Jon invited me out for a "snowshoe run" Friday afternoon...ha, ha, ha. Sunk almost all the way down with every step, no running involved! We plodded along and wished for the flotation thingies we'd left at home, although not sure how much that would have helped.
Yeah, it's intense! You guys should come up and do the snowgaine this year. Usually several feet of snow on the ground, a mix of soft deep stuff and packed snowmobile trails.
V- it was better on the return trip on the trail we'd already blazed. They bother the tendons in my feet though. I have to work snowgaine wknd. Can't imagine snowshoeing or trudging for 2 days straight! No skis in my gear piles.
Neither of us is good enough on skis to consider using them at Snowgaine, so we're on snowshoes every year. Definitely moments of slog, but also a fair bit of variety and good nav and strategy. It's one of my favorite races every year - if you ever change your mind, let me know :)