[pct-l] To Crampon or not to Crampon

[pastafly at hotmail.com (TYVEK wooster)]

you dont have to buy a premade strap, just go to your local outdoor shop and 
buy some webbing and then sew it up.  there ya go, an ice ax strap made in 
about 5 minutes and cost under $1. cant beat that!!!

have a great day!
TYVEK


>From: "Bill & Cathy" <tahoe.cat@verizon.net>
>To: <Mtnned@aol.com>
>CC: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
>Subject: Re: [pct-l] To Crampon or not to Crampon
>Date: Sat, 07 Jan 2006 07:38:14 -0800
>
>Hi All   I bought a 90cm ice axe from campmor but it does not come with a
>strap. Do any of you know where you can buy just the strap?  Thanks
>Remember
>"Be Prepared"  Ground Pounder  Bill  "Semper Fi"
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <Mtnned@aol.com>
>To: <liveoakhill@oroville.com>
>Cc: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
>Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 12:41 AM
>Subject: Re: [pct-l] To Crampon or not to Crampon
>
>
> > Everyone's input thus far has been right and good but not very
>explanatory.
> > Let's take the closer, more practical look.
> >
> > To Crampon or not to Crampon on steep slippery or icy spring snow.
> >     First of all, you have the choice to avoid  it.  Wait for the ice to
> > soften by traveling later in
> >     the morning when you can get a better grip on the  snow.  Snow melts
> > during the day and
> >     freezes at night.  Be smart and give it an  hour or so before
>venturing
> > out.  Go easy at
> >     first, testing your traction with each step.
> >
> > Plan your climbs for midmorning, when the snow isn't icy and not soft
>enough
> > to post-hole.
> >     Once you get to the top, glissade or butt-slide  straight down on 
>the
> > softening snow. This
> >     is a gas, but be ready to self-arrest if you lose  it.  If the snow 
>is
> > post-holing already and
> >     you still have a lot of snow ahead, you can either  stop for the day
>or
> > seek alternate
> >     routes either out of the snow onto rock or into the  trees where the
>snow
> > is colder.
> >
> > If you must travel on slippery snow, because of schedule constraints or
>the
> > sudden discovery
> >     of an icy path ahead with no way around it, on the  Crest in the
>spring
> > use some form of
> >     traction improvement on your feet with an uphill  ice axe in your
>hand.
> > Whether you use
> >     screws in your shoes, rope tied around your feet,  instep crampons, 
>10
>or
> > 12-point
> >     crampons, or simply chop foot holds for each step,  be prepared to 
>do
> > something to help
> >     you hang onto the mountain.
> >
> > I carry an axe and instep crampons and wear deep lugged vibram soles 
>with
> > pronounced heels for braking.  I can still glissade the steeps and 
>suncups
>and
> > grip ice and rock fine in the morning. My axe is long for use as a 
>rudder,
> > chopping, plunge-climbing, and balance in the creeks.  The insteps are
>small
> > and light and don't kill me if I inadvertently brush against them when
>tied to
> > my pack.  Since I have these crampons, I do my passes very early in  the
> > morning when the snow is still hard.  I can move faster without fear of
>slipping
> > or post-holing by doing my miles early in the day.
> >
> > The efficiency of your progress is based almost entirely on the snow
> > conditions.  Know how to travel over each condition and you will reach
>your
> > destination safely.  Know the snow.  Dig a snow pit once in a while to
>see how the
> > pack is settling.  If there's still corn or granular snow in  there,
>beware of
> > possible sluffs caused by your own compression of the pack or  your 
>tracks
> > creating a trigger fault line on a traverse.
> >
> > Food for thought.
> >
> > Mtnned
> > _______________________________________________
> > pct-l mailing list
> > pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> > unsubscribe or change options:
> > http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
>_______________________________________________
>pct-l mailing list
>pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
>unsubscribe or change options:
>http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l