YakTrax

[M@]

My good friend Jill (http://www.weirdtable.org/~m/tuckerman/2000/026_23a_1.jpg) bought me some YakTrax (http://www.yaktrax.com) for my birthday a few months back. I haven't used them yet, but I'm anticipating they will be perfect for tuckerman. I think MY answer to the "do I need crampons" question will be:
1. If you already own them, bring them.
2. If you don't already own them, do not by them just for Tuckerman.
3. You do not need them, most people do just fine without.
4. If you have to spend some money, buy these, YakTrax. (http://www.yaktrax.com)

M@

[Mumster]

M@: The skidude and I used Yac-Traks on our trip. They gave us grip and security without the expense or :eek: of crampons. They are light and easy to pull on (over hiking and ski boots). You can see what they look like in this recycled photo: http://timefortuckerman.com/gifs/skimum-tucksrescuedog.jpg

On the minus side, it's easy to forget you have them on - I forgot to take mine off for my first run down the ravine - lucky my skis didn't release.... :skierembarrassed:
Also, ours self-destructed by the end of the trip - one of mine slipped off and one of Adam's broke - Both happened at the end of the day near the bottom of the trail.
Overall, they were a good solution for us as ravine newbies. :) Next time I'd get orange so I didn't forget to remove them.

[M@]

SkiMom:
Thanks for info. Did you wear them the entire trip? I.e. Put them on at the car, and then transfer them from hiking boots to ski boots? I was thinking of having them in a side pocket and putting them on at hojo's (I've never slipped going up, it's usually packed snow, not much ice) and then for the hike down, from rocks to probably 1/2 way down the Tuckerman Trail. Those are the spots I've slipped.

Sounds like you put them on your ski boots too, I guess this makes sense. Usually the boot-stairs are pretty good and I've never really slipped on the last 1/2 yards up the bowl as much as just walked up the stairs, but I could see these make that easier.

M@

[Mumster]

M@ :ma:

Not having any idea what the hike would be like, we put them on at Pinkham Notch. Next time I'd wait until the conditions dictated it.

We also put them over ski boots. The negative -> It is hard to see them on ski boots....

[Castlerock]

Between Hojos and the bowl...There they would shine...

[BladeGirl]

I also wore Yak Trax this year for the first time. They are light weight, foldable, and won't take any eyes out. I put them on when we hit consistent snow on the trail. They helped somewhat, especially on the way down, but they felt mostly useless in the thick snow climbing Hillmans. I had an occasional problem with one that kept twisting partway over my boot, needing regular adjustment. The other one (and my hubby's) were fine. I'd use them again for the hiking trail.

-BG

[Castlerock]

I put a bit of a rant earlier that I withdrew fearing it might be taken the wrong way.

But I have to say it.

These Yaktrax should not be condsidered a safety device for any climing whatsoever. That is what crampons are for.

A fun anti-slip gadget for walking, sure. But a true safety tool for an alpine arena? Not a chance.

I had to get it off my chest

[DMC]

Instep crampons are sweet for just tooling around on the snow... They attach right under your instep and on have 4 short blades.. I use them for the hike up and down on the snow..
I would NEVER use them on a climb...

A friend of mine got the Yack Trax... And we spent a lot of time looking for them after they kept falling off... :) He may have put them on wrong though..

We needed crampons when we climbed Hillmans in April.. It was very solid... Yeah... Maybe we shouldnt have been on it - and it really sucked - but it was fun!

[Mumster]

Castlerock
[QB] A fun anti-slip gadget for walking, sure. /QB]Hi Castlerock:
They gave us newbies some security for the milder degrees of ice and snow during the hike up....As you said earlier - Hojos to the ravine is probably the best place to use them. Agree that they are flimsy and don't hold that well - I wouldn't trust them if we needed hard core security.

[M@]

I've noted the only parts of the trails that I've ever wanted crampons in the following map, in HOT PINK:

http://www.weirdtable.org/~m/tuckerman/SlipperySpots.jpg

As you can see, it's not very much. Not so much that I'd go out and buy crampons, and if I had them, I might leave them in the car most of the time.

M@

[Castlerock]

On icy mornings, the walk from Hojos to the bowl can be nasty. I could see strapping up there. M@, did you mean to mark RT 16 in the same highlight color. I definatively agree more traction can help there as well. ;) (tongue firmly in cheek).

I am already Jonesing for next year, and I want to challenge everyone to set a personal record for earliest Tucks day. Make it a while the Sherburne is open to the bottom. (It eliminates the need for traction improvement on the way down)And if your trip is early enough, and the snow is close to that state of perfection where it is rock hard climbing up and 1" soft coming down. You might run right out and buy a set of used crampons and ice axe at IME on your way home. You will be hooked!

I will be posting then and would welcome the comany from fellow TFTers

[NHski]

Castlerock, I am thinking Dec. or Jan., got to start to put on avy knowledge to work in the field

[Castlerock]

I have never been before the end of March with sun conditons. I could be convinced to try real winter. OK, so I'll need a transponder, shovel and probe. Might as well budget for that now!

[DMC]

Dec Jan.... I don't know about that...
Like you said - Sun conditions... It will get pretty dark pretty fast..

I'm thinking late Feb early March...

[M@]

re: Early Trip

I'm planning April 10th.

I'm working on the planning page, and will be inviting more people than last year. Usually I email to about 30 ppl, and around 10 end up coming. Last year we were just bringing our new son into the world, so I didn't send out the invite, and went alone.

Anyhow, here's the link to my yet-to-finish 2004 tuckerman planning page:

http://www.weirdtable.org/~m/tuckerman/2004/
M@

[Castlerock]

I'll be praying for the big fat H with you M@

[DRPHIDDLEPHOS]

i am up for a pre-march trip!!! :tucks: i have never been there that early i will start working on the :heliski: and :seqway: or :snowcat: up the hill to :shelters: i can't wait to do a winter trip! :D

[pepperdawg]

Castlerock:
I have never been before the end of March with sun conditons. I could be convinced to try real winter. OK, so I'll need a transponder, shovel and probe. Might as well budget for that now! P-dawg <----has a peips 457 i would be willing to loan to anyone to borrow as long as thay plan to return it :)

[DMC]

hey PDawg!
Nice "Steel Your Face" on your deck!!!
We are everywhere!!!!!!

Why dont you come and use your transceiver?

[pepperdawg]

True that brotha...getting ready for upcoming summer shows?? cant wait!!!! 6/21 harford show - woo hoo!!!!! :D


Surely -just waiting on an invite!!!

:p

[DMC]

Still not 100% sure about the new "The Dead"... BillR and I saw too many Grateful Dead shows to count....
I may be going to the Camden show - Saturday.... I'd go the the Hartford show but i got a wedding that day...

Consider yourself invited... We'll keep in touch..
You got a tranceiver,shovel and probe?

[pepperdawg]

Yeah - Actually caught the other ones (again in Hartford) this past November, which I thought was a fantastic show....Only had the experience of catching Boston Gah-den" 2 shows.....man I wish i could have caught more....thankful for tapes....

yeah - definitly keep the dawg in mind for winter tux adventures......

by the way - you are the same DMC from K-chat??

[DMC]

Yes - I use DMC pretty much on all the places I lurk... Contrary to some peoples popular belief... :)

Email offline - lets do some CD trading...
doug@ThirdRailMusic.com

[BladeGirl]

M@:
re: Early Trip

I'm planning April 10th.

I'm working on the planning page, and will be inviting more people than last year. Usually I email to about 30 ppl, and around 10 end up coming. Last year we were just bringing our new son into the world, so I didn't send out the invite, and went alone.

Anyhow, here's the link to my yet-to-finish 2004 tuckerman planning page:

http://www.weirdtable.org/~m/tuckerman/2004/
M@ Let me get this strait: ya left your wife in labor to hike Tucks?
:eek:
April 10 Sounds good to me.
-BG

[Castlerock]

LOL!
Now that is brave! And dedicated!....Somehow I doubt she was past a cm or two!

[skicdave]

:ma: 's wife probably used his :ducttape: on him so he wouldn't run away to :tucks: .

Then again she might have recoded his Count Down (http://www.weirdtable.org/~m/tuckerman/2004/) page.

Ah just teasing M@ster. I'm sure he was at home for Anna's arrival :p

[M@]

Nicholas was due on 3/15. I didn't want to try to rally a crew to Tux for a 4/12 trip. Turns out, Nick was born on 3/13 and everything went perfect. So I didn't feel bad leaving the wife with a one month old at her mother's house for about 10hrs to make the annual pilgramage (shortened to a day trip becuase of our new miracle).

Having been through this baby thing once before, I realized many things can go wrong, and dates can be off as much as a month. I would never leave her side if she hadn't had the baby yet, or if he was only a few weeks old.

There are priorities, and then there are PRIORITIES.

M@

[skicdave]

Thats right you have 2 now :ma: . Nice!

While on the topic of babies and baby diapers (applies since these are future Tuckerman Ravine fanatics , right people?), here is our grandchild - Emma @ 2 months over for a visit on Skickathys 50th party.

Oh and regarding this topic... Emma likes Yaktraxs too. :p

http://campadk.com/paul/emma-portrait.jpg

[Mumster]

Totally adorable! You guys really know how to do it right when you have children and grands.....Does she do heel clicks yet?

[skicdave]

Oh now don't be silly :mumster: ! Only Kate is allowed to do heel clicks... ok well actually my dad did one at a campground at age 76 :eek: Glad he didn't break a leg or something!

I see you must be :atwork: thinking about :hottub: :beermug: and :cookies:

[Mumster]

Dave:
Yup, I'm :atwork: , like most people on the T4T website at this hour. I'm mostly thinking about :skiplow: .
But a :beermug: wouldn't be bad.....

Also trying to figure out who Emma looks like - I don't see that much of you or RR Kate in her.

[skicdave]

Noper.. Im step granddaddy. She looks like her dad and mom though... its a good thing.

[BladeGirl]

skicdave:


While on the topic of babies and baby diapers (applies since these are future Tuckerman Ravine fanatics , right people?), here is our grandchild - Emma @ 2 months over for a visit on Skickathys 50th party.
I would caption that picture "Emma looking up at the bowl from Ho Jos and thinking "mmmmm, snow!" "

[skicdave]

http://timefortuckerman.com/gifs/Emma-at-Tuckerman-Ravine.jpg

[DRPHIDDLEPHOS]

that is classic!!! good thing she isn't :cry:
she looks ready for the hour glass! :snowboarding: