[pct-l] Crampons, really?

[ned at mountaineducation.org]

Let's say it for the last time this pre-season: NO

Authentic, climbing-quality 10 or 12-point crampons are not only not needed 
and over-kill but are dangerous in the thru hiker application.

Traction aides like the Katoola Microspikes 
http://www.kahtoola.com/microspikes.php may help in dealing with early 
morning crusty conditions on the flats or slight inclines and on glare ice 
on the flats. As Katoola says, "they're ideal for anything from wet rocks to 
slick sidewalks and icy driveways, or even the added confidence that comes 
along with extra traction on the trail."

What concerns us as Wilderness Skills Educators, here at Mountain Education, 
is how they perform when you are using them beyond their intended scope, as 
when ascending on a crusty morning's traverse to a Sierra Pass, your ankle 
rocks over downhill, and you have to make a wild step to catch your balance, 
relying on that rubber band that holds the chains around your shoes to stay 
in place. We hope to be testing both the Microspikes and KTS devices this 
spring on the snow and typical ice of the southern PCT, so we'll let you 
know afterward what we thought of them. Until then, something is better than 
nothing. That leaves only one other problem,

Wet snow build-up between the spikes. When not on ice or crusty conditions 
where the snow is really cold, warmer, wet snow tends to ball-up between 
lugs in your boots and, in this case, spikes on your crampons (whether you 
have the microspikes or the KTS variety). We've even had softball-sized 
masses under our feet in these conditions. Now, keep in mind that on some 
mornings you will often walk between ice/crust and sunny/wet snow as you go 
from sun to shade to sun. The traction aide device will be no good to you in 
this typical springtime situation; as a matter of experience, if this starts 
happening to you, take them off and route-find around any icy conditions if 
you can (stay in the sun, follow the ridge, etc).

So, please, folks, you do not need full-on crampons in the springtime 
Sierra!
What you will need is to learn how to safely navigate and travel over snow, 
ascend, traverse, and descend, and cross creeks.


"Just remember, Be Careful out there!"

Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
1106A Ski Run Blvd
South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
    P: 888-996-8333
    F: 530-541-1456
    C: 530-721-1551
    http://www.mountaineducation.org
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gerry Zamora" <gerry0625 at gmail.com>
To: "Scott Williams" <baidarker at gmail.com>
Cc: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 5:53 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Wide shoes?


>I was looking at the NB MW955 walking shoe.  But now im thinking boots 
>since
> im pretty sure most of my hike will be in snow.  Any suggestions on a good
> boot?  Are cramp on's needed in the big bear area? Was up there last week
> there is alot of snow.
> On Mar 1, 2011 5:27 PM, "Scott Williams" <baidarker at gmail.com> wrote:
>> For Trail Runners, the Montrail Sabino's are really wide. I used them for
>> almost 2,000 miles and still hike in them.
>>
>> Shroomer
>> _______________________________________________
>> Pct-L mailing list
>> Pct-L at backcountry.net
>> To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
>> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>>
>> List Archives:
>> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-L mailing list
> Pct-L at backcountry.net
> To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/