Snow hints
Things I wished I knew about snow travel before I came out here...
1) Even if steep; if there's fresh snow on top, there's little danger from sliding. Even a little fresh snow will "plow up" and make a wall stopping you if you slide.
2) If you can kick steps, it must be very steep before it's going to make you slide. Going down, heavy in your heels is quite safe.
3) Rocks make "traps" by melting snow nearby. It's easy to crunch through into a knee (or deeper) hole with a rock right by your leg. This makes getting a skinned knee too easy to accomplish. (Hop from the snow to the rocks.)
4) Pine trees can also be "traps" if they're spring-loaded by the snow. Don't accidentally release one!
5) Avoid flat-spaces. They might be snow-covered lakes.
6) Listen every once in a while; most creeks that are more than ankle deep make noise even when under a snow bridge.
7) Check the head of your ice-axe. If it's not comfortable to grip tightly, wrap with some tape before you get blisters.
8) Just like "boat-legs" you can get snow legs. Makes walking on dry ground interesting for the first few strides after a snow field.
9) Snow reflects. You'll get sun burn in new places. Be sure to save your ear lobes, nose bottom, etc... No kidding, burn can be so bad you bleed.
10) It's easier to just step down into the last persons' post-holes than to make your own.
11) Sun cups look exactly like foot steps. Do not follow. They are not trail.
12) I learned a lot about snow travel!
(If you have actual mountaineering training / more snow experience / or know better than me, feel free to correct or expand upon these points.)
1) Even if steep; if there's fresh snow on top, there's little danger from sliding. Even a little fresh snow will "plow up" and make a wall stopping you if you slide.
2) If you can kick steps, it must be very steep before it's going to make you slide. Going down, heavy in your heels is quite safe.
3) Rocks make "traps" by melting snow nearby. It's easy to crunch through into a knee (or deeper) hole with a rock right by your leg. This makes getting a skinned knee too easy to accomplish. (Hop from the snow to the rocks.)
4) Pine trees can also be "traps" if they're spring-loaded by the snow. Don't accidentally release one!
5) Avoid flat-spaces. They might be snow-covered lakes.
6) Listen every once in a while; most creeks that are more than ankle deep make noise even when under a snow bridge.
7) Check the head of your ice-axe. If it's not comfortable to grip tightly, wrap with some tape before you get blisters.
8) Just like "boat-legs" you can get snow legs. Makes walking on dry ground interesting for the first few strides after a snow field.
9) Snow reflects. You'll get sun burn in new places. Be sure to save your ear lobes, nose bottom, etc... No kidding, burn can be so bad you bleed.
10) It's easier to just step down into the last persons' post-holes than to make your own.
11) Sun cups look exactly like foot steps. Do not follow. They are not trail.
12) I learned a lot about snow travel!
(If you have actual mountaineering training / more snow experience / or know better than me, feel free to correct or expand upon these points.)