[pct-l] ice axe, and shoes...

[CMountainDave at aol.com (CMountainDave@aol.com)]

In a message dated 1/31/04 1:09:01 AM, bdwhitsell@comcast.net writes:

<< I disagree about the "guaranteed... wet, cold feet".  I have hiked in wet 
slush in Teva sandals, regular hiking socks, and seal skin (brand)outer socks. 
 The seal skin socks kept my feet dry and the hiking sock kept my feet warm.  
>>

Hmm. I wonder why I've never seen this set up on people climbing any of the 
numerous eternally snow covered volcanoes of the Pacific Northwest? 

 The Mountaineers of Seattle (wrote the book Freedom of the Hills) will frown 
mightily if you show up for a snow hike with your footwear set up and most 
likely would not let you go. (Make that a certainty. They are way too litigation 
worried.) Wonder why that is? Just a bunch of meanies, I guess.

  Like I said, it's no big deal if you are going to be on snow for just a few 
hours. But if you are going to be on snow for several days, you are going to 
be miserable in running shoes. Don't believe me? I'll take you up a 3 day 
climb of Rainier and we'll see what's what. You get to kick half the steps and 
find out just how well seal skin socks over regular socks and running shoes 
insulate you from the cold, especially in crampons. Oh I forgot. You'll be using 
Yak Traks or screws

   A couple of coats of waterproofing grease on leather will keep them dry 
for 3 days. Done it many dozens of times

   And as a pre -emptive move, all this applies to the PCT only if you enter 
the Sierra early and will be post holing your way across the major passes. 
Want to tough it out in Tevas? Be my guest.

<<  If stiffness is a concern for kicking steps in snow,  many low cut hiking 
shoes are fine  > 

 So are you going to carry them along with your running shoes just in case?  
Not that it's likely, but wouldn't you fell a bit sheepish if upon arriving at 
Forester Pass you had to ask some guy in boots to kick steps in hard snow for 
you or would you figure it's his trail angel duty?
    David C