[pct-l] kahtoola microspikes vs. kahtoola KTS alum

Wed Apr 27 07:48:11 CDT 2011

Ned wrote about stream crossing:

“- STOP: Stop, Think, Observe, and Plan. What this means to you, the
"early-season" hiker, is that you don't have to cross the creek where the
trail does! Drop your pack, grab some food or drink and walk up or down the
creek looking for a dry crossing (rock-hop, log-walk, or jump) or, at least,
some portion of the thing where you can see the bottom and it is shallower
than elsewhere. It is common to find upstream that the creek has split into
smaller feeder creeks that are narrower and more easily crossed. Once on the
other side, follow the creek back to the trail. Beware of slippery surfaces
like moss, wet logs or boulders, gravel on larger boulders, and, obviously,
ice or snow.”

That’s good advise but I did get fooled once doing that kind of a recon.  The
River-of-no-Return crossing north of Tuolumne Meadows is a narrow crack in a
broad rock shield and I investigated upstream a short distance to find the
best point to hop across.  On the other side I found “the trail” within 20
yards and continued in the general direction I had been going.  Unfortunately,
just after crossing the creek the PCT makes a sharp left which I couldn’t
see.  I went about a half mile up the trail toward Summit Lake before I
discovered the error.

“- Footwear: Protect your feet; they're all you have. It is common, again,
to injure or cut your feet while crossing creeks bare-footed. Not an
endorsed idea. Wearing footwear that does not completely protect the feet
from damage while wedging between boulders or rocks submerged or from just
banging into rocks while blindly hunting for a solid foot-fall or trying to
stand on submerged rocks is just asking for trouble far from help. It is,
also, common, to hurt your feet while crossing by stepping on something that
sends pain up your leg. What this causes is a reaction where you have to
suddenly remove and re-place your footing somewhere else as quickly as
possible without loosing you balance and falling into the water. What you
choose to protect your feet is your choice, but we cross in our traditional,
leather hiking boots and change socks on the other side, then walk them dry,
even on snow. Don't rely on any footwear that can be pried off when wedged
between rocks.”

As I recall, you’re the guy that tells us that with your big, tall, heavy
boots and gaiters your feet don’t get wet.  I never did understand how that
works.  I avoid any crossing without some kind foot protection – usually
just my shoes.  My feet become numb very quickly in that snowmelt water and
it’s easy to wound feet without even knowing.

“- Third leg: When you move your feet through a strong current, the foot
wants to move sideways as soon as it is lifted. For balance meanwhile, have
a long, sturdy stick found from the forest, a long staff, or both your poles
in two hands downstream as a third leg to lean on while searching and
hunting for each foot placement. Remember, typical hiking poles can not take
torsional stress and will break or bend. Sudden, stabbing placements of
single poles bearing most of your weight in an emergency balance recovery
movement may cause the pole to bend in the middle, or where it is the
thinnest, and then you are done and probably wet, too.”

Be concerned here.  It is better to use the pole or stick upstream rather
than downstream for the reasons noted at
http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=265511 and in Chapter-17 at
http://www.equipped.org/fm3-0570.htm   Hiking poles are not subjected to
torsion when in use, only bending and column loading.  When poles are used
upstream they steady a hiker without having to accept high loads, and can be
easily placed on the stream bed without stabbing.

“- Grouping Up: It is seldom a bad idea to cross in pairs, holding each
other side-by-side, using the other as the third leg, while searching for
solid, predictable, and safe footing, then switch roles. This is the
preferred method when crossing whitewater.”

I agree crossing with several companions is a very good idea, provided
“side-by-side” means in line with the current rather than in a line
crosswise of the current.

Steel-Eye

Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye

http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09

On Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 7:38 PM, <ned at mountaineducation.org> wrote:

> For the typical Spring, morning crusty snow (and occasional
> ice-on-the-trail) conditions you're going to find during the months of May,
> June, and July in the mountains of California, notably from San Jacinto
> north to Tahoe, the Kahtoola Microspikes will do just fine.
>
> We received a box of both, the microspikes and KTS units, the other day to
> product-test on our last Snow Basics Course, but the weather was simply so
> aweful and the snow so soft that they were not needed--no ice or crusty
> snow
> to be found! So, we'll have to take them out on the next Mountain Basics
> Course next month. Our primary concern, now, is whether the spikes will
> "ball-up" with wet, sticky snow (when the conditions are right) preventing
> spike contact with any surface at all (like walking on a half a softball).
> However, in these conditions, you don't need the things anyway, yet soft
> conditions can exist right next to a shady, icy area across which you're
> about to walk, so it is a concern we haven't yet tested. Kahtoola does make
> a "Snow Release Skin" for the KTS to help alleviate this problem, but not
> for the microspikes.
>
> In the meantime, upon playing with them, we are relieved to see that the
> "rubber bands" that hold the microspikes onto our boots more than held for
> running around on the lawn (we were concerned that the spikes would roll
> off
> the shoe during forceful, lateral, "catch-you-balance-quickly" sidesteps).
> In our case, Kahtoola sized the spikes to our boots, but we have heard that
> you might need the next size down when fitting to trailrunners so that they
> will fit tightly and predictably or add a Velcro strap over the instep.
>
> The KTS model looks killer, but overkill still against the average snow
> conditions thru hikers will see on their way through the Sierra. It was
> nice
> to see that the forward points are pointed more down than those of
> traditional crampons which point more forward having the tendency to cause
> soft tissue injuries in the unskilled user.
>
>
> "Just remember, Be Careful out there!"
>
> Ned Tibbits, Director
> Mountain Education
> 1106A Ski Run Blvd
> South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
>    P: 888-996-8333
>    F: 530-541-1456
>    C: 530-721-1551
>    http://www.mountaineducation.org
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <enyapjr at comcast.net>
> To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 6:06 PM
> Subject: [pct-l] kahtoola microspikes vs. kahtoola KTS alum
>
>
> >> ...supposed to get me the kahtoola microspikes for the trail, and
> instead
> >> mistakenly got me the kahtoola KTS alum spikes.
> >> ...would I be better off with the microspikes...
> >
> > The KTS might be 4 or 5 ounces heavier, but you will love them!  They are
> > NOT
> > technical 'mountaineering' or 'ice' crampons...
> > They work very well with trail runners or running shoes, too - the
> > heel/toe
> > extender bar flexes just enough to be more comfortable while walking than
> > mountaineering crampons meant to be worn with stiff boots...
> > See <http://www.kahtoola.com/crampons.php> for more about the KTS...
> > Your trail companions will be envious!  "Don't look a gift horse in the
> > mouth."
> > :o)
> >
> > Happy trails!!!
> > Jim (PITA)
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