[pct-l] Ice/Snow

[gwschenk at socal.rr.com]

---- David Thibault <dthibaul07 at gmail.com> wrote: 

> If you can get onto snow then do it and practice self arrests. 

This is important, but even more important is not falling in the first place. If you find yourself having to self-arrest, you're already in a world of hurt. Self-arrest works, MAYBE 50% of the time in real world conditions.

It's very important to learn how to climb snow. Yes, there's a method to it, called climbing in balance. Climbing in balance on snow and self-belay with the axe are important skills.

All this can be learned in a weekend mountaineering course, which will be a lot of fun, too.

With a little knowledge snow on the PCT is nothing to fear.

Gary