Thirty Pairs of Atlas Snowshoes to be Purchased by Lassen Land & Trails Trust

A spokesman for the Lassen County California Board of Supervisors recently announced the Lassen Land and Trails Trust received funding of more than $3,000 to purchase 30 pairs of snowshoes for after-school education purposes. The snowshoes are allocated for use by the residents of Lassen County on snow shoe hikes that are planned to be led by experts from the Lassen National Forest. Local merchants have agreed to provide Atlas Snowshoes at a cost of $120 a pair, with a total price tag of $3,600 for all 30 pairs of Atlas Snowshoes.

The spokesman added that recreational planners and Lassen County school district officials intend to inspire residents and students with hands-on experience of what working in the outdoors is all about. Programs are scheduled to promote exercise by leading hikes along with experts from the Bureau of Land Management and the city of Susanville during the day and at night to view star constellations. Education programs for children will teach them about winter survival skills. Title III funds were used for the purchase of the snowshoes. The spokesman said the snowshoes will be used in several locations, including the Bizz Johnson Trail, Eagle Lake Basin and groomed trails in the National Forest. Forest Service officials are planning to publish a schedule of snowshoe walks for the winter 2005-2006 season.

Supervisor Lloyd Keefer stated that after-school education meets the criteria of the Title III funding program, which sets aside money for after-school environmental education programs and other county projects such as fire prevention, planning and emergency services. The funding comes from the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000, written to compensate counties and schools for declining timber revenues.

MSR Denali Ascent Snowshoes & Northern Lites 30 Snowshoes Awarded Top Honors

The MSR Denali Ascent snowshoe by MSR Snowshoes and the Quicksilver 30 by Northern Lites Snowshoes have earned 'Best Snowshoe for Steep and Icy Terrain' and 'Best All-Around Backcountry Snow Shoe' respectively from Backpacking Lite magazine, a publication of lightweight hiking and backcountry travel.

The process involved reviewing and testing close to 20 snow shoe models of 25-33 inch long backcountry snowshoes from Northern Lites, Atlas, MSR, Red Feather, Little Bear, Grivel, Tubbs, and Crescent Moon. All snowshoes were tested for the entire winter season and were used on all types of terrain including deep backcountry powder, windblown hardpack and hard ice. Additionally, the review criteria included an assessment of the decking flotation design, binding ease of use and durability, crampon effectiveness in hard conditions and durability and also carry weight.

Atlas Snow Shoe & Tubbs Snowshoes Parent Company K2 Inc Reports First Quarter Decrease in Profits

Tubbs Snowshoes and Atlas Snow Shoe parent company, K2 Inc., recently reported a decrease in first quarter profits, with significant losses in the action sports segment. Sales in the first quarter rose 15% according to company officials. A profit of $10 million was reported, or 5 cents per share, compared with $19.5 million, or 27 cents per share, for the same period in 2004. Sales were $318.3 million, compared with $277.4 million for 2004.

K2 Inc. company officials also reported gains in apparel and footwear but were offset by sliding sales in action sports gear, which include snowshoes skis, snowboards, bikes, in-line skates and paintball products. "First quarter results are not directly comparable to last year due to the acquisitions of Volkl, Marker and Marmot completed midyear 2004," K2 Inc. CEO Dick Heckmann stated. "These seasonal businesses incur losses in the first half of the year."

Northern Ontario Snow Shoe Trail to Remain Open Another Year

Spokesmen for the Voyageur Trail Association, overseers of the Voyaguer Snowshoe Trail, which recently faced impending closure due to high insurance premiums, has announced that it will remain open another year due to the outstanding efforts of volunteers. Specifically, the association stated that members of Hike Ontario lended tremendous support. Insurance for the Northern Ontario Canada snow shoe trail ran out on May 1st, 2005, however an alternative affordable insurance plan was reported to have been found, allowing operations to continue through next year.

Additionally, spokesmen reported that a Communities In Action grant will allow for the purchase of children’s snowshoes. The Voyageur Trail Association and Hike Ontario are encouraging the public to contact their local MPP and request that provincial legislation be enacted to protect volunteer trail workers and property owners, preventing this situation from occurring each year as insurance premiums are due. The VTA stated, "We are fortunate to have a multitude of wonderful snowshoe trails in Ontario, many of which were built by dedicated volunteers. Let’s keep them alive!"

State of Snowshoeing Report Issued by Outdoor Industry Association

The Outdoor Industry Association recently reported on the state of snowshoeing. Participation has jumped 200% for female participants since 1998, and the association now counts a total of over 5.9 million snowshoers. Among the factors that have brought more participants to the sport include lighter, easier-to-maneuver equipment, a sense of adventure beyond groomed ski trails and a growing trend of combining snowshoes with other sports such as snowboarding and sledding. The snowshoes enable users to access more sled and backcountry snowboard possibilities. The simplicity and low maintenance of snowshoes is also reported to be a factor. Snowshoe bindings now work with more types of boots and footwear than ever.