Jan 2002 Update: T42 has not made them yet, T501 in Los Gatos is starting to make some.

Photo at left: Snowshoe Frame in front of a plywood pattern for bending the PVC pipe and template for cutting a large deck. Project Adult Leader = Mr. Hitchings

Project Outline: The object is to create useful equipment for much less than retail, teach the scouts a practicalskill, and expand the activities associated with winter camping. This is done using scout-supplied patterns and instructions, build snowshoes from PVC conduit, sheet webbing, lacing, old truck inner tube, some steel rod, and scout labor. These snowshoes have already been made by a San Francisco Bay Area Troop, based on information first publicized in the Scouting magazine in fall of 1998. As of Jan 2000, you can still order plans (and a free webbing sample) from:

George Long, 13095 Monroe Drive, Thornton, CO 80241, ph 303-457-0512 (current as of 1998)

Enclose check for $15 payable to Explorer Post 2222, All the $ goes to Scouting

Construction Tips

Follow the instructions, they were approved by the scouts! Persevere with folding the inner tube into the boot holder, it does work! The webbing is nylon reinforced neoprene shhet material, it should be available locally as it is used in a wide variety of applications, including inflatable water filled dams, dam liners, roofing membranes, etc. Its strong and durable, and tearproof. Try a roofing company or tent and awning company first.

Photo at left: Small snowshoe almost completed, completed large snowshoe, grey PVC frame, and template for cutting the boot binding

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