[pct-l] What would you do? Ice axe and crampons, still befuddled.

[Steel-Eye]

Good morning, Mark,

The question is not so much what is the best alpine mountaineering gear; the
question is what is the most appropriate gear for alpine trail hiking.
Full-platform, 10-point crampons are fine for climbing high-angle snowpack
but the PCT is low-angle business, mostly with a need to avoid slipping on
moderate to slight traverses.  Typical mountaineering boots are useful to
provide ankle support for, and control of, the aggressive crampons.  While
the boots are occasionally useful for kick-stepping - something at which
sneakers are poor - the general rule is if you don't need the aggressive
crampons you don't need the alpine boots.  I generally get by well with
nothing but the sneakers, but I do often use 9-ounce instep crampons on
them, or I install sheet metal screws in their soles.

Similarly, a stout, traditional-length mountaineering ice axe is great for
regular step-chopping and for use in belaying, but that's not trail
business.  If I carry an ice axe I use a short, light, 9-ounce, 50-cm. model
adequate to arrest a fall or chop an occasional step.  I don't consider
belaying because I don't carry a rope.

Carrying "what-if" alpine gear can quickly get out of hand:  Boots, ice axe,
crampons, rope, etc. means a larger, heavier pack.  All of that slows
progress, which means more food is necessary for the additional effort and
increased number of days.  That additional weight also increases the
propensity to post-hole, reducing the window of hiking time, again requiring
more time and food.  What's next -- snow shoes?  Carrying extra gear is like
wiping your ass on a hoop: The more you work, the worse it seems to get.

Steel-Eye


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "mark v" <allemande6 at yahoo.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2008 12:32 AM
Subject: [pct-l] What would you do? Ice axe and crampons, still befuddled.


>
> So with the Sierra snowpack looking average at this
> point, i'm wondering who would be planning on bringing
> ice axe, crampons, or both.
>
> It sounds like axe but no spikes is standard.  I have
> crampons and was looking forward to using them, since
> i've always felt sure with them and they make it so
> you can steamroll up slopes early before the sun makes
> things slow or posthole-y.  But, they're heavy, and
> they aren't exactly optimal for use with trail
> runners, since the shoe platform is just curved enough
> that the spikes aren't going to hit with all 10 points
> at once.  I tried it out and it's far from useless,
> but it's not as solid as using the spikes on real
> boots.  I am reluctant to bring the heavy leather
> boots i would normally use, either in addition or
> instead of my trail runners.  They always feel great.
> I can do big miles in them.  But they are HEAVY.
>
> My axe is heavy too...a mountaineering one...but i'm
> not inclined to buy a new lightweight one for what
> will amount to 2 weeks of use.  It seems like if the
> terrain is serious enough to use an axe, you'd want a
> one that's bombproof.
>
> So i'm stuck not knowing what to do.
>
>
>
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