Scrambling Boot recommendation needed
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if yr scrambling in the PNW during spring and winter you likely want something bit sturdier than trail runners
steep snow, moderate angle ice, steep scree, wet rocks with snow/ice, etc … theyre all on the table
theres been several fatalities up here where folks may not have had the proper gear even in good conditions
now before folks go off on "killian jornet uses trail runners and hes fine" … ill retort that alex honnold doesnt use a rope on many climbs and hes also fine … unless you are well experienced (where you dont need a course), i suggest taking a conservative approach to the gear … plenty of top athletes and experienced folks do things that may be "unsafe" for other folks
i use the hyper GTX myself …
http://www.backcountry.com/la-sportiva-hyper-mid-gtx-hiking-boot-mens
if conditions are serious with a lot of snow and ice, a proper mountaineering boot might be called for
dont underestimate the class scrambling/hiking in the PNW in the shoulder seasons and winter … especially if its around the coastal BC mountains
North Shore Rescue up here recently had to rescue two folks who were searching for their friend (who remains unfound) … this is the terrain they got rescued on
http://www.northshorerescue.com/2015/01/09/please-do-not-put-yourself-at-risk/
to see more of the winter terrain they are searching go here … im sure most would agree its not exactly trail runner territory except for the most fit or experienced, and perhaps not even then
http://www.northshorerescue.com/2015/01/15/thank-you-letter-liang-jin-leons-parents/
even relatively "easy" walks can turn pretty nasty if less than good conditions, especially if one gets off route
The group of four women in their early 20s and a 10-year-old boy, had planned to hike to Dog Mountain, a relatively easy five-kilometre trail in summer conditions.
On their way back to the Mount Seymour parking lot, they got off trail and wound up on a route to the ominously named Suicide Bluffs trail, a steep, technical path that’s not well marked.
The group were totally unprepared for a hike, he added. They were wearing yoga pants, no socks and toe-shoes.
“I think they were lulled into a false sense of security where it’s almost spring-like conditions in the city here, but up there, the margin for error is a lot less in the winter,” Pope said. “A slip and fall in that steep terrain could definitely have caused injury. Although it’s been a mild winter and we don’t have a lot of snow up there, we’re still dealing with slippery conditions. You’ve got early darkness to contend with and weather on Seymour is notoriously variable.”
http://www.nsnews.com/news/north-shore-rescue-saves-5-from-suicide-bluffs-1.1752162
;)
im just going to post these 2 rescued from this year alone that happened around the vancouver area …
what folks wear is up to them … remember just because someone can climb something in runners, or without a rope, or any protective gear doesnt mean YOU can do it especially if you arent experienced enough
The men set out mid-morning Thursday with the goal of hiking to the mountain summit in Golden Ears Provincial Park over a two- day period.
After reaching the Panorama Ridge on the north side of the mountain Thursday evening, they were cold, fatigued, and concerned about going any further up the mountain – through the snowfield – to the summit given the icy conditions, Laing explained.
While they took a tent, sleeping bags, warm clothes, food, and a stove, their foot wear wasn’t up for the task, said the veteran rescue member.
Two of them had casual hiking shoes, while the other was only outfitted with runners – which would have made climbing to the summit “not only difficult but potentially very dangerous,” Laing said.
http://www.mrtimes.com/news/chopper-plucks-hikers-from-maple-ridge-mountain-1.1748590
A hiker who got lost above the snow line in the Fraser Valley is telling his story so that others don’t repeat his mistakes.
Adrian Peters was hiking around Pierce Lake, southeast of Chilliwack, when he got lost above the snow line.
“The trail markers were missing or falling off the trees, so that’s why we got lost, I believe,” he says.
Wearing only hiking shoes and layers of fleece, Peters soon found himself stuck on an icy ledge, with only enough battery life to phone 911 a couple of times – and then to wait.
“We needed these microspikes on our shoes to make it up the icy sections of the trail, and all this fella had on was running shoes,” says Doug Fraser of Chilliwack Search and Rescue.
http://globalnews.ca/news/1779756/hiker-tells-chilliwack-search-rescue-thank-you-for-saving-my-life/
here a message from one of the busiest rescue groups in the canadian rockies …
now what folks wear is up to them … im not saying you always need big heavy boots, but then conversely there are times when light trail runners would not be adequate for your "average" BPLer
be aware of what you DONT know …
the local SAR folks are probably all old dinos anyways …
just as a note … in 2 of the accident reports i posted the hikers are basically an hour or two away from metro vancouver .. basically you could perish while looking at the city lights at night ….
Thanks for the discussion. I would probably agree that the club might be a little archaic in some of their attitudes but I also see Eric’s points about when and where the right shoe/boot is applicable.
Here are a few pictures from last year’s classes that show what kind of scrambling we might encounter. I thought about broaching the approach shoe idea to see where that gets me.
actually just by looking at the first pic … i probably wouldnt rope up either … it looks like choss plain and simple …
unless you actually have solid gear and belays a rope can be more dangerous as if you fall itll drag everyone else off
also note that on a traverse a rope may not do anything if you dont plae gear at regular intervals … i see folk think they are safe on a traverse with no pro just because they have a rope … even with a belay theyll take a massive swing smack into the rock at the end of a large pendulum and floss off rocks on everyone below
the simple matter of the fact is that you cant fall while scrambling/climbing unless you have solid gear and bomber belays … and even then the rope only prevents you from possibly tumbling to your death … its not to prevent you from getting hurt as youll likely smack a ledge or feature
heres a recent accident around vancouver where a falling climber dragged their 2 other partners to their deaths as they were likely roped up without any/or poor protection … one of my partners was friends with one of those who perished and a few months ago they did the same thing up another mountain, rope but no gear placed … he now realizes how lucky he is that neither fell
as to the packs … other than the big one in the foreground, the other ones looks like yr standard 40L or so alpine packs … which any climber worth their salt should easily be able to climb 4th/easy 5th class in even if its decently loaded
to be blunt … folks need to not depend on ropes for moderate scrambling/easy climbing if theres no/little pro, they simply cant fall … and they need to learn how to climb with 30-50L packs on easy ground
as ralph said yr getting into approach shoe/boot territory in the upper pic … or light mountaineering boots …. just because of the sticky climbing rubber
as a reference … this is considered very popular scramble in the vancouver/squamish area (photo not mine)
someone fell and died on it last year
James, I’m reluctant to get a pair of Trango because I already have a pair of Asolo Expert GV for glacier work. They are quite stiff and would eat my feet up when used for normal trail hiking.
I was hoping there was a milder boot that would work. I think the approach shoe in a Mid might work out (I’ll ask); they seemed to be to be the best for the general conditions.
Eric, all the pictures you have posted look like they came out of the “last years” class pictures, so you seem to have a grasp of the conditions. Do you have any experience with the La Sportiva Wildcats? If so how is the fit compared to the Hypers? I know they are made from a different last but how similar is the fit (if you know)?
I was hoping there was a milder boot that would work. I think the approach shoe in a Mid might work out (I’ll ask); they seemed to be to be the best for the general conditions.- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
