[pct-l] Microspikes? In-step? Yatrax?

[AsABat]

Snowshoes and crampons have very different purposes and are used in
vary different conditions.

Crampons are for ice and hard snow, covering a footprint the same size
as your shoes/boots, so to concentrate weight over a relatively small
area providing maximum spike penetration of the ice.

Snowshoes are for softer snow, covering a very large footprint to
spread your weight over a larger area of snow, providing flotation to
avoid sinking in the snoe.

Yes, some snowshoes have fancy crampon systems, but still, if you need
crampons on sloping ice they won't work nearly the same.

I recall on San Jacinto where everyone was told to bring snowshoes and
I was the only one to also bring crampons, I was the only one able to
cross a steep traverse. Several snowshoers ahead of me had already
slid part way down the slope. I ended up stomping a foothold and using
my ice axe to cut a ledge across the worse of the traverse to enable
them to pass.

AsABat


On Sat, Feb 27, 2010 at 11:02 AM, Eugene <atetuna at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Optimum.  Snowshoes!  :)
>
>
>
> In the non-snowshoe category all I've ever used are Stabilicers.  I think they provide great fit and grip, but they are heavy.