Hike up in AT boots?

[kletter1mann]

I've got full-on BD AT setup and planning some Tucks trips after being away for, oh, the last 30 years. I searched and couldn't find too much... Questions:
Does anybody skin up in April? If so, on the Tuckerman trail or Sherburne? I can imagine Tucks trail being pretty congested with people skiing up.
Any reason not to hike up in AT boots if skinning isn't on? I got BD Methods, the walk mode is pretty good but I never hiked very far in them. Finally, if I skin up, what should I expect? I've done the Thunderbolt a bunch of times this season, it's my reference and intro to the AT world! :D Thanks much!

[yuckster]

Trail running shoes.

[kletter1mann]

I think not, yuckster. Nice response to a serious question.

[RR]

Hang on a sec, folks do that very thing all the time. One older gent makes Hojos in a half an hour dressed for running, regular gore-tex runners on his feet and towing his ski gear on a sled.

Okay, back to the question:
Sure but why? It's a lot faster and easier to use hiking boots. Clip your boots into the bindings after covering the openings with plastic shopping bags. Zoom, right up the trail.

Sure folks will be skinning on the TRT even in late April. Early April start on the TRT and then switch to the Sherby on the up if you are skinning and it's just too crowded on the TRT.

I like skinning up, but hiking is usually faster for me

[StuckInJersey]

All depends on the weather man and what time in April you head up. Yuck could be right and you might be in running shoes. :D As far as the skin, it would be far easier than the bolt was, since it's really paved out for you with snow cats / mobiles being ridden on it during the season.

[NtrentT]

Here's the skinny.

I have skinned up to Hermit Lake before in April, but each season is different.
Be prepared for both options, A or B

If you have to hike to Hermit lake; I personally would not reccomend hiking in AT boots.
I would opt for hiking boots with some sort of traction but not full on crampons, maybe stabilizers, or even YAK tracks (they work good for hiking the TRT in icy spots below Hermit Lake Shelters)

I reccomend checking the Avalanch Bulletin every day for a week prior to your trip to familiarize yourself with the looming past and current conditions that could impact your safe climbing and skiing options.

Tuckerman Ravine and the surrounding areas are in a whole different catagory from the T-bolt. The Sherby is similar.

Talk to the rangers who will be out at the caretaker's cabin and take their advice.

Have a good time up there

[kletter1mann]

Back in the day I did the A-frame boots-on-skis thing, but that was before AT, nobody tele'd and we all wore woolies with wide suspenders. I fully understand the difference between Tucks and the 'bolt, I just have little recollection what the hike up to Hojo's was like, memory too clouded by time and all the other stuff we did back then...

Anyway, thanks for the info! I'm psyched, I'll probably get several weekends in this year!

[yuckster]

I think not, yuckster. Nice response to a serious question.

It's a serious response. I switch to trail runners when it gets warm enough. Best way to go.

[surf88]

I second the trail running shoes, I started doing this last spring when the skinning was done and really liked it. I see more and more people even in mid winter heading for the summit wearing running shoes up until lions head winter route begins, and then changing into there mountaineering boots. This trail is usually so well packed that the trail runners are fine(just stay out of the wet stuff). I forget how the saying goes, but its something like: "hiking with an extra ounce on your foot is equal to an extra pound on your back."

[RR]

... its something like: "hiking with an extra ounce on your foot is equal to an extra pound on your back."Word! Totally!

Light day hikers with good footbeds are also pretty quick, but good trail runners rule. When a 65-68 year old goes blazing by towing a sled full of gear it will be perfectly clear!

BTW, Turtle wax that sled ;)

[willyo617]

It's a serious response. I switch to trail runners when it gets warm enough. Best way to go.


If you can't skin directly from the parking lot (which i'm guessing you still can right now?). than I wear trail runners with stabilicers until I can switch over to boots and skins... (which I have all set up ahead of time)

-will

[Fanatic1]

Welcome Back Kletter1Mann!

I went up on May 13th the first year I had my AT gear and was really psyched to skin up and ski down. Unfortunately, it was not May 13 of 1997 (when they had 100" that month) so there was little to no snow on the Tucks trail much before the level of the shelters at Hermit Lake.

Since I had no alternative plan I used my Garmont Adrenalins and they worked great, but was I glad to get those things off my feet at days end! If there's snow, enjoy the skinning and skiing but have a plan B for sure.

Have fun!