[pct-l] crampons

[Bob Bankhead]

Ice axe self-arrest and walking in crampons are learned, not instinctive, skills. The finest gear in the world is worthless unless you know how to use it, so practice... practice... practice. 

I can not imagine a thru-hiker ever needing 12 point crampons; ten points maybe, but not 12. Those extra two points on the front are for climbing vertical ice walls. This is not a skill one associates with thru-hikers. If you run into anything approaching that, you are in the wrong place. Turn around and find another way.

Think of your ice axe as a multi-functional piece of gear. It's an extra tent pole, protection from lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!) or the imagined insane serial killer/hiker dude. This makes it easier to justify the weight.

And remember, if you ever need it, nothing else will suffice. Trekking poles make nice supports to help prevent a slip but won't stop a fall once it starts. 

OK, so there are no (known) tigers on the PCT. Just tossed that it for fun.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Brick Robbins 
  To: robert at engravingpros.com 
  Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net 
  Sent: Friday, October 23, 2009 12:01 PM
  Subject: Re: [pct-l] crampons


  I think that if you have an ice axe you are pretty much set. I know of
  at least one hiker that slipped and fell with trekking poles, but no
  ice axe, and died as a result of the fall.

  Also Mountaineering crampons (10 or 12 point)  are probably more of a
  danger than a help.

  HYOH