In fresh snow, the first person is doing a lot of packing down and breaking trail. As the snow settles and hardens you will sink in less. A lesson learned the hard way-pay attention to what is under the snow! Almost 15 years ago, I went for a day hike in a local state park several days after a 2' snow fall. Snow shoeing around the park was great fun until I headed down a hill without paying attention. The hill was covered in tall prarie grass which had kept the snow from settling and I was soon up to my knees despite the snow shoes