[pct-l] Snow

[Scott Williams]

Good advice Roadwalker.  I haven't used the Whippet, but would in future
based on so many positive recommendations.  However, I have used real
walking cramps and can attest to their performance.  I used Kahtoola
aluminum cramps over the High Sierra in 2010, a high snow year, and wore
them daily for 5 weeks to Sonora Pass, where I mailed them home in my bear
can from Kennedy Meadows North.   They were my favorite piece of gear that
year.  No rolling, no question of my footing, I could kick in steps and do
a proper plunge step as with steel cramps and they are easy on and off.
They turned my trail runners into proper snow and ice shoes as they're
built for use with that kind of light footwear.  Because the front two
points are bent down and not out as with a traditional cramp, you can
really hike in them without the fear of stabbing your achilles tendon.

We carried them in the San Juans of the CDT in 2012, a low snow year and
only used them once, and could have gone without, but If it's a high snow
year, get them.  They're worth the small amount of extra weight over
microspikes.

Thanks for the timely thread.  We're getting hammered just now on the West
Coast and we're hoping for more and more of this wonderful wet stuff.  With
proper gear, the High Sierra section of our hike in 2010, was without
question the hardest hiking we'd ever done, but also the most fun and most
rewarding.  Don't shy away from snow and ice, but have the gear and skills
to do it properly.

Shroomer

On Tue, Dec 22, 2015 at 6:10 AM, Richard Brinkman <richardb10 at live.com>
wrote:

> Greetings PCT Community!
>
> I just wanted to share my experience with regard to snow for those
> planning to hike the trail next year or in the future.  I hiked this
> year...a very low snow year.  For the Sierra, I decided to use Hillsound
> trail crampons after hearing that microspikes sometimes roll off/around the
> shoe, but the 'trail crampons' I used were essentially the same as
> microspikes, and I had the same issue in the limited time I used them.
> Granted, that was a steep slope, but they still rolled up on my shoe.  In a
> normal to heavy snow year, I would want a true crampon despite the few
> extra ounces.
>
> In place of an ice axe, I used a Black Diamond Whippet (trekking pole with
> ice axe mounted to the top of the grip).  I hate stopping to get something
> out of my pack, and for that reason might think of just pushing through a
> possibly sketchy situation.
>
> I sent the 'trail crampons' home at Tulomne but maintained the Whippet
> through Sonora Pass, and was glad I did.  Even in a low snow year there was
> still quite a bit of snow south of Sonora Pass.  I fortunately never had to
> use it, but again was glad I had it with me for that section, especially
> since I was hiking in Altra Lone Peaks. I really didn't notice any extra
> weight with the Whippet, just a life saving device in my hand at all times.
>
> Wishing everyone a very happy holiday season!
>
> Roadwalker
>
>
>
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