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How steep do you like to climb with snowshoes

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angeleyes

Oct 17, 2009, 5:01 PM
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Registered: Feb 26, 2009
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How steep do you like to climb with snowshoes Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

I just got the msr lightning ascents been pretty amazed how steep of a grade I can go up with them compared to my previous dated atlas shoes.

I can think of a few, largely ice free, cols in the sierras I'd like to try them with poles and a self arrest grip. Cols where normally I'd throw on crampons and trudge up with axe.

Just curious how steep some of you have gone with your shoes, vs choosing to switch to crampon / axe setup.

cheers

pazzo

Oct 18, 2009, 4:19 AM
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Registered: Feb 5, 2007
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Re: [angeleyes] How steep do you like to climb with snowshoes [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

I've climbed up some super steep slopes which were iced over, with my Denali Evo Ascents. So steep was the slope that a self-rescue would be crucial should we have slipped.
I'll try to find a pic of the slope I'm referring to.

TheRucat

Oct 18, 2009, 5:17 AM
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Registered: Dec 21, 2008
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Re: [pazzo] How steep do you like to climb with snowshoes [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

Yeah I as well have done some cereal climbing on ice covered stuff with my red feathers. Going down just as if not more fun..

loyota

Oct 20, 2009, 6:58 PM
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Registered: May 12, 2009
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Re: [angeleyes] How steep do you like to climb with snowshoes [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

In 'the mountaineering handbook' I think Craig Connally throws out a 35 degree number for snow shoes.

guess it depends on how confident you are that you can get to the top without running into a nasty patch of something, won't be able to take off shoes and throw on crampons very easily at that point if it's real steep.

I'd almost be more interested in seeing how steep one could descend come to think of it hehe. I haven't done much steep descending / turning around mid slope type of thing with mine.

hafilax

Oct 20, 2009, 7:17 PM
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Registered: Dec 12, 2007
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Re: [angeleyes] How steep do you like to climb with snowshoes [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

Once it gets steep enough that the heel elevator no longer helps with calf fatigue I would switch to crampons or boot pack depending on the snow. I wouldn't really want to try French technique or front pointing in snowshoes. Traversing something that is steep wouldn't be much fun either. At that point ice ax plunging would probably work better than using poles.

For short stretches I guess you could push the angle but eventually you have to choose the most efficient method. On my Denali Ascents the heel rise isn't that high so it's probably a pretty modest angle.

skiclimb

Oct 20, 2009, 10:36 PM
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Registered: Jan 11, 2004
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Re: [hafilax] How steep do you like to climb with snowshoes [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (1 rating)	Can't Post

I dont like snowshoes at all

whippersnapper

Oct 22, 2009, 5:26 PM
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Registered: Jul 9, 2009
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Re: [angeleyes] How steep do you like to climb with snowshoes [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

I have the lightning ascents, and I'll go up say 35-40 deg slope if it's really well consolidated snow (wind packed).

bergbryce

Oct 25, 2009, 5:21 AM
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Registered: Apr 27, 2006
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Re: [whippersnapper] How steep do you like to climb with snowshoes [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (1 rating)	Can't Post

Just say NO to snowshoes.
Use skis. Skiing is a skill all climbers can benefit from. Plus it's fun.
Snowshoes = lame and un-fun

sungam

Oct 25, 2009, 10:47 AM
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Registered: Jun 24, 2004
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Re: [bergbryce] How steep do you like to climb with snowshoes [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (1 rating)	Can't Post

bergbryce wrote:

Just say NO to snowshoes.
Use skis. Skiing is a skill all climbers can benefit from. Plus it's fun.
Snowshoes = lame and un-fun

WRONG!
Snowshoeing is EEXXXTREEEMMMMMEEEEE:

Lazlo

Oct 25, 2009, 3:27 PM
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Registered: Nov 14, 2007
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Re: [sungam] How steep do you like to climb with snowshoes [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

sungam wrote:

bergbryce wrote:

Just say NO to snowshoes.
Use skis. Skiing is a skill all climbers can benefit from. Plus it's fun.
Snowshoes = lame and un-fun

WRONG!
Snowshoeing is EEXXXTREEEMMMMMEEEEE:
[image]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/37/77659526_3eb37fafaf.jpg[/image]
[image]http://z.hubpages.com/u/212788_f520.jpg[/image]
Laugh

Lol! Leave it to Magnus Laugh

harpo_the_climber

Oct 26, 2009, 2:18 PM
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Registered: Feb 26, 2005
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Re: [bergbryce] How steep do you like to climb with snowshoes [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

bergbryce wrote:

Just say NO to snowshoes.
Use skis. Skiing is a skill all climbers can benefit from. Plus it's fun.
Snowshoes = lame and un-fun

What he said. Even with minimal skiing skills, you can use skis for much more efficient travel in snow covered terrain than snow shoes. by minimal I mean you need to know how to snow plow, kick turn, traverse, and kick and glide.

hafilax

Oct 26, 2009, 3:20 PM
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Registered: Dec 12, 2007
Posts: 3025

Re: [harpo_the_climber] How steep do you like to climb with snowshoes [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

On this trip I was glad I was on skis.
On this one I wish I'd brought snowshoes.

Skis aren't universally better. You choose the right tool for the right job.

desertdude420

Oct 26, 2009, 4:13 PM
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Registered: Sep 20, 2006
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Re: [hafilax] How steep do you like to climb with snowshoes [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

Snowshoes are for the flats! Higher angle slopes are for crampons or skis IMHO. Snowshoes in any techy terrain is a BAD idea!

hafilax

Oct 26, 2009, 4:40 PM
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Registered: Dec 12, 2007
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Re: [desertdude420] How steep do you like to climb with snowshoes [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

desertdude420 wrote:

Snowshoes are for the flats! Higher angle slopes are for crampons or skis IMHO. Snowshoes in any techy terrain is a BAD idea!

I don't really agree with any of that. MSR snowshoes can go up some pretty steep terrain. Certainly steeper than skins alone and probably steeper than ski crampons in the right conditions. In the PNW where dealing with melt-freeze is inevitable the MSR snowshoes are an important tool for mountaineering.

On that Harvey trip I could have been in comfortable boots and been carrying significantly less weight if I had taken snowshoes. On the Garibaldi trip I skated across the lake in half the time it would have taken to walk it. Traverses are generally way faster on skis if you can glide at all and snowshoes are much lighter if the descent is through unskiable melt freeze.

I'm not sure what you mean by techy terrain but either way that sounds like crampon territory with neither snowshoes nor skis (so in I way I guess I agree with that statement). It is definitely bad to get in over one's head on snowshoes when crampons are preferred. A guy took a long fall around here due to using snowshoes in the wrong conditions.

Connolly's number of 35 degrees makes sense to me. That is approaching the angle where the snow slides frequently and the snow will tend to be firmer rendering snowshoes no longer advantageous. At this point crampons will either be necessary or it might be an easy boot pack depending on the conditions.

desertdude420

Oct 27, 2009, 5:30 PM
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Registered: Sep 20, 2006
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Re: [hafilax] How steep do you like to climb with snowshoes [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

Have you ever tried to simply take a few quick steps backwards wearing snowshoes? How about a quick side-hill move? For me they are like wearing ankle chains... not good in exposure or in steep terrain.
Perhaps I'm just a wuss, but snowshoes scare me unless I'm using them to cut a Christmas tree!

tomtom

Oct 28, 2009, 4:46 PM
Post #16 of 16 (1814 views)
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Registered: Jan 9, 2004
Posts: 366

Re: [desertdude420] How steep do you like to climb with snowshoes [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

desertdude420 wrote:

Snowshoes are for the flats! Higher angle slopes are for crampons or skis IMHO. Snowshoes in any techy terrain is a BAD idea!

Obviously you've never traveled through a dense snow covered forest with downfall.

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