werdigo49
New member
Two questions from an experienced summer hiker (Adk 46'er) but inexperienced winter hiker (Adk W4 (!)):
(1) How does one handle steep well-packed sections of a trail? My 8x25 Tubbs 'shoes don't have the extra heel traction device (I forget its name) and I felt comfortable only by charging rapidly (almost jogging) up those sections on the balls of my feet. Needless to say, the longer and steeper those portions of the trail were, the tougher that was to do! [PS: My Gene Prater book ("Showshoeing") describes only virgin deep soft snow ascent, digging steps with the toes. Obviously that doesn't apply to a packed trail.]
(2) Is there a typical technique to handle icy flows across trails? On Giant Mountain this Monday I found several places where water had flowed across the trail and frozen. Most weren't too steep and one could simply walk across or up, but in a couple of steeper places I used roots and scrub balsam at trailside. By lying down, fully stretched out, I was able to pull myself up or drop myself down to something level. (One section's descent was really uncomfortable; I could find only one tenuous handhold and, lying down to my full 6' length, my 'shoes were still probably 5 feet from level ground. I finally just let go and slid down.)
I carry crampons and microspikes... but didn't use either on that hike. Maybe that makes the answer to #2 obvious!
So: (1) Steep, packed, trail ascents, and (2) up and down icy portions of trail?
(1) How does one handle steep well-packed sections of a trail? My 8x25 Tubbs 'shoes don't have the extra heel traction device (I forget its name) and I felt comfortable only by charging rapidly (almost jogging) up those sections on the balls of my feet. Needless to say, the longer and steeper those portions of the trail were, the tougher that was to do! [PS: My Gene Prater book ("Showshoeing") describes only virgin deep soft snow ascent, digging steps with the toes. Obviously that doesn't apply to a packed trail.]
(2) Is there a typical technique to handle icy flows across trails? On Giant Mountain this Monday I found several places where water had flowed across the trail and frozen. Most weren't too steep and one could simply walk across or up, but in a couple of steeper places I used roots and scrub balsam at trailside. By lying down, fully stretched out, I was able to pull myself up or drop myself down to something level. (One section's descent was really uncomfortable; I could find only one tenuous handhold and, lying down to my full 6' length, my 'shoes were still probably 5 feet from level ground. I finally just let go and slid down.)
I carry crampons and microspikes... but didn't use either on that hike. Maybe that makes the answer to #2 obvious!
So: (1) Steep, packed, trail ascents, and (2) up and down icy portions of trail?
Last edited: