Troop 42, San Mateo
Snowshoe Frame in front of a plywood pattern for bending the PVC
pipe and template for cutting a large deck.
Small
snowshoe almost completed, completed large snowshoe, grey PVC frame, and
template for cutting the boot binding
Project Outline
The object is to create useful equipment for much less than retail, teach the Scouts a practical skill, and expand the activities associated with winter camping. This is done using Scout-supplied patterns and instructions, building snowshoes from PVC conduit, sheet webbing, lacing, old truck inner tube, some steel rod, and Scout labor.
Construction Tips
Follow the instructions (below). Persevere with folding the inner tube into the boot holder, it does work! The webbing is nylon reinforced neoprene sheet 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. It is strong and durable, and tear-proof. Try a roofing company or tent and awning company first.
The plans and a sample of the webbing can be ordered by sending a donation of $15 to Venturing Crew 2222, at the following address:
 | George Long, 13095 Monroe Drive, Thornton, CO 80241 |
| Make the check payable to "Venturing Crew 2222". |
The above directions use hot sand to make the PVC pipe pliable. An alternative heating arrangement is to use a long, narrow, charcoal-heated trench to heat the PVC.
NOTE: PVC pipe can shatter in some cold conditions. This does not happen with wood, the traditional material for snowshoes. Consider some of the easy-to-make free snowshoe plans below:
Simple "Indian" Snowshoes Made from Wood 1 X 6" Boards!
Primitive "Pioneer" Snowshoes Simple "Brush Pile" Snowshoes Made from Ash or Hickory Sticks.
Alaskan Eskimo Snowshoes Beautiful Traditional Snowshoes by Ben Hunt with Suggestions for Variations.
Chippewa Snowshoes with Pointers on Variations Including: Bear Paw, Co-Yukon, Sioux, Oregon, Utah, and Iroquois or Montreal Snowshoes.
Snowshoe Bindings (See also Indian Snowshoes for Bindings Made for Boots)
