Some commonly asked questions about snowshoeing.....

What does it feel like to wear snowshoes? How fit do I have to be to snowshoe? Why are people running in your photos? Do I need special equipment to snowshoe? What are the risks of snowshoeing? Why are there no hut to hut snowshoe treks offered here? What are the huts like in winter? Can children snowshoe? Do I need to be a skier to snowshoe?

Snowshoes have evolved from the days when they looked a bit like tennis rackets. Now they are shaped (waisted)  and they allow you to walk normally. 5 minutes after putting them on you'll forget you're wearing them.  They can be attached to any boots and have crampons underneath which avoid any slippage on harder snow. 
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Snowshoeing is not different to walking, it can be done at any level. So we can do the full range of hikes from gentle leisurely walks in the forest,  to high mountain summit expeditions.
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There are many aspects to snowshoeing: the slow plod of the ascent, the beautiful views, the magnificence of the snow-covered scenery….and the BLAST of the descent!!Snowshoe descents can be sedate, you can walk down just like regular hiking. But you can also run, and you do not need to be a runner to do this, just someone who likes to have let loose and enjoy themselves. Most snow is deep and soft and plunging down on snowshoes is great fun, kind on the knees and effective. It also makes for wonderful photos. Falling down doesn't hurt anything other than your pride. Many people discover the child in themselves that they thought was long forgotten.
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Snowshoeing is winter walking. You need regular walking clothes, plenty of layers for the early morning cold but, but expect to be hot in the midday sunshine. Boots should be leather or some other form of waterproof. The only other piece of kit you need is gaiters - ankle or knee length are fine. Snowshoes and emergency gear is supplied by Trekking in the Alps.
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Winter is a more difficult time to walk than summer because snow covers the paths. You need to have a good sense of route and to be able to navigate in the snow. This is my job and hence many people prefer to snowshoe with a guide. There is also the risk of avalanche. A guide will know how to minimise this risk. We go to areas which are the safest on the day according to the snowfall. We always wear avalanche transceivers and carry lightweight shovels and probes. THIS IS STANDARD PRACTISE IN WINTER IN THE ALPS. The fact that we carry avalanche rescue gear does not mean we will be taking more risks, but it is crucial to be equipped correctly and to know how to use this gear. On the first day of any snowshoeing holiday I will teach you how to use the avalanche transceivers.

For these reasons many people feel that they would rather be with a professional for winter walking in the Alps.
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Conditions in the winter vary hugely from one week to the next - due to snowfall, wind, sunshine…It is best to be flexible about location until the last minute so that we can go to the best and safest areas. I have a general plan for each week and I book at least one overnight hut for each trip but beyond that we can go where conditions are best. This is why I prefer not to plan treks because this limits us and can also lead to cancellation of the trip if the conditions are too dangerous in that place on the day. By staying flexible we can always go out and do walks whatever the weather. However, as the season progresses and the daylight hours get longer we do spend more and more nights high up in the mountains.
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There are very few huts open from January to March, but I do know a few. From the end of March many huts open for a short season, until mid-May. My criteria for winter hut nights are that the hut should be warm, have good views and great food. Basic huts are best kept for the summer months. So luxury is the key word here.
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Yes, kids love to snowshoe. I have snowshoed with lots of families and it has always been a great success. From the age of 7, most active children can manage a good 4 hours of snowshoeing so long as they are kept well-fed and warm. Snowshoeing is a fun activity and kids love the idea of running downhill, jumping and combing with sledging.
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Not at all. There is little similarity between skiing and snowshoeing, beyond the snow. But that does not mean skiers cannot enjoy snowshoeing too. Snowshoeing is walking. Sliding is not involved. All you need is a love of the mountains, walking, beautiful scenery and a desire to get up high for the views.