City slicker needs help.

viands · 01-26-2007, 12:03 PM

Couple of questions:

1. Do I really need snow shoes to walk on the lake (say Wenworth since it is ice-in now there) or since there is plenty of snow on top of the ice can I just get away with good water-proof hiking boots?

2. When the weather gets back to 30's, is Mount Shaw summitable, again just with good hiking boots?

Thanks folks.

lakershaker · 01-26-2007, 12:40 PM

I think you only need snow shoes if there is plenty of snow (I think that's how they got their name

) If it is ice, try these http://www.yaktrax.com/productspro.aspx - they make walking on ice much easier.

Island Girl · 01-26-2007, 12:44 PM

I have them in my backpack all the time in the winter... Never go on the ice without them... much too easy to fall and break something.

IG

viands · 01-26-2007, 01:28 PM

ls, I meant if there is a small layer of semi-packed snow which my hiking boots seem to get great traction on.... versus sheer ice or snow 6+ inches deep.

SIKSUKR · 01-26-2007, 01:50 PM

There is virtually no snow on the ice.Check the webcams and see for yourself.

lakershaker · 01-26-2007, 03:44 PM

The nice thing about the YakTrax is that you can wear them in snow or ice. That way, if it is solid ice you are set, and if you can walk in the snow, they don't get in the way. I always feel it is better to be over-prepared than under...

Island Life · 01-26-2007, 04:47 PM

I've never used snowshoes on the ice. If there's a layer of snow, walking should be no trouble. If not, it could be slippery but will still be walkable.

viands · 01-26-2007, 05:05 PM

Thanks all, I will look in to the YakTrax.

So Albee Beach to the islands on Lake Wenworth tomorrow is safe?

Nobody answered my Mount Shaw question.

JTA · 01-26-2007, 06:42 PM

Walking conditions on the ice vary greatly depending on what the weather's done. A small amount of snow on the ice will be slippery as h*&$. Wear ice grippers on your boots. Once there is a fair amount of snow on the ice, you can often walk in snowmobile tracks. If it's fresh, heavy snow on the ice, probably snowshoes. If it thaws and freezes there may be pockets of slush and water that make walking difficult. Bring your boots, grippers and snowshoes and adjust. HAVE FUN!

Rattlesnake Gal · 01-26-2007, 07:01 PM

Your Mount Shaw question is best posed to DCR. You may have noticed his informative pictures on PhotoPost. He hikes the Lakes Region at all times of the year and is very knowlegable. I suggest sending him a private e-mail.
He’s a great guy and won’t steer you wrong.

mcdude · 01-26-2007, 07:29 PM

(hi RG! Looks like you are feeling a little better!)
I posted this over on the ice-in thread....Wentworth is iced in and there was a photo of people snow-shoeing on the snow on top of the ice last Saturday on the Lake Wentworth site.

SNOW-SHOEING PHOTO

A check on the archived web cam photos from today looks like there still may be some snow on the ice over there. (??)

ARCHIVED WEB CAM PHOTOS

They were reporting 5-6" of ice thickness near Hersey Shore last week-end.

trfour · 01-26-2007, 09:15 PM

About the shortest walking distance to Mt. Shaw, would be from White Lake State Park right on rte 16 in Tamworth. I've been up to Mt. Shaw from many different trails by snowmobile, and if I were going to hike up, I'd do it from there. That being said, in winter the weather can turn from good, starting out, to bad in a hurry. You want to be well prepared for that.
"Do Not go by yourself".

Good luck and happy trails.

http://www.nhmountainhiking.com/shaw.html

JTA · 01-26-2007, 10:50 PM

Mt. Shaw has a snowmobile trail running to the summit. Would it be possible to simply hike up a snowmobile trail?

carole · 01-27-2007, 10:23 AM

Mt. Shaw is “summitable” year round. But walking on a lake is very different than climbing a mountain. Yaktraks have been known to fail while hiking or come off the foot. The Mt. Shaw trail has several water crossings as well as ice flows that may need something with more grip. Sometimes ‘Stabilicers’ will work or you may even need ‘crampons’. Some boots are very difficult to wear crampons with.

As for walking the snowmobile route. I find it very unpleasant to hike in snowmobile tracks – if there are any yet. It is also a much longer route than the hiking trail.

01-26-2007, 12:03 PM	#1
viands Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	City slicker needs help. Couple of questions: 1. Do I really need snow shoes to walk on the lake (say Wenworth since it is ice-in now there) or since there is plenty of snow on top of the ice can I just get away with good water-proof hiking boots? 2. When the weather gets back to 30's, is Mount Shaw summitable, again just with good hiking boots? Thanks folks.

01-26-2007, 12:44 PM	#3
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,352 Thanks: 18 Thanked 535 Times in 179 Posts	Always carry yaktraks or similar product I have them in my backpack all the time in the winter... Never go on the ice without them... much too easy to fall and break something. IG __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade

01-26-2007, 01:50 PM	#5
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	There is virtually no snow on the ice.Check the webcams and see for yourself. __________________ SIKSUKR

01-26-2007, 03:44 PM	#6
lakershaker Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Rattlesnake Isl. - Simsbury, CT Posts: 274 Thanks: 91 Thanked 46 Times in 28 Posts	Get the YakTrax anyway... The nice thing about the YakTrax is that you can wear them in snow or ice. That way, if it is solid ice you are set, and if you can walk in the snow, they don't get in the way. I always feel it is better to be over-prepared than under...

01-26-2007, 04:47 PM	#7
Island Life Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 273 Thanks: 12 Thanked 6 Times in 2 Posts	I've never used snowshoes on the ice. If there's a layer of snow, walking should be no trouble. If not, it could be slippery but will still be walkable. __________________ Island Life the way my grandparents' grandparents enjoyed it - but with a faster boat!!!

01-26-2007, 12:40 PM	#2
lakershaker Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Rattlesnake Isl. - Simsbury, CT Posts: 274 Thanks: 91 Thanked 46 Times in 28 Posts	I think you only need snow shoes if there is plenty of snow (I think that's how they got their name ) If it is ice, try these http://www.yaktrax.com/productspro.aspx - they make walking on ice much easier.

01-26-2007, 01:28 PM	#4
viands Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	ls, I meant if there is a small layer of semi-packed snow which my hiking boots seem to get great traction on.... versus sheer ice or snow 6+ inches deep.

01-26-2007, 05:05 PM	#8
viands Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks all, I will look in to the YakTrax. So Albee Beach to the islands on Lake Wenworth tomorrow is safe? Nobody answered my Mount Shaw question.

01-26-2007, 06:42 PM	#9
JTA Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Fort Pierce, Florida Posts: 233 Thanks: 34 Thanked 25 Times in 21 Posts	walking on the ice Walking conditions on the ice vary greatly depending on what the weather's done. A small amount of snow on the ice will be slippery as h*&$. Wear ice grippers on your boots. Once there is a fair amount of snow on the ice, you can often walk in snowmobile tracks. If it's fresh, heavy snow on the ice, probably snowshoes. If it thaws and freezes there may be pockets of slush and water that make walking difficult. Bring your boots, grippers and snowshoes and adjust. HAVE FUN!

01-26-2007, 07:01 PM	#10
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,451 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Mount Shaw Your Mount Shaw question is best posed to DCR. You may have noticed his informative pictures on PhotoPost. He hikes the Lakes Region at all times of the year and is very knowlegable. I suggest sending him a private e-mail. He’s a great guy and won’t steer you wrong.

01-26-2007, 07:29 PM	#11
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,367 Thanks: 374 Thanked 1,057 Times in 495 Posts	(hi RG! Looks like you are feeling a little better!) I posted this over on the ice-in thread....Wentworth is iced in and there was a photo of people snow-shoeing on the snow on top of the ice last Saturday on the Lake Wentworth site. SNOW-SHOEING PHOTO A check on the archived web cam photos from today looks like there still may be some snow on the ice over there. (??) ARCHIVED WEB CAM PHOTOS They were reporting 5-6" of ice thickness near Hersey Shore last week-end.

01-26-2007, 09:15 PM	#12
trfour Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Lakes, Central NH. and Dallas/Fort Worth TX. Posts: 3,694 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 3,069 Thanked 472 Times in 236 Posts	About the shortest walking distance to Mt. Shaw, would be from White Lake State Park right on rte 16 in Tamworth. I've been up to Mt. Shaw from many different trails by snowmobile, and if I were going to hike up, I'd do it from there. That being said, in winter the weather can turn from good, starting out, to bad in a hurry. You want to be well prepared for that. "Do Not go by yourself". Good luck and happy trails. http://www.nhmountainhiking.com/shaw.html __________________ *trfour* Always Remember, The Best Safety Device In The Boat, or on a PWC Snowmobile etc., Is YOU! Safe sledding tips and much more; http://www.snowmobile.org/snowmobiling-safety.html Last edited by trfour; 01-27-2007 at 03:02 PM.

01-26-2007, 10:50 PM	#13
JTA Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Fort Pierce, Florida Posts: 233 Thanks: 34 Thanked 25 Times in 21 Posts	Mt. Shaw Mt. Shaw has a snowmobile trail running to the summit. Would it be possible to simply hike up a snowmobile trail?

01-27-2007, 10:23 AM	#14
carole Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 26 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Mt. Shaw is “summitable” year round. But walking on a lake is very different than climbing a mountain. Yaktraks have been known to fail while hiking or come off the foot. The Mt. Shaw trail has several water crossings as well as ice flows that may need something with more grip. Sometimes ‘Stabilicers’ will work or you may even need ‘crampons’. Some boots are very difficult to wear crampons with. As for walking the snowmobile route. I find it very unpleasant to hike in snowmobile tracks – if there are any yet. It is also a much longer route than the hiking trail.