[pct-l] Gear for late spring snow?

[Scott Williams]

I used the Katoola 10 point aluminum crampons this year, and loved them.
They are only a slight bit heavier than the microspikes, but make a tennis
shoe feel much more stable.  They don't role.  Or at least they didn't in
the 4 weeks of use they got.  The aluminum points are very susceptible to
wear if you keep them on for any length of time over rock and scree, but the
two of us who used them in our group were happy to have them.

Shroomer





On Mon, Nov 8, 2010 at 7:55 AM, <gwschenk at socal.rr.com> wrote:

> Mango,
>
> That's seems like a pretty good strategy. My experience with Katoolies is
> fairly limited, but I found them less than useful. Perhaps I was using them
> incorrectly. I'd prefer aluminum crampons. Combined with one of those
> lightweight CAMP axes you'd be well equipped for most any springtime snow
> conditions on the trail at a very small weight penalty.
>
> YMMV
> Gary
>
> ---- Jim & Jane Moody <moodyjj at comcast.net> wrote:
> >
>
> Here we go again.  The answers to all your questions are "yes".
>
>
>
> I'm an old guy whose only mountaineering experience was at Mtn Ned's Snow
> School in December.  I have hiked the AT, however, so I wasn't a complete
> neophyte.
>
>
>
> Here's what I did.  I switched from sneakers, aka trail runners, to fairly
> sturdy boots (Garmont Synchros) at Kennedy Meadows.  I didn't have crampons
> till after Forester Pass, w hen th e rest of my group told me they thought I
> was endangering myself and them without them.  I bought a pair of Kahtoolas
> in Lone Pine , and I'm glad I did.  I wore them infrequently, but when I
> wore them, they really helped with traction.  By the way, 4 of our group of
> 6 wore sneakers.  The other wore boots, which were lighter than mine.  If
> and when I do it again, I will wear boots from Lone Pine (Horseshoe Meadows,
> south of Forester Pass) to at least Sonora Pass.  They gave me stability on
> snow (especially on traverses) and on stream crossings.  Yes, th ey got wet.
>  Yes, they were slow to dry.  So what!   And y es, they froze at night, but
> when I remembered to loosen up the laces a lot, I could still get them on
> fairly easily.
>
>
>
> As to ice axes, we all carried one north of KM.  A very valuable piece of
> gear for conditions we faced this year - self-belaying, rudder when
> glissading, digging catholes, holding up tent lines, self-arrest, etc.  If
> 2011 is anything like 2010, I definitely recommend carrying your ice axe
> from south of Forester.  You might also need it in the San Jacintos above
> Idlewild (Apache Peak, South Peak, Fuller Ridge).
>
>
>
> Good luck and have a great hike.
>
> Mango
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jeff Davis" <jeffd1242 at fairpoint.net>
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Sent: Sunday, November 7, 2010 2:34:05 PM
> Subject: [pct-l] Gear for late spring snow?
>
> ?I managed Oregon and Washington this year so it's time to do the whole
> thing.  Right now I'm worrying about gear for snow in California and would
> like to know what the list thinks after dealing with the late snow of 2010.
> More specifically:
>
> Is an ice axe necessary?  I've got a mountaineering background and am very
> familiar with self-arrest.  I could use a trekking pole to stop on fairly
> steep slopes if they're not really icy.
>
> Are running crampons like Kahtoola Microspikes effective or should I go
> with
> lightweight regular crampons (or maybe with none)?
>
> Running shoes versus light boots for snowy sections?
>
> Grendel
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