Snowshoe Gear Review

I bought some new equipment to go snowshoeing with Tracey. The first thing I needed was a pair of waterpoof hiking boots. I decided on the Hi-Tec Montana after reading the reviews. I’ve used them a few times now this winter and I love them. They were very comfortable out of the box and are waterproof. If I was hiking longer distances I’d consider replacing the inserts.

I also bought the Atlas 2008 9 Series Snowshoeing Kit. I am a beginner at snowshoeing and so far these have been fantastic. They are really lightweight and are easy to get on/off. They have a lot of “bounce ” to them because of the rubber suspension system. My only criticism is that because of the spring, you get a lot of snow thrown up your back – so wear waterproof clothing!

Tracey bought the Winter Walker snowshoes from LLBean. These seem to be a little bit sturdier, and feel a bit heavier than mine. However, they have a pretty loud hinge on them and make “clacking” noises.

I’d say that both are pretty good beginner choices. However, I like the choice that I made and am looking forward to more days on the snow.

Snowy Day

I went snowshoeing for the first time the other day. I took the following picture. I will try to post a gear review next.

Hockey Points System

Unfortunately, the Bruins have lost two games in a row. They had a fair number of chances in both games, but the puck just did not seem to go in. The Bruins are still on top of the conference at this point.

As a fan, I am really excited about this. However, as I have started to realize, the standings are a terrible indication of the actual strength of each of the teams. With many games being determined by OT shootouts, it is really difficult to say that the standings reflect the true strength of the team.

This issue is explored by Jeff Klein in his NYT Article.

Let’s examine the record of a random team, like the Rangers. The N.H.L. tells us they’re 20-11-2. Wow, that sounds good — 20 wins, 11 losses, and 2 “OTL,” which seems like ties or kind-of ties. They’re a powerhouse, and Rangers fans should be really happy!

The reality, of course, is that 9 of those 20 wins came via overtime or penalty shootout, and those 2 “ties” are actually losses in OT or PS. And, you know, in the playoffs there is no four-on-four overtime or penalty-shot contest … just hockey, with five skaters a side and no guaranteed points for being tied after 60 minutes.

There have been have a number of solutions proposed, including the three point system and a no points system. Regardless, I really wish there was a place to get a “normalized” version of the standings for hockey purists.