[pct-l] snowshoes?

[Jeffrey Olson]

In 2005 I left Manning on June 10 and carried snowshoes.  I didn't need 
them, but a couple times used them just to use them.  What i found is 
that even though the temps were close to freezing the snow was really, 
really slick - glidy - I don't know how to describe it.  The crampons on 
the bottom of the snowshoes balled up with snow and I spent way too much 
time clearing the little spikes.  Someone later took a picture of the 
rather steep pitch up to the high point on Washington's PCT, and there 
were my snowshoe tracks, all snarly.  The snow had consolidated and it 
was easier to just edge with my NB 807s than snowshoe.   I didn't 
posthole much at all.   I finally abandoned the snowshoes at Harts 
Pass.  Someone got a nice present!

Jeff.

On 3/10/2011 6:58 PM, Paul Robison wrote:
> If your base-weight is ten pounds, adding three is ridiculous... If your bpw is 25 lbs then the snowshoes wouldn't be noticed as much; it's all about perspective.
>
> That said ... It's a personal choice but I'll try to get by with microspikes... I live in Canada and he majority of my camping experience has been on snowy mountains, so that is a factor...
>
> ~Paul
>
> Sent from my iPod
>
> On 2011-03-06, at 1:31 PM, Paul Mersfelder<pmersfelder at gmail.com>  wrote:
>
>> Hey party people.  Planning my first thru hike and I hear a lot of
>> chatter about people not using the ice axes they carry and post-
>> holing 'til the cows come home.  What do you vets think about
>> lightweight snowshoes out there?  The crampons underfoot would give a
>> little traction and post-holing would be a thing of the past.  Worth
>> the weight (under 3 lbs)?
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