How to Walk Uphill in Snowshoes

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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In many places, you'll find the best snow in mountains or hilly regions. Here's how to climb up those hills on your snowshoes.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Examine the snow you will be walking on.
Step 2

Determine if the snow is dry, powdery, wet or firm.
Step 3

Take long strides while snowshoeing uphill in dry powder. This will enable you to clear your previous footprint, preventing you from sliding back.
Step 4

Take small steps when snowshoeing uphill on firm snow. This will conserve energy on harder packed snow.
Step 5

Walk up the fall line. The fall line is the path a ball would take if rolled down the hill, and is the shortest way up.
Step 6

Step up on your toes, digging the snowshoe teeth into the snow. The snowshoe teeth are mostly located below your toe and will provide traction.
Step 7

Use poles for balance and as a climbing aid. Plant the poles forward and to your sides and either pull up on them or push off of them when striding.

Tips & Warnings

Long strides are needed when walking up powder slopes. By preventing your snowshoe from falling back into the deep footprint you just made, you'll be conserving energy.
On slopes that are too steep to go up the fall line, try zigzagging back and forth up the hill.

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