If Failure is OK
If you're OK with failures while on the trail then go with the cheap $10 poles and get a new pair before the next hike, you'll save lots of money. If it's important that you're pole doesn't collapse when you're leaning hard on them while decending sending you into a downhill...
So True
This winter has been one which crampons are not so necessary as in other winters, I didn't take them on hike around Arethusa Falls and Frankenstein Cliffs this past weekend and fully regretted it on the way down. I had snowshoes and microspkes but needed crampons. Good thread!
CINDERSMOM and I are staying at Little Lyford and Gorman Chairback Lodges next week for a few nights. We would like to snowshoe from one lodge to the other via the Rim trail along the West Branch of the Pleasant River (Gulf Hagas). Has anyone done this hike in the winter and is the river...
I also have had good experiences with MSR. I am curious, which strap broke and where did it break? The most forward strap always breaks on Evo's. See this thread.
http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=27229
Choice Made
I thank you all for the excellent input, it was a difficult decision but I went with the skeletool. It made a difference that I got 30% off because they only had the floor model left.
This past week while hiking with microspikes I had one of the links open up enough to come loose and detach itself from the little spike. I was able to re-attach the link but it came off a couple of more times during the hike. I didn't have a tool strong enough to perform a field repair and...
Zealand Rd
My wife just called (4:30PM) to tell me she was off the mountain. She did Hale with a friend, they wore snowshoes the whole way. She said the road is skiable and she saw quite a few people skiing it, including one of the hut workers. It is not plowed yet.
I must be missing something here. It seems to me that this hiker made a whole lot of mistakes. He left too late in the day and didn't turn around when that was obvious. He wasn't carrying a compass (maybe not even a map). His knowledge of GPS use is questionable. Sounds like he wasn't...
Old and New
I have old stuff and new stuff. The new stuff that wasn't here before (i.e. microspikes, softshells) and the old stuff that still works fine (down bag, wool & fleece clothing). Very nice poll.
My wife is very adept at using a map & Compass and a GPS, she owns a Map60CSX and knows how to use it. I feel much better knowing she has her GPS when on winter solo hikes above treeline. When we do long bushwhacks together, we both carry one.