Thread: Crampons

Stug speaks sense.

As well as practicing somewhere safe with crampons and ice axe before using them in anger, get someone with experience to show you how. Its much easier to learn that way than by seeing which ways make you fall over or asking people on the internet. Unless you're a lightweight I'd go for 12-point rather than 10-point crampons.

Ice axe without crampons is much safer than crampons without ice axe so the axe takes priority (if you fall without an axe on a slope that needs crampons you probably won't stop until you hit the bottom). I haven't tried one of those hybrid walking pole/axe things, better than just a pole if you need to self-arrest I guess but not much good for climbing snow/ice or doing other ice axey things like chipping a wee shelf to give your sore calves and ankles a rest on steep hard snow.

Speaking of sore calves, don't forget to drop your heels when going up steep stuff on the front points of your crampons. And if you go for a slide and need to self arrest while wearing crampons, keep your knees bent and the points up off the ground! Don't get tempted to kick your points in while sliding (especially if you're going fast), that can result in things like snapped achilles tendons and end-over-end ragdolling down the hill.