Thank you for responding but no offense, Cindy - your statement that "ski poles will slow you down" tells me, that you don't snowshoe very much - or you "snowshoe" on four inches deep, flat, crusted, old snow only?
However, that might be okay - for an occassional weekender?

BTW: What kind of damages have you seen were made by wolves? I don't know of anyone being injured by wolves and for cattle and sheep we can always find a good - although only temporary protection? Within a few decades we will be eating a different kind of "beef" (get over it) and the sloughter houses will need to be eliminated for environmental reasons, anyway.
Bison populatipon is safe from wolves - both animals have been existing together for over million of years.
Wolves keep a natural balance in our outdoors and that is really important.
Wish you had many great outdoor trips with your camera and please, leave the pop gun home?