{"id":5644,"date":"2020-12-18T07:15:37","date_gmt":"2020-12-18T06:15:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/?p=5644"},"modified":"2023-01-19T11:41:02","modified_gmt":"2023-01-19T10:41:02","slug":"caminar-nieve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/en\/snowshoeing\/","title":{"rendered":"How to walk in the snow"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Hiking in snowy areas is a magnificent experience, but it also involves several risks; here we will explain from scratch, the basic recommendations that you must take into account about <strong>how to walk in the snow<\/strong>These are important considerations for beginners, but can also be useful for fine-tuning details if you already have some experience.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Winter mountaineering: Tips for a safe WINTER HIKE\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/j9MZpPN8578?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_71 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Index<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Contents\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseprofile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/en\/snowshoeing\/#El_equipo_basico\" title=\"The basic equipment\">The basic equipment<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/en\/snowshoeing\/#Las_raquetas_de_nieve\" title=\"Snowshoeing\">Snowshoeing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/en\/snowshoeing\/#Crampones\" title=\"Crampons\">Crampons<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/en\/snowshoeing\/#Piolet\" title=\"Ice axe\">Ice axe<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/en\/snowshoeing\/#Considera_el_clima\" title=\"Consider the climate\">Consider the climate<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/en\/snowshoeing\/#Para_subir\" title=\"To go up\">To go up<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/en\/snowshoeing\/#Para_bajar\" title=\"To download\">To download<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/en\/snowshoeing\/#Recomendaciones_finales\" title=\"Final recommendations\">Final recommendations<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"El_equipo_basico\"><\/span>The basic equipment<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p>Here are some essential items of equipment you should be aware of; in addition to the clothing, we recommend that you first purchase the<strong> snow boots<\/strong> that best fit your feet, considering not only size, but also flexibility, terrain and the number of hours a day you will be wearing them; and depending on their characteristics, choose the following basic items.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Las_raquetas_de_nieve\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/en\/how-to-make-technical-snowshoeing-progress\/\">Snowshoeing<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p>They are a great help, particularly in snowy areas that do not have steep slopes; they are elements that adapt to our footwear and allow us to \"float\" on the snow to be able to walk more easily.<\/p><p>It is important to consider your weight bearing capacity, not only your body weight, but you must also calculate the weight in case of carrying <a href=\"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/en\/montana-backpacks\/\">backpack<\/a> or other equipment; rackets that are too small can cause us to sink all the time if they are not big enough, or on the contrary, if they are too big for our body, it will be difficult to manoeuvre.<\/p><p>There are also some more comprehensive ones which are <strong>adjustable<\/strong>The touring or mountain bikes are a more convenient option, and for starters, the touring or mountain bikes will be a more accessible alternative to racing bikes, as they require more skill.<\/p><p>Just keep in mind that as well as <strong>it is a bad idea to use them on steep slopes<\/strong>It is also a risk not to take the proper precautions regarding <strong>hard snow<\/strong>.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-5675\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"760\" height=\"600\" src=\"http:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/greg-rakozy-194588_760x600.jpg\" alt=\"Snowshoeing \/ Photo: Greg Rakozy\" class=\"wp-image-5675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/greg-rakozy-194588_760x600.jpg 760w, https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/greg-rakozy-194588_760x600-600x474.jpg 600w, https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/greg-rakozy-194588_760x600-300x237.jpg 300w, https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/greg-rakozy-194588_760x600-759x600.jpg 759w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Snowshoeing \/ Photo: Greg Rakozy<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Crampones\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/en\/crampons\/\">Crampons<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p>Crampons are metal-tipped elements, which are attached to the bottom of snow boots, and are used for a better grip, particularly in the snow.<strong> hard snow areas<\/strong> or where you have <strong>steep slopes<\/strong>including verticals.<\/p><p>They have been in development for more than a century, and to find the type that best suits your needs it is important to determine what type of journey you plan to make.<\/p><p>The steeper or steeper the slope, the more useful it will be to have more pointed picks that can dig into the ice, although there are also \"T\" or single-point picks, which will be useful for mixed climbs. In any case, their use should be combined with an ice axe.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Piolet\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/en\/ice-axes\/\">Ice axe<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p>Of course, ski poles are also useful for balance, but they cannot replace the ice axe in more difficult situations. The <strong>ice axe<\/strong> is an indispensable element that will give you greater security.<\/p><p>The ice axe is not only used as a kind of \"hook\" to help us climb and keep our balance, but it is also very useful in the event of a fall or slide to help us catch ourselves more quickly and easily. The <strong>pole ice axe<\/strong> is the most recommended for sections that do not have steep slopes, a<strong> more technical ice axe<\/strong> will be most useful when the slope becomes steeper than 45\u00ba and a <strong>traction ice axe<\/strong> will be indispensable when climbing areas with slopes greater than a 70\u00ba angle.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-5676\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"760\" height=\"600\" src=\"http:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/asoggetti-465163_760x600.jpg\" alt=\"Mountaineering safety elements such as ice axe and crampons \/ Photo: Asoggetti\" class=\"wp-image-5676\" srcset=\"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/asoggetti-465163_760x600.jpg 760w, https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/asoggetti-465163_760x600-600x474.jpg 600w, https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/asoggetti-465163_760x600-300x237.jpg 300w, https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/asoggetti-465163_760x600-759x600.jpg 759w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mountaineering safety elements such as ice axe and crampons \/ Photo: Asoggetti<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Considera_el_clima\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/en\/mountain-weather\/\">Consider the climate<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p>It is important to consider the climatic conditions of the place according to the time of the activity; generally between spring - be careful in early spring, when there are still significant snow accumulations and the temperature is rising - and summer there is less risk of avalanches, although this type of conditions can change suddenly, so it is best to confirm the local conditions of the day.<\/p><p>Consider that on a very cold morning, or at dusk, the snow is often harder and almost frozen, which can also become a danger that is important to be aware of.<\/p><p>Ways to walk on snow<br>In order to know how to walk safely in the snow, it will also be useful to know some basic techniques:<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Para_subir\"><\/span>To go up<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p>On light ascents, but which are perceived to be somewhat slippery, the technique of the <strong>duck<\/strong> is useful, i.e. by opening the soles of the feet - like penguins - and taking big steps by first leaning on the inside of the foot.<\/p><p>For steeper areas, it is useful to use the <strong>American<\/strong>which is similar, although first one foot is extended to support us, and then the other is launched to reach the place, so that the greatest effort is made on one foot at a time, although if you get tired you can interchange them; and the use of the ice axe will also be of help.<\/p><p>If the snow is not only steep, but also hard, the style <strong>French<\/strong> The most secure way is with cross-steps and zigzags, although in this case the tips of the feet should point slightly towards the slope in order to have more contact and grip with the ground; of course, in this case crampons and ice axe will also be essential.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Para_bajar\"><\/span>To download<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p>If you are in soft snow conditions, it is best to descend with your feet open, but with your heels on the ground, keeping your toes pointed skyward, but this should be done with caution, depending on your practice and the steepness of the terrain.<br>In case of firm snow, you will have to descend with the help of crampons and ice axe, with your feet wide open a bit like a duck, but also bending your knees to better balance your body; in case of vertigo or insecurity, it is best to concentrate on the slope and how to move forward.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Recomendaciones_finales\"><\/span>Final recommendations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p>It will be important in any case to remain <strong>attentive<\/strong> It will not be enough to focus on the next step, it will also be useful to consider the route ahead in order to make adjustments in time; for example, if we are about to tackle a steep descent, we should put on our crampons in advance of it, once we encounter it we are already in the risk zone.<\/p><p>Remember also that in hard snow conditions you should not walk on tiptoe, it is better to try to support yourself with the whole sole of your foot, or with one of the styles mentioned above.<\/p><p>If you do not know the terrain, it is best to go with a guide or observe the progression of experienced people. Do not decide to explore unknown areas without sufficient experience, you may find cliffs, crevasses or other risky areas that can compromise our activity, and of course our health and physical integrity...<\/p><p>If in doubt, consult the experts, and opt for quality equipment to ensure the longevity and efficiency of your tools, as well as safety.<\/p><p><strong>READ ALSO:<\/strong><\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"http:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/en\/avalanches-safety-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Avalanches: basic safety tips for winter mountaineering&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt; Avalanches: basic safety tips for winter mountaineering&gt;&gt;&gt;.<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/en\/winter-hiking-what-equipment-should-i-bring\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Hiking in winter: what equipment should I bring?<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Hiking in snowy areas is a magnificent experience, but it also involves several risks; here we will explain to you from scratch, the basic recommendations you should take into account about how to walk in the snow.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5674,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2955],"tags":[],"series":[],"class_list":["post-5644","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nieve-hielo","post_format-post-format-image"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/todd-diemer-284465_760x600.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Caratula-Podcast-Maldita-Montana_1500x1500_72pp-p_.jpg","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":[],"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/en\/feed\/podcast\/maldita-montana","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"5LhoI4NFOZ\"><a href=\"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/en\/snowshoeing\/\">C\u00f3mo caminar en la nieve<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/en\/snowshoeing\/embed\/#?secret=5LhoI4NFOZ\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;C\u00f3mo caminar en la nieve&#8221; &#8212; Traves\u00eda.\" data-secret=\"5LhoI4NFOZ\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! 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