consistent conditions. if you are going from hard-pack to deep powder to hard-pack, you can add/ remove the tails on the EVO's! if you buy the 22" Lightning Ascent's for everyday ski-hill/ dog walking, then no worries. but if you hit up the powder, the 30" model is what you'll need. and if you go w/ the 30" model from the get go, you'll be hating it on the hard-pack - lugging around all that tail behind you!

 

[Johnn Peterson]

Johnn, here are my Ojibwa shoes. About identical to your picture of them. They sure were the tried and proven pattern, all over northern Canada. In north-central BC, every forest sevice worker I ever heard of, the men who used snowshoes constantly, all winter, used nothing but that pattern. So did the game department men in the bush, as well as many trappers. The only variation was size. These are 11 x 54.

In addition to what I now have, to get back to something more traditional as well, I may have to get another set of like the Ojibwe you have pictured. I was just thinking they'd fit in well, period specific along with my Trapper Nelson packboard with matching pack bag, Jones Tent & Awning Yukon down filled sleeping bag, Fisherman pants and model 71 Winchester. My Pierre Paris caulk boots for timber hunting probably fit in there as well. Might have to keep my options open just in case Boomer sells me the set he has. In the meantime, with the snow fall we got the last couple of days, it's time to go play with the CV Polar Trails and quad with blade.

 

[H4831]

Johnn, Since we got onto the Jones line and the Trapper Nelson, here is a question for anyone.
The Jones Tent and Awning Trapper Nelson pack boards, the once absolute mainstay of virtually every trapper and prospector in the north, came in two sizes. The smaller one was marked "No, 2," while the larger one was a No. 3. At a garage sale I bought this one, complete with bag, which has no size number. I wonder if anyone else is familiar with the "Trapper Nelson Indian Pack Board? I never saw any of the numbered ones with the "Indian" designation. EDIT; This bag is the size of a No. 2.
To those unfamiliar, Jones Tent and Awning was the true symbol of highest quality outdoor equipment. Based in Vancouver they were an icon of the north. They used to test their tents by staking them down on the roof of the 6 floor building they were in, and leave them on the roof for a year!
Johnn, I have one more item of theirs you missed. In the mid 1960s, when Jones was on the way down, as cheaper goods sold better, I bought one of their "silk," (actually Egyptian cotton) prospectors tent. A very light wedge tent, which rolls up in a little ball for easy and light weight carrying. From the time our oldest son was about eight years old we used it a lot, in some pretty wildernessy places, for a few years.
It would be nice to have a get together in some back-woods area with all this old, qulity equipment.

 

[Johnn Peterson]

Johnn, Since we got onto the Jones line and the Trapper Nelson, here is a question for anyone.
The Jones Tent and Awning Trapper Nelson pack boards, the once absolute mainstay of virtually every trapper and prospector in the north, came in two sizes. The smaller one was marked "No, 2," while the larger one was a No. 3. At a garage sale I bought this one, complete with bag, which has no size number. I wonder if anyone else is familiar with the "Trapper Nelson Indian Pack Board? I never saw any of the numbered ones with the "Indian" designation. EDIT; This bag is the size of a No. 2.
To those unfamiliar, Jones Tent and Awning was the true symbol of highest quality outdoor equipment. Based in Vancouver they were an icon of the north. They used to test their tents by staking them down on the roof of the 6 floor building they were in, and leave them on the roof for a year!
Johnn, I have one more item of theirs you missed. In the mid 1960s, when Jones was on the way down, as cheaper goods sold better, I bought one of their "silk," (actually Egyptian cotton) prospectors tent. A very light wedge tent, which rolls up in a little ball for easy and light weight carrying. From the time our oldest son was about eight years old we used it a lot, in some pretty wildernessy places, for a few years.
It would be nice to have a get together in some back-woods area with all this old, qulity equipment.

You've done well buddy!! Now, you 'need' a 348 Winchester and your life will be complete. One of these days, we have to meet, at one of the next gun shows at Kamloops perhaps?
Admittedly, I haven't figured out the posting thing yet, but that is on my agenda for the New Year. I have a couple of photo's of interest I'll e-mail you.