Late Sunday afternoon I headed up to Barr Camp. A guy stopped me down by the Cog Railway depot. He said that there was an emergency and they weren’t allowing anyone to park in the Barr Trail parking lot.
The weather was warm over the weekend which makes for slushy, slick snow during the day and turns to ice as it cools off in the afternoon. A guy had slipped and fallen just above No Name Creek, a little over 3 miles up. The skin was peeled back on his hand and he had severe bleeding. Search and Rescue originally thought they might have to chopper him out. They were able to slow the bleeding and when I got there they were helping him hike down.
So how do you reduce the chance that something like this happens to you? You could stay away from icy trails but that’s no fun. Three of the things to help you keep your footing in snow and ice are Yaktrax, screws, and crampons.
Yaktrax
Yaktrax are my choice for hiking. I try not to run unless something big and scary is chasing me but I know runners that also like them. They fit over most shoes so you can use them with hiking boots or running shoes. About the only way I can tell I’m wearing them is that I don’t slip on the ice. I will notice them a bit if I end up walking on a hard surface like pavement. They’re small and light so you can carry them in your pack or even your jacket pocket in case you find a spot you need them.
They come in 2 versions. The Pro version has a strap that goes over the top of the shoe or hiking boot to help prevent them from coming off. I still have the original ones that don’t have the strap. They only come off occasionally but when I replace them I plan to get the Pro version. That might be soon since mine a getting pretty worn.
Screws
Hard core runners put screws in the bottoms of their shoes. It’s the method recommended by Matt Carpenter. He has good instructions on how to put them in and where to place them. I’ve read that you don’t want them in the middle of the ball of your foot because it can increase the pressure and cause pain. Screws can also be used on mountain bike shoes for when you have to get off and walk.
The screws definitely are the cheapest option. I do see a few screws on the trails but a new one can easily be put in. For runners that have a pair of shoes that will only be used for running in the snow and ice during the winter, they seem like a great choice.
Crampons
I keep seeing crampon tracks when I go hiking. Generally it’s only a single set of tracks. Although I’ve used crampons a lot for mountaineering, I don’t recommend them for normal hiking. Maybe it’s just the way I walk but I really have to pay attention not to trip with them. It’s worse when I’m not sinking the points all the way in. I also don’t like dulling the tips when there’s sections that have melted and it’s just dirt. Crampons are also the most expensive of the 3 options.
Do you have a favorite way to stay off your butt when hiking in snow and ice?
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