[pct-l] Skill Sets - Practice them; Plunge stepping, Questionaire

[Ned Tibbits]

Plunge-stepping down snowy passes can be wonderfully successful as long as 
the snow is hard enough, and that is up to you to decide at the time.

You want your boots, especially the heel and the vertical lip in front of 
it, to sink in far enough to get a good purchase in the snow, creating a 
stable platform secure enough to handle all your weight without the fear of 
"plunging" or breaking through the surface and down into a jarring and 
potentially painful "post-hole."  Post-holing while plunge-stepping down a 
steep grade has the potential to cause severe damage to knees, hips and skin 
in-between.  Know the snow conditions, what you're capable of doing 
(practice before trip), and whatever obstacles may lurk beneath the snow.

Plunge-stepping, if the conditions are right and your technique is good, is 
a great way down.  Don't come off your heels too soon, that is, rock forward 
to the balls of your foot, as you may suddenly begin skating on that foot 
and/or slip and fall. Basically, step on your heels all the way down while 
maintaining lateral balance with your poles.

There are other ways to get safely down the slope with a loaded pack: 
glissade, skate, boot-ski, traverse, belay, or follow exposed rock down.

Snow bridges, rock and tree wells, hidden sub-surface ankle-twisters like 
branches, boulders and ice strata as well as surface difficulties like ice, 
suncups, and sierra soup all can make your day difficult and/or hazardous.

All of you who have spent time in the spring snow of the high sierra should 
chime in here with your experiences dealing with these problems for the 
benefit of future thrus!

According to the Questionnaire returns we have received to date, to some 
these problems were no big deal (prior experience), yet to others they meant 
injury (minor or major depending on the person and circumstance).  Some 
walked through their pain and constantly wet feet (something they could 
tolerate) while others took zeros or left the trail for a while to recover.

Based on returns, creek crossings were the number one greatest fear and 
danger.  Number two were the consequences of near constant slip-and-falls 
and injuries from post-holing.  Those who carried snowshoes voiced mixed 
reviews as to their worth.  They could go farther, faster and without 
injury, but the shoes were foreign to them, weighed down their feet, didn't 
feel "natural" to their leg swing, didn't do well in suncups, steep 
traverses, and downhills, and weighed down their packs when not needed. 
Snowshoes to some were "worth their weight in beer" and to others a pain in 
the ass.  Your choice.  Go out and try them for yourself in the same 
conditions you'll be needing them on your thru hike.  Decide through 
hands-on trial whether they work for you.

Ice axes and crampons were considered  more required and necessary, though 
used about as seldom as snowshoes.  On the steep, straight-up climbs and the 
straight down glissades, they were priceless to safety when used in trained 
hands (yes, both hands). Crampons were found to be invaluable when ice was 
present, however, by waiting for the surface snow/ice to melt a little, 
hikers could walk on without them and able to create perfectly fine 
footholds.  Problem, here, were the flat, low-lugged surfaces of  popular 
trail-runners: not enough grip nor brake leading to constant slip-and-falls. 
Most hikers didn't know what to do with their axes nor when to anticipate 
the need for them so that they were in-hand when they fell (thinking of the 
Sonora Pass fall story).

Once again, folks, a tool is no good unless you know how to use it.  If you 
choose to carry it, know what it can do for you and have already practiced 
how to do it!  Ice axes and crampons can keep you safe.  They can also cause 
severe injury in the unpracticed hand.

Enough for now.

Mtnned
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For Information on Programs, previous Trips, and Photo Gallery,

Please visit: www.mountaineducation.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Slyatpct at aol.com>
To: <park at vt.edu>; <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:14 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Skill Sets - Practice them


>
> In a message dated 10/19/2006 3:32:33 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
> park at vt.edu
> writes:
>
> Sly,  what is plunge stepping?  Is that like postholing  downhill?
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------
>
> Yeah kind of.  When the top surface of snow is soft enough your feet  only
> sink so much and you can almost jog down safely.  You can also do it  on 
> scree,
> which I did coming down Mt Shasta
>
> I tried to time most of the passes and snow sections for mid day  when the
> snow was soft.  Sometimes it was easier to plunge step and others 
> glissade,
> either sitting or standing.  Prior to the PCT I had no  experience.
>
> As far as using an ice ax or poles for better balance, I prefer the 
> latter.
> However there may be some steeper sections of side hill traverse  where it
> would be best to stow the poles and carry your ax.  I definitely  could 
> have
> used some more practice self arresting.  One time practicing I  almost 
> took off
> my shoulder.
>
> Having survived with little experience, I'd really like to take one of 
> Ned's
> courses or something similar, as to not tempt fate.
>
> Sly
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> pct-l mailing list
> pct-l at backcountry.net
> unsubscribe or change options:
> http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>