[pct-l] Trekking pole snow baskets for Sierra?

[Donna Saufley]

I use standard baskets for the packed snow encountered during the hiking
season in the Sierras.  The “powder” baskets are just that, for powder, and
chances are you won’t find any of that during nobo season unless you get
caught in northern Washington.   Instead I took my baskets off altogether,
to drive my (shortened) pole deep into the hardpacked snow.  I did this
technique in lieu of using an ice axe.  

 

When I’m snowshoeing in fluffier stuff, I do use the wider powder baskets,
but personally I think they’d be useless on a nobo thru hike.

 

L-Rod

 

   _____  

From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Eric Payne
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 4:56 AM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Trekking pole snow baskets for Sierra?

 

When I hike, I typically don't hike with the baskets attached to my trekking
poles.  They just aren't necessary unless you are in deep mud.  However, I'm
wondering if I should attach some of the really wide baskets to my poles for
the High Sierra to stop them from sinking in the snow.  I know that Andrew
Skurka didn't do this when he went thru there last year, but is he just
crazy?  I really can't imagine how deep the snow really gets on the sides of
the trail.  Keep in mind that I'm a Southerner who hasn't ever seen more
than 3 inches on trails.

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.20/1260 - Release Date: 2/5/2008
9:44 AM


No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.20/1260 - Release Date: 2/5/2008
9:44 AM
 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/attachments/20080205/64013be8/attachment.html